One of the things I was looking forward to at the start of the season was watching the Thursday night antics of Inside the NBA on TNT with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and the one and only Charles Barkley. You just never know what will come out of Chuck’s mouth next, and last night was no exception.

After the Blazers eked out a win against the Nuggets in the nightcap game, Barkley referred to an earlier time where he said Kobe Bryant is one of the top 10 players in the history of the NBA. He took that a step further last night when he said he is now in the top 5 best players. Let’s take a look at his list:

5. Kobe Bryant
4. Wilt Chamberlain
3. Bill Russell
2. Oscar Robertson
1. Michael Jordan

Kenny Smith was surprised he picked Bryant over both Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, but he just about flipped his lid when Barkley said he is better than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He tried to persuade Chuck from saying Bryant was in the top 6 and Barkley didn’t budge at first. After the commercial break, however, he aptly changed his mind and said Bryant is in the top 6.

It seems to me that putting Kobe Bryant in the top 5 list of the best NBA players to ever play when he isn’t even done playing is premature. Barkley was a bit out of line in his declaration. He should have stuck with his first decision of putting him in the top 10.

To put him the top 5 while he is still playing does a great disservice to players that have come before him. I know Bryant has won five rings already, but let’s wait to properly evaluate him when his career is over. Heck, if he wins a couple more rings he could certainly move up that list, but for now, let’s not get too ridiculous. That’s why I love watching Inside the NBA. The things Barkley says are absolutely stunning.

Here’s my top 10:
10. Elgin Baylor
9. Moses Malone
8. Kobe Bryant
7. Larry Bird
6. Magic Johnson
5. Wilt Chamberlain
4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
3. Bill Russell
2. Oscar Robertson
1. Michael Jordan

We are now three weeks into the NBA season. Already there have been some players and teams that are stepping up their game and outperforming expectations. So let’s take a look.

Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets
I picked Nawlins to squeak into the playoffs in the preseason. Who would’ve thought they would come out firing like this? Chris Paul is once again at the top of his game after missing extended time last year. Everyone pegged Deron Williams as the best point guard in the game, but they seemed to have forgotten just how good Paul is. The Hornets started out winning their first eight games with quality wins over the Bucks twice, Spurs, Nuggets, Heat, and Blazers. At 8-1, the Hornets are rolling along. The question is, can they keep it up? They’ve answered the dinner bell so far.

Richard Jefferson and the San Antonio Spurs
The silver and black stumbled out of the gate last year with a 4-6 start. At 8-1, this year is a completely different story. The Spurs offense is explosive, currently ranked second in the league behind the Lakers at 108.9 points per game. Richard Jefferson has looked markedly better and more comfortable than last year. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have been one of the best backcourt tandems in the league once again, all while Tim Duncan rests and has scored in single digits in each of the last three games. All that’s left to do is show what they’ve got against the elites. The only quality wins so far were against the Suns and Thunder.

Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat
So I guess that 72-10 mark isn’t going to be contested this year? First it was the Heat who had the chance to do this, then it was the Lakers once they started 8-0. Kids these days… We are so eager to demolish records before teams even play the games. But I digress. I included Chris Bosh because he has been unbelievably mediocre. He is averaging just 14.5 points per game at this point with only 6 rebounds. That’s no good with the label of the Big Three and the remarkably high expectations. This team is still figuring out the kinks. They might not figure it all out until the playoffs arrive. Could it be possible this team isn’t as good as advertised?

Cleveland Cavaliers
A lot of people said the Cavs would be dead in the water this season. One analyst said they would only win 12 games this year. Through 10 games they sit at 5-5 and are playing tremendous team basketball. The highest scoring guy is J.J. Hickson with 15.2. Granted, the only team they’ve beaten with a winning record are the Celtics, but let’s not take anything away from them. They’ve endured so much already. Cleveland should be ecstatic and optimistic for the future. Maybe this team wasn’t just LeBron James and a bunch of bums…

Monta Ellis and the Golden State Warriors
A 7-4 record to start the season with a new coach and a hobbling Stephen Curry ain’t too shabby. Their only marquee win was against the Jazz, but with their style of play, they can beat anybody on any given night. The trio of Curry, Ellis, and David Lee looks stellar. Ellis has been lights out since game one when he dropped 46 on the Rockets, averaging 26.5 points per game. Their play style and lack of defense probably won’t take them far in the long run, but one thing’s for sure, when these guys take the court, you better get your popcorn ready (in the famous words of Terrell Owens).

