NBA 2012-2013 Season Preview and Predictions

by Marcus

By: Marcus Ferro

The Hype surrounding the 2012-2013 could not be any greater. It started with a championship in parade in South Beach, continued with a storied Gold Medal run for Team USA in the Olympics, was amplified by blockbuster trades and free agency signings that changed state of the title hunt, and ends tonight, when the Heat and Celtics tip-off the most highly anticipated NBA season to date. There will be many story lines to follow this season: Dwight Howard in L.A., Ray Allen’s relationship with his old friends-turned-bitter-rivals in Boston, James Harden’s exit in OKC, Stern’s last full season and so on. But the overlying theme of this season will be whether LeBron James can continue his reign as basketball’s King, or if this era’s consummate player, Kobe Bryant -accompanied by the most talented supporting cast he’s ever had- will recapture the NBA crown.

West Standings (Projected Record)
1. Los Angeles Lakers (62-20)
2. Los Angeles Clippers (59-23)
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (58-24)
4. San Antonio Spurs (57-25)
5. Denver Nuggets (55-27)
6. Memphis Grizzlies (54-28)
7. Dallas Mavericks (53-29)
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (50-32)

First one out: Utah Jazz (48-34)

Western Conference Champion: Los Angeles Lakers
Western Conference Runner-up: Los Angeles Clippers

With the much of the talent shifting to and remaining in the Western Conference, expect to see yet another closely contended Western Conference playoff race, much akin to the 2010 season when every playoff team from 1-8 won at least 50 games. OKC may have ceded their grip on the West to Hollywood when they traded Harden for a downgrade in Kevin Martin. The Clippers had OKC’s number last year (3-1) and the Lakers are the Lakers again. At this point, calling the West for any other team than the Lakers is just stupid.

East Standings:
1. Miami Heat (64-18)
2. Indiana Pacers (57-25)
3. Boston Celtics (55-25)
4. Brooklyn Nets (54-28)
5. Philadelphia 76ers (50-29)
6. Chicago Bulls (49-33)
7. New York Knicks (48-34)
8. Atlanta Hawks (47-35)

First one out: Toronto Raptors (43-39)

Eastern Conference Champion: Miami Heat
Eastern Conference Runner-up: Boston Celtics

The race for the East will remain a very top-heavy contest. A healthy Miami Heat should run away with the top seed and the Eastern Conference Championship. It really shouldn’t even be close. The Celtics have the talent and coaching of a potential 60 win team, but their propensity to meander throughout the middle of the season will probably keep them out of the 1 or 2 seed, and maybe even out of the top 3. Deron Williams and Brooklyn are not to be overlooked in the EC playoff race. D-Will has had lead Utah into deep postseason runs with less talent than he has now. A healthy Bulls with Thibs at the helm would have the best shot at beating Miamt. However, with Derrick Rose unlikely to return in full-form this season, it seems as though Boston has the next best shot at beating the Heat; but the defending champs look to be too good to have any real competition in the East.

NBA Champion: Los Angeles Lakers
NBA Runner-up: Miami Heat

It’s hard to pick against the most talented Laker roster since at least the Kobe-Shaq Era, and this team is probably even more talented than those 3-peat squads. The backcourt of Kobe and Nash will provide an offensive attack like no other; but Lakers if are going to win the championship, it will be on the blocks. There isn’t a front court that can touch the combination of Howard and Gasol. On the other hand, LeBron is so good right now that it might not even matter what the Lakers do or what their advantages are. This Finals match-up is sure to be one of the most closely contested and highly viewed in league history.

Awards Predictions

All NBA Team
First Team Second Team Third Team
G: Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers G: Dwayne Wade, Miami Heat G: Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
G: Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers G: Deron Williams, Brooklyn Nets G: Russell Westbrook, OKC
C: Dwight Howard, L.A. Lakers C: Chris Bosh, Miami Heat C: Andrew Bynum, Phi. 76ers
F: LeBron James, Miami Heat F: Carmelo Anthony, N.Y. Knicks F: Kevin Love, Minn. T’Wolves
F: Kevin Durant, OKC Thunder F: Blake Griffin, L.A Clippers F: Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks

All Defensive Team
First Team Second Team
G: Chris Paul, L.A. Clippers G: Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers
G: Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics G: Dwayne Wade, Miami Heat
C: Dwight Howard, L.A. Lakers C: Tyson Chandler, New York Knicks
F: LeBron James, Miami Heat F: Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia 76ers
F: Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks F: Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City Thunder