NBA Playoff Predictions 2016
To predict the seeds of teams is almost impossible to do accurately at this time but I'm going to try to predict them based off my opinion alone and based of the talents that the team hold. The NBA season will tip off today Tuesday 10/27/15 live on ESPN, starting with an amazing match up of The bulls vs the Cavaliers at 8:00 in Chicago. These two teams are the "top of my Eastern conference" [ said By Barack Obama]. The Cavaliers would be first, one general reason "Lebron" because although some don't like him he is arguable the best athlete in the league, he's also so good he has to be triple teamed to be stopped. By the way last your the Cavs lost Kyrie and Kevin Love and still made it to the finals against the best team in the league the warriors because of Lebron. I'd say the second seed might go to the Chicago Bulls mainly with the rise of Jimmy Butler improving in scoring and defense ,the really talented young big man Mirotic, the good big men Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah who can both rebound and who have been healthy despite ageing; Speaking of being healthy they have Derrick Rose who plays on an extremely high level of talent and is very unselfish with the ball when he's ACTUALLY playing. Third would be awarded to the Raptors because they have a good offensive game and now a better defensive after gaining Demarre Carroll and being led by Kyle Lowry. The fourth seed I predict will be obtained by the Hawks, after a good season last year I bet they'll stay good just won't top the first three teams.
Demarre Carroll now
Carroll has decided to move on to the Raptors after leaving the Hawks.
The second half of the eastern conference includes the fifth to eighth seed. I think the fifth seed will belong to the Wizards because they don't seem to be making many moves or changes I don't they'll play worse than before. I'd say the sixth and seventh seed will stay relatively the same, first the Bucks because of the rise and improvement of their young talent; Then our Celtics because they need to be more consistent to improve but they can still dish the ball well on the court. Finally taking the eighth seed could be the heat, I'm not saying other teams might not make it but with the ability of Wade, Bosh and the young prospect Justice Winslow; I think they will out beat other improving teams like the Magic, Piston and Pacers who need more time to improve and get new talent.
What about the Western Conference? The NBA season also holds an amazing western conference matchup of the Pelicans taking on the warriors at 10:30 eastern time in Oracle arena. Based on information know not including future problem like injuries and the fallout of team mates these are my predictions on the seeds for the western conference. I think the Warriors might still hold a first seed, regardless their loss of big men they still have a great back court and one of the best offense with their powerful run and gun strategy with their top scorers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Besides the fact that the Warriors are likely
to do great the next seven are likely to be harder to predict. I think the second seed will be granted to the thunder, this was a hard decision but I think with Durant back and their amazing starters they will be very successful. Third could fall to the Clippers because they have done so many good moves, the reunion of bringing Pierce back to Doc Rivers, they picked up good bench like Josh Smith and Lance Stevenson, finally kept a good improving offense. Now for the forth and fifth seed be 2/3 of the Texas teams. Who wouldn't want to see San Antonio vs the Rockets, the spurs gained Aldridge and have good prospects like Kyle Anderson improving. The spurs also still have the most loyal aging yet elite talent of Tim Duncan , Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili; How good will they be? The rockets are doing good they gained star point guard Ty Lawson to Play with one of the best big men in the lead Dwight Howard and they have James Haden who was a runner up at MVP last season.
Finally for the sixth through eighth seed I feel these teams will trail behind but not too far. The sixth will be the Grizzles, seventh would go to the Pelicans and the eighth would go to the Kings. The Grizzles have a very talented big men set of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph who can both score, rebound and lead the team with their awesome point guard Mike Conley. Then the Pelicans who have the young big man Anthony Davis who could be a MVP and is the player on their team to look for to score well the rest of their starters like Jrue Holiday and Ryan Anderson need to be more consistent. Possibly for the eighth seed I have the Kings who have the offensive ability of Rondo to assist to many good future plays with Demarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay; With their attempt to use a strategy similar to the warriors it could make them good enough to just make the playoffs or stay in a slump were the have been for years.