Michael Beasley
B-Easy, as some call him, has reemerged as the player everyone thought he would be as the number two pick. He is averaging 21.2 points per game, including 42 and 35 point performances against the Kings and Knicks respectively. Problem is, the Timberwolves still suck. They sit at 3-9 and have played a rough schedule to start out. Losses include games against the Hawks twice, Magic, Heat, and Lakers. The good news is there is renewed optimism with this franchise starting with Kevin Love and Michael Beasley.

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

There are a pair of games on ESPN tonight that are sure to impress. The humiliated Bulls, who lost to the Knicks at home last night, travel to Boston to play the Celtics. In the night cap, Blake Griffin and the Clippers travel to the mile high city to play Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets. Both should be good games, but the one I wanted to see was the Heat going up against the surprisingly 4-0 Hornets. It will be interesting to see how the Heat match up with quite possibly the best point guard in the league in Chris Paul.

So without further ado, here are my picks for each of the 12 games on the Friday night slate.

Bucks over Pacers
Scott Skiles is having a hard time getting their opponents to fear the deer in this early season. They’ve stumbled out of the gate at 1-4 and are facing Granger and the steady 2-2 Pacers. I like the Bucks to get the road win against another East team who is still trying to find their way. Indiana looks pretty good though with the improvement of Roy Hibbert and the arrival of Darren Collison.

Magic over Nets
Stan Van Gundy’s crew is fresh off a butt-wooping they put on the lowly Timberwolves in which they scored 78 points by halftime. They get this win at home tonight over a Nets team that is still figuring out who they are with all of the new pieces.

76ers over Cavaliers
This was a tough one, but I’m going with the home team. I’m still waiting to see what Evan Turner has to offer this team. I had high expectations for him, but with Andre Iguodala still in Philly, it will be tough to figure out where he fits in on this team. Still, I like them over the reeling Cavaliers, losers of three straight after their opening win over Boston. Antawn Jamison is likely out but Mo Williams will play and start for the first time this year.

Bobcats over Pistons
Will this be the game where the Pistons get their first win? I don’t think so. After stumbling out of the gate a bit, the 1-3 Bobcats eked out a win against the Nets on Wednesday. I look for them to keep it going against the hapless Pistons.

Wizards over Knicks
I like the wiz kid, John Wall, to lead them to victory over the three-point happy Knicks who coming off a big win in the Windy City last night. This is the type of up and down game Wall should thrive in tonight. Don’t be surprised if he does a lot of the things he did against the Sixers on Tuesday where he almost got a triple-double.

Celtics over Bulls
Boston’s not good on back-to-backs. That was made evident in their loss to Cleveland after beating the Heat. Going on two days rest and a grind-out win over the Bucks, I think the Celtics get the win at home in a tightly contested battle of two top teams in the East.

Hornets over Heat
The undefeated “Nawlins” Hornets are at home for the slightly hobbled LeBron James and the Miami Heat. Chris Paul will impose his will whoever is guarding him. Which begs the question: who will that be? It should be interesting. On the flip side, who accounts for James and Dwyane Wade?

Hawks over Timberwolves
The Wolves are just bad. They’ve given up at least 100 points in each of their four losses, including 129 and 128 to the Heat and Magic respectively. The Hawks are undefeated at 5-0. They’ll easily win this one despite not having Marvin Williams.

Suns over Grizzlies
Steve Nash and the boys are coming off a close home loss to the Spurs. I think their bench gets it done against the Grizz with Zach Randolph questionable to return to the lineup.

Clippers over Nuggets
In the ESPN night cap game, I like the Clippers upsetting the Nuggets on the road. They played well against the Thunder a few nights ago and I think they will play well enough together to get this win. The Nuggets continue to be without post presence with the absences of Kenyon Martin and Chris Anderson. Griffin should be able to have a field day on the glass.

Warriors over Jazz
Golden State is a surprising 3-1 to start the season. They are at home for the Jazz, a team that just can’t win on the road. They do have an impressive road win against the Thunder, but they also got blown out by the Suns. Monta Ellis will continue his hot shooting streak in this one. I believe the Dubs get the upset win.

Lakers over Raptors
I don’t really have to explain this. Toronto is at the bottom of the East and L.A. is at the top of the West. It should be a blowout in a game where Kobe Bryant is done by the fourth quarter, maybe even sooner.

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

Just another day at the office. Last night in a dominating win over the Pistons, Rajon Rondo showcased once again why he is one of the best point guards in the league as he dished out 17 assists. And he didn’t even have the big Shaquille O’Neal to pass the ball to. Including his career-best 24 assists against the Knicks a game earlier, Rondo’s assist total stands at 67 through four games, which is the most by one player through four games in NBA history. John Stockton and Magic Johnson both had 65 through four games. So the question has to be asked: is Rondo the best point guard in the NBA? If not, where does he rank?

