I won't make any Celtics related predictions, because I am a lot more optimistic about them this year then is really reasonable (what can I say, I dream big!), so I'll just make my relatively rational/gut-feeling predictions about other teams: (not all of these are bold, to be honest, just general predictions)
1- Bulls regress a bit. Derrick Rose is definitely a great player. However, I get the feeling that because of the MVP confidence vote this past season he won't work very hard to improve his game, and his team hasn't gotten significantly better. I just feel like this last season was a major underdog showing by them; nobody expected them to be as good as they were, and I feel they thrived on that. I feel that they will have either a weak regular season, and a strong playoff showing, or vice versa.
2- Heat have an excellent regular season. Like 50-16 season. Because of the Chris Paul drama, they are under almost no scrutiny. However, I feel that when the playoffs start, though, the attention on them will be even more intense than last year, and I think they get knocked out in the ECF.
3- Lakers get contracted by League. Heh, not really, but wouldn't that be AMAZING?
4- Chris Paul and the Clippers have a good regular season, but don't get more than a 7 or 8 seed if they make the playoffs, and get knocked out in the first round.
5- Mavericks get knocked out of the playoffs by the Thunder in whatever round they end up facing off. Mavs for the 3 seed, maybe, and I think the Thunder will be number 1.
6- Spurs have a good regular season again and are knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.
7- Grizzlies, Nuggets, Blazers, Hawks, and 76ers all improve, but not enough for deep playoff runs. I think the same can be said for the Knicks, as well. I think the BEST they can hope for is an Allen Iverson type season when he was in their prime, where they make a deep playoff run by just lose to a more well rounded team.
8- Pacers have another strong playoff showing, but nevertheless are knocked out in the 1st or 2nd round.
9- Magic suck. Royally suck. Like 7 seed, maybe.
10- Toronto is the worst team in the league.
