NBA Predictions

NOTE: I AM ASSUMING THAT CARMELO ANTHONY WILL BE TRADED BY THE TRADE DEADLINE. I REMOVE 1/2 OF HIS IMPACT FROM THE NUGGETS. I DO NOT ADD HIS IMPACT TO ANY TEAM.

The Standings!

Eastern Conference

1. Miami Heat
2. Orlando Magic
3. Boston Celtics
4. Milwaukee Bucks
5. Chicago Bulls
6. Atlanta Hawks
7. New Jersey Nets
8. New York Knicks
9. Washington Wizards
10. Philadelphia 76ers
11. Indiana Pacers
12. Detroit Pistons
13. Charlotte Bobcats
14. Toronto Raptors
15. Cleveland Cavaliers

Western Conference

1. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Dallas Mavericks
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. Portland Trail Blazers
5. Utah Jazz
6. San Antonio Spurs
7. New Orleans Hornets
8. Memphis Grizzlies
9. Denver Nuggets
10. Houston Rockets
11. Sacramento Kings
12. Golden State Warriors
13. Phoenix Suns
14. Los Angeles Clippers
15. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Awards!

Rookie of the Year - John Wall (G, Wizards)
Coach of the Year - Scott Skiles (Bucks)
Defensive Player of the Year - Dwight Howard (C, Magic)
Most Improved Player of the Year - Mario Chalmers (G, Heat)
Sixth Man of the Year - Tyson Chandler (C, Mavericks)
Most Valuable Player - Kobe Bryant (G, Lakers)

The Playoffs!

1st Round:
(1) Heat def. (8) Knicks
(2) Magic def. (7) Nets
(3) Celtics def. (6) Hawks*
(5) Bulls def. (4) Bucks

(1) Lakers def. (8) Grizzlies
(2) Mavericks def. (7) Hornets
(3) Thunder def. (6) Spurs*
(4) Trail Blazers def. (5) Jazz*

2nd Round:
(1) Heat def. (5) Bulls
(2) Magic def. (3) Celtics*

(1) Lakers def. (4) Trail Blazers*
(2) Mavericks def. (3) Thunder*

Conference Finals:
(1) Heat def. (2) Magic*

(1) Lakers def. (2) Mavericks*

The NBA Finals!
(1) Lakers def. (1) Heat*

*denotes a 7-game series

Now for some notes!

• Jim O'Brien, Pacers coach, will be fired
• Jay Triano, Raptors coach, will be fired
• Joe Dumars, Pistons GM, will (and really really should) be fired
• Carmelo Anthony will be traded to the Rockets
• The Heat will win only two more games than the Lakers, and four more games than the Magic, at 67 wins.
• Greg Oden and his penis will play in 65 games.
• Andrew Bynum will only play in 50 games.
• This will be the last year during the next 10 in which a team not named the Heat or the Thunder will win the Championship.