Through Rondo’s first four years in the league, he hasn’t averaged double figures in assists. One could say he basically reached that plateau last year when he averaged 9.8 assists. Yet, as each year progresses, his game seems to improve. He is finding more ways to get his teammates involved. He sees the floor extraordinarily well. His game grew leaps and bounds last year as he led the Celtics march into the Finals. The only thing that needs to be improved is the glaring need for a decent jump shot.

Rondo has never been a good jump shooter, but his field goal percentage hovers around the 50 percent range due to his penetrating ability. His free throw percentage has been in the low to mid 60 percent range throughout his career, which is by far the worst percentage for a point guard. Despite this obvious flaw, his leadership and passing skills have got people declaring the Celtics now have a Big Four.

Rondo’s bread and butter is penetrating and finding teammates. That’s no secret by now. Defenders always give him three feet of separation because they know what he’s all about. But it doesn’t seem to matter. A big man comes to set a pick on his man, Rondo makes his move, and before you know it, he’s at the basket in scoring position or hitting Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett for an open jumper. When watching the Celtics, how many times have you seen Rondo do what I just described? Rondo is probably the best at playing within himself. He doesn’t shoot shots that are low percentage shots for him. he looks for situations where his teammates will be in the best position to score. His court vision rivals that of Steve Nash.

On top of his court vision on the offensive end, he does it on the defensive end as well. Rondo was in the discussion for defensive player of the year last season where he averaged 2.3 steals per game. He also was on the first team All-Defensive squad. His long arms and anticipation disrupt the passing lanes, keeping the offense on its toes. His stealing ability rivals that of Chris Paul, who averaged 2.1 steals a game last year and 2.8 in the year prior.

He’s got the classic distributing point guard mentality on offense and he can disrupt passing lanes on defense. So where does he rank among the NBA’s elite point guards? Does the lack of a jump shot hurt his status? Does the fact that he is playing with three, and now four (with Shaq) future Hall of Famers become a factor?

Going back to the point made earlier, Rondo plays within himself to find others. He does that as well as any point guard in the league. I think he is one of the top three best point guards in this league. His significance to the Celtics can not be undermined. It has been under-appreciated though. Look for Rondo to be one of the key reasons for the success of the Celtics once again.

Along with Paul, Rondo is the quintessential model for what a point guard should be. It’s not bad when you get mentioned in the same breath with some of the best in the game like Stockton and Magic either.

And just for kicks, here’s my list of the Top 10 point guards in the league.
1. Chris Paul
2. Deron Williams
3. Rajon Rondo
4. Derrick Rose
5. Russell Westbrook
6. Tony Parker
7. Steve Nash
8. John Wall
9. Jason Kidd
10. Aaron Brooks

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

The NBA’s season opening night has come and gone. The Celtics, Blazers, and Lakers all picked up wins. Yesterday I predicted the winners of these three games and was right on each account. I even suggested the Lakers would win by one to three points in a close one, which they did (112-110 was the final). This makes me wonder how good I would do if I took up sports betting. That’s a slippery slope, so I’ll pass. But I digress. Let’s get to the matter at hand.

So, what did we learn about the most highly anticipated debut in NBA history? Well, quite honestly, nothing new.

The Celtics started their defense of the Eastern Conference crown with a 88-80 win over the super duper teammates and the Heat. Boston came out running from the start. Their defense was suffocating most of the night except when LeBron James declared the third quarter his own. The nine points by the Heat in the first quarter was painful to watch. I’m amazed they scored that little with players like James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh on the court. I know Boston’s defense is stellar, but come on man. Last night’s game serves as a testament to the Celtic defense which is the best in the league.

Last night’s game also serves as a realization that this team still needs to play with each other to maximize their effectiveness. Wade missed all but three minutes of the preseason and it clearly showed. He wasn’t on the same page as the rest of the team as evidenced by the six turnovers.

How about James’ eight turnovers? With all of the good things he did, his eight turnovers and Wade’s six are clear signs that these guys don’t have it figured out yet. He did almost will the Heat in a comeback bid in the third quarter after being down by as many as 19. But we all knew he could do that, didn’t we?

Bosh looked uncomfortable and indecisive throughout the game, scoring only eight points on three of 11 shooting. The one play that was impressive was the face up blow by move on Kevin Garnett which he finished at the rim.

