NBA Preview

With the NBA season set to get underway this week, we thought it was appropriate to give a little preview. This post will have my and Brian Johnson's picks for the playoffs, the awards and some sleepers. Later on we'll go a step further and explain what to expect this year in more depth.

Brian Johnson:
East Champions: Boston Celtics
Atlantic Division Champions: Boston Celtics
Central Division Champions: Cleveland Cavaliers
Southeast Division Champions: Orlando Magic
Playoff Teams:
1.Boston Celtics
2.Cleveland Cavaliers
3.Philadelphia 76ers
4.Orlando Magic
5.Toronto Raptors
6.Detroit Pistons
7.Chicago Bulls
8.Miami Heat

West Champions: New Orleans Hornets
Northwest Division Champions: Utah Jazz
Southwest Division Champions: New Orleans Hornets
Pacific Division Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
Playoff Teams:
1.New Orleans Hornets
2.Los Angeles Lakers
3.Utah Jazz
4.San Antonio Spurs
5.Dallas Mavericks
6.Houston Rockets
7.Portland Trail Blazers
8.Phoenix Suns

Mike Vorkunov:
East Champions: Cleveland Cavaliers
Atlantic: Boston Celtics
Central: Detroit Pistons
Southeast: Orlando Magic
Playoff Teams:
1. Boston Celtics
2. Detroit Pistons
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
4. Orlando Magic
5. Toronto Raptors
6. Philadelphia 76ers
7. Miami Heat
8. Charlotte Bobcats

West Champions: Los Angeles Lakers
Pacific: Lakers
Northwest: Utah
Southwest: New Orleans
Playoff Teams:
1. New Orleans Hornets
2. Los Angeles Lakers
3. Utah Jazz
4. Pheonix Suns
5. Houston Rockets
6. San Antonio Spurs
7. Dallas Mavericks
8. Portland Trailblazers

NBA Champions: Boston Celtics (Brian Johnson), Los Angeles Lakers (Mike Vorkunov)

The Awards
Brian Johnson:
MVP: Chris Paul (Hornets), Sleeper: Dwight Howard (Magic)
Rookie of the Year: Greg Oden (Trail Blazers), Sleeper: D.J. Augustine (Bobcats)
Comeback Player: Dwayne Wade (Heat), Sleeper: Elton Brand (Sixers)
Most Improved Player: Jose Calderon (Raptors), Jeff Green (Thunder)
Defensive Player of the Year: Kobe Bryant (Lakers, Sleeper: Ron Artest (Rockets),
Breakout Player: Lou Williams (Sixers), Sleeper: Wilson Chandler (Knicks)

Mike Vorkunov:
MVP: LeBron James (Cavaliers), Sleeper pick: Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks)
ROY: Michael Beasley (Heat), Sleeper pick: Eric Gordon (Clippers)
MIP: Luol Deng (Bulls), Sleeper: Jeff Green (The Team Formerly Named as the Sonics), Ray Felton (Bobcats)
COY: Dwyane Wade (Heat), Sleeper: Sean May (Bobcats)
Breakout player: Kevin Durant (The Team Formerly Named as the Sonics)


All-NBA First Team:
Brian Johnson:
Guard: Chris Paul (Hornets)
Guard: Kobe Bryant (Lakers)
Forward: LeBron James (Cavs)
Forward: Tim Duncan (Spurs)
Center: Dwight Howard (Magic)

Mike Vorkunov:
Guard: Kobe Bryant
Guard: Chris Paul
Forward: Amare Stoudemire (Suns)
Forward: LeBron James
Center: Dwight Howard