NBA Regular Season Preview 2013-14

NBA Regular Season preview 2013-14

By Aidan Geraghty @1895Aidan

The 2012-13 NBA Season ended with the Miami Heat defeating the San Antonio Spurs at the end of an thrilling seven-game series in which the same team one two games in a row once (Miami: games 6 and 7). The big three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were taken to the wire by the Spurs, led by veterans Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. Entering the 2013-14 Season, Erik Spoelstra’s team are the favourites to complete their three-peat but they will face stiff competition from the Oklahoma City Thunder, the San Antonio Spurs and, new contenders, the Brooklyn Nets who are stocked with stars like Deron Williams, Paul Pierce, Brook Lopez and Kevin Garnett.

Now that we’ve gotten that unnecessary foreword out of the way, we’ll get down to business.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division

1. Brooklyn Nets (52-30)
2. New York Knicks (50-32)
3. Toronto Raptors (35-47)
4. Boston Celtics (32-50)
5. Philadelphia 76ers (22-60)

The Atlantic Division was, last year, tipped to be the strongest division in the NBA with 4 teams who had a chance of going deep into the playoffs. However, Andrew Bynum’s degenerative knees and disrespect to the city of Philadelphia meant that the Sixers finished with only 34 wins and 4 games out of the 8^th seed. This year, Brooklyn have strengthened through trades by adding veterans Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett from Boston to their two existing stars, point guard Deron Williams and center Brook Lopez. The Knicks, who lacked in defensive consistency last season, have lured Metta World Peace to Manhattan and the Celtics, despite getting younger and getting rid of the final 2 of the big 3, still have star power in Rajon Rondo and won’t be bad enough to be high in the lottery. Toronto has some good pieces in Rudy Gay, DeMar DeRozan, Tyler Hansbrough and DJ Augustin. They’ve also added Steve Novak to give them some minutes off the bench and they’ll get the 8^th seed. Philly traded away their only all-star (Jrue Holiday) to the Big Easy and are building for the future around Nerlens Noel in the middle. The fans in the City of Brotherly Love want the team to tank in order to obtain Andrew Wiggins (Kansas) in next year’s draft.

Central Division

1. Chicago Bulls (54-28)
2. Indiana Pacers (44-38)
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (41-41)
4. Detroit Pistons (33-49)
5. Milwaukee Bucks (30-52)

Last season, Derrick Rose didn’t play a single minute for the Bulls but they still managed to grab the 5^th seed and take Miami to 7 games in the Eastern Conference Semis. Luol Deng and Joakim Noah also had some injury issues last season and, with all 3 stars back, Chicago will take the 2^nd seed. Indiana have built a nice team without any real stars and almost won the Eastern Conference last season. They did all of that without point guard Danny Granger. His return, added with the repeated contributions of Paul George, David West and Roy Hibbert, should see them obtain a winning record again but a full strength Chicago team will prevent them from a repeat in the division. Cleveland got lucky with 2 recent #1 picks in the draft, they added Kyrie Irving (Duke) in 2011 and Anthony Bennett (UNLV) this year. They’re still an inexperienced team but they’ll have a .500 record and reach the playoffs. Detroit has signed free agent Josh Smith from Atlanta but Smith isn’t good enough to turn a whole franchise around. Milwaukee won’t be the same team this season after the departure of Monta Ellis.

Southeast Division

1. Miami Heat (63-19)
2. Atlanta Hawks (39-43)
3. Washington Wizards (31-51)
4. Charlotte Bobcats (24-58)
5. Orlando Magic (21-61)

Miami is on track to be considered one of the greatest teams in history when it’s all said and done, they’ll have no problem winning this poor division and taking the #1 seed for the second year running. Atlanta has lost Josh Smith through free agency but Paul Millsap and Elton Brand will get them out of this division. Washington is improving under the leadership of young point guard John Wall but they’re a long way from contention. Things are looking up for Charlotte fans, the organisation has had its request to change its name to the Hornets (in line with the original franchise in the city) approved, they’ve signed Al Jefferson from Utah and they’ve drafter Cody Zeller from Indiana. Orlando is still a bad team who relies on Nick Vucevic for production. Victor Oladipo will be a good player in the future but he won’t make an immediate impact.

Eastern Conference Playoff Picture

1. Miami (63-19)
2. Chicago (54-28)
3. Brooklyn (52-30)
4. New York (50-32)
5. Indiana (44-38)
6. Cleveland (41-41)
7. Atlanta (39-43)
8. Boston (35-47)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Northwest Division

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (61-21)
2. Denver Nuggets (52-30)
3. Minnesota Timberwolves (43-39)
4. Portland Trailblazers (37-45)
5. Utah Jazz (27-55)

Oklahoma City probably would’ve won the Western Conference last year had Russell Westbrook not been injured. That’s not to take anything away from San Antonio, they battled well but the Thunder was a different team without its star point guard. He’ll be back this season and OKC will take the #1 seed in the west. Denver lost Andre Iguodala in free agency but Danilo Gallinari, Ty Lawson, JJ Hickson, Kenneth Faried and JaVale McGee will all contribute and Denver will reach the postseason comfortably. Minnesota suffered injuries to important players (most notably Ricky Rubio) last season and finished in last place. Expect them to push for the playoffs in 2014. Portland is an improving team who will go as far as LaMarcus Aldridge takes them. Utah lost both Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap to the Southeast Division this off-season and will finish in last place.

Pacific Division

1. Los Angeles Clippers (58-24)
2. Golden State Warriors (49-33)
3. Los Angeles Lakers (44-38)
4. Sacramento Kings (30-53)
5. Phoenix Suns (23-59)

The Clippers will be a team to watch this season. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin will be entertaining as ever and Doc Rivers has landed in LA after his departure from Beantown. The Warriors had a great year last year and Stephen Curry; David Lee et al will want to improve. The Lakers aren’t the force they once were, having lost Dwight Howard to the Rockets and Kobe to injury. They should make the playoffs but early elimination looms large in Hollywood. Kings fans will rejoice just because they kept their team, after the league blocked the proposed relocation to Seattle. That doesn’t mean it’s going to be a good year, though and 32/33 wins is their ceiling. Phoenix fans will wish they could go back to the mid-noughties when Jason Kidd, Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire plied their trade in the desert. Now they have to settle for Goran Dragic.

Southwest Division

1. Houston Rockets (55-27)
2. San Antonio Spurs (50-32)
3. Memphis Grizzlies (48-34)
4. Dallas Mavericks (38-44)
5. New Orleans Pelicans (35-47)

Houston just added Dwight Howard to James Harden and if Howard plays like the Orlando Howard rather than the Lakers Howard, they’ll win this division. The Spurs are an ageing team but they still have tons of talent. Memphis has some weapons in Marc Gasol and Tayshaun Prince. They’ll reach the playoffs but they won’t top either of their divisional rivals. Dallas is an ageing team. Dirk, Carter and Marion are all shells of their former selves. However, the acquisition of Monta Ellis makes this a good starting five. New Orleans acquired Jrue Holiday from Philly and he’ll match up well with Anthony Davis to get a few more wins than last year.

Western Conference Playoff Picture

1. Oklahoma City (61-21)
2. Los Angeles Clippers (58-24)
3. Houston (55-27)
4. Denver (52-30)
5. San Antonio(50-32)
6. Golden State (49-33)
7. Memphis (48-34)
8. Los Angeles Lakers (44-38)