If one thing is for sure, the Miami Heat are a shooting team. Wade and James serve as the slashers, the rest of the guys spot up for jumpers. That’s about it. Bosh can create his own shot as well. He is the closest thing to a post presence they have. Last night’s Heat looked a lot like the Cavaliers and Heat of last year, where everybody stood around waiting for something to happen.

We know whoever plays the Heat will have difficulties matching up with the Big Three, but what about the matchup problems for the Heat on defense? Rajon Rondo had his way last night as he dished out 17 assists. What do the Heat do on defense to matchup with the Rondo’s, Chris Paul’s, and Deron Williams’ of the league? Eddie House and Carlos Arroyo were often seen chasing Ray Allen around, leaving Wade to guard Rondo. That’s a tough defensive assignment if you ask me.

At the end of the day, the results were what I expected. Shaq got dunks and layups at the rim (two of which he missed) due to the lack of size and mobility down low, the Celtics defense lived up to their billing, and the Heat were rusty and discombobulated. I did, however, expect the Heat to score more than 80.

It’s clear the Heat need more work and exposure with each other. It’s also clear this team will not beat the Bulls’ 72 win record. Now is definitely not the time to overreact with preposterous claims that this team is a failure. It’s Game 1. There’s 82 more to go. Your hat has to go off to the Celtics though. They proved why they are the reigning champions of the East and why they will remain so until they are beaten.

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

The 2010-2011 NBA season is finally upon us. After what seemed like the longest summer in recent memory with “The Decision” and everything else that transpired, it’s time to kick this thing off and see what’s what. There are three good games on the slate tonight. And yes, there is more than one game on tonight.

Let’s start with the highly anticipated regular season debut of the revamped Miami Heat facing off against the reigning Eastern Conference Champion Boston Celtics. Frankly, I’m tired of hearing about LeBron James and the Heat in general. It sickens me that ESPN has dedicated an entire section of their site to this team called the Heat Index. Oh well. The media is the media.

Heat vs. Celtics
I like the Celtics to win at home tonight. Dwyane Wade hasn’t played with this team yet. Plus Mike Miller’s absence will be evident. It will definitely be tough for the Celtics to contain the Big Three, but no one else on the team is a major threat. The Celtics look even better than last year with the additions of Shaquille and Jermaine O’Neal as well as the return of Delonte West. Word is Shaq will be getting the start with Kendrick Perkins likely to be out until the All-Star break. Kevin Garnett and the crew are looking to stay healthy this year, something they struggled with last year at the tail end of the season.

Suns vs. Blazers
Aside from the two games on TNT tonight, we have Steve Nash and his crew against Brandon Roy and his medical staff. I felt bad for the Blazers last year with all of the injuries they had to endure. They can be a legitimate contender in the West this year IF they can stay healthy. Suspect number is and has been one Greg Oden. He’s played 82 total games in three years. When healthy, he can contribute significantly to this team. They put up a fight in the playoffs last year against the team they are facing tonight. The Suns Western Conference playoff days are certainly behind them with the departure of Amare Stoudemire. They will need Nash to play out of his mind and beyond his age (again) as well as a career resurrection out of Hedo Turkoglu to compete again in the cluttered West. I like the Blazers to win this one at home. Their size (assuming nobody gets hurt in the game) will be too much for the undersized run and gun Suns.

Rockets vs. Lakers
Opening night closes with the champion Lakers hosting the Houston Rockets. The Lakers will get their rings (well, except for Ron Artest) and banner to start the night, then will take the court to begin their title defense against a Rockets squad that is getting back a healthy Yao Ming. I haven’t seen Yao play in so long, I kind of forget his playing style. It will be fun to see him back on the hardwood once more. I’m also interested in seeing how new pieces Matt Barnes, Steve Blake, Theo Ratliff, and even Derrick Caracter fair in their first game as a Laker. I’m also looking forward to seeing how Kobe Bryant plays on achy knees. He said he’s only at about 60-70 percent to start the year. Tonight will be a hard fought, close game in which I think the Lakers win by one to three points. The Rockets have a chance to make noise in the West as well with a healthy squad.

The season is finally upon us. I’m excited to get it going. I’m excited to hear more words of wisdom from Charles Barkley. He’s such a nut-job. My Spurs don’t play until tomorrow, so tonight’s games will have to suffice for now. Who do you think wins tonight? What are you excited for the most this season? And please, keep the Heat and Laker championship comments to a minimum please!

Posted by Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

Look at everybody’s NBA season forecast and you will be hit with a barrage of repetition. The Finals match-up is widely projected to be a two-team race, despite a number of teams making improvements. I don’t have to say the two squads, because you all more than likely know who they are. I’m here to provide an alternative opinion, and it’s an opinion I feel confident in. Here it is: neither the Heat nor the Lakers will make the NBA Finals this season.

Due to that last sentence, I imagine I have lost all of the Heat and Laker fan readers. Call me delirious, delusional, demented, I don’t care. It’s what I sincerely believe. Let me tell you why before I delve into the teams I expect to play for the title.

Why the Heat won’t play for Larry O’Brien Trophy
Ever since Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, and Chris Bosh have joined forces, people have been saying they are winning the championship. This was being said even when the Heat had four players under contract, including Mario Chalmers.

Outside of the big three, this team is unproven and inexperienced. Wade, Udonis Haslem, and Eddie House are the lone players on this team with rings. James, Big Z, and Mike Miller have playoff experience. That’s about it. Bosh hasn’t gotten out of the first round of the playoffs.

This team has yet to play together at full strength. The pre-season is a time where teams are fine-tuning their roster to figure out what pieces fit and how the team’s chemistry is coming along. That is being halted by James and Wade’s leg problems. And don’t forget about Wade’s injury-proneness. Who knows if he could miss significant time during the season? Nonetheless, this is playing time that is valuable to the future success of this team.

Basketball is a team sport. A lot of people seem to forget this. The bottom line remains for this squad: how far can the big three take us? That is what they have to fall back on. There is very little talent that will make a large impact outside of the big three. They are slow and undersized down low. That will be a problem against the Celtics and Magic. People seem to brush that aside. Mike Miller will get some open shots as a result of defenses collapsing on the big three, but that’s the limit of his effectiveness. And what about their point guard play? Neither Mario Chalmers or Carlos Arroyo are starting point guards in this league. In the end, will it matter with a team that has James and Wade?

I’m not discounting the possibility of the Heat making the Finals, I just don’t think they will. You can call me a hater if you want, but I’m voicing my honest and educated opinion. The East has improved. Don’t expect these other teams to lie down.

Why the Lakers won’t play for the Larry O’Brien Trophy
The Lakers are looking to three-peat for the second time in just over a decade. The fact that they are this position is a testament to the ownership and tough-mindedness of its players. So those of you thinking I’m a Laker hater, you could not be farther from the truth. I have nothing but respect for the organization.

Many believe a three-peat is inevitable. The same roster is returning sans Jordan Farmar. They have picked up Steve Blake to back up an aging Derek Fisher, Matt Barnes to aid in perimeter shooting and defense, and Theo Ratliff to contribute interior defense while Andrew Bynum misses more time. Those additions are all well and good, but are they enough to keep up with the ever changing landscape of the West?

The Lakers have a much better shot than the Heat do at making the Finals, simply because they are proven winners. However, things often do and can go wrong during the course of a season. Let’s look at a couple of things that could alter the Lakers trajectory.

First and foremost is injuries. Bynum will be out until December yet again and Kobe Bryant’s knees are not getting any better. Kobe is still a top-tier talent in this league, there’s no doubt about it. However, I think this is the year where his injuries finally catch up to him. He most likely won’t miss many games, but it could show in his performance.

Another factor that needs to be considered is the rest of the West. Many teams can and will challenge the Lakers for the West crown. Last year they got some balls to bounce their way. This year, those could easily bounce in the other direction.

Their once intimidating frontcourt will be less of a threat this year with so many teams stacking up in that regard. Bynum won’t be around most of the time to deal with them as well. The Spurs added Tiago Splitter for interior defense. The Blazers are hoping Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla can stay healthy to pair with Marcus Camby and LeMarcus Aldridge. The Rockets are getting Yao Ming back, for the moment anyway. The Mavericks have Tyson Chandler and Brendan Haywood. The chips are still stacked in the Lakers’ favor, but they might not get as lucky this time around.

As much as I don’t want to believe it, the Lakers are the favorites to represent the West for the fourth straight year, but anything is possible. I’m just not ready to hand it to them right now given their current state. I think the Lakers are in for a rude awakening.

My 2010-2011 NBA Finals Match-Up
Brace yourselves, because what you are about to read is considered outlandish and boneheaded by many. I believe the NBA Finals will be a between the Boston Celtics and the San Antonio Spurs.

Now I know what you are thinking: “How could you possibly pick two of the oldest teams in the game to go all the way?” Simple! Because both of these teams are given no respect and love being in the positions they find themselves in.

Honestly, who in their right mind picked the Celtics to go to the Finals last year, especially after the train wreck that was their 54-game ending to their season. But sure enough, they made a run with their gritty defense and multiple weapons on offense. After all, this was supposed to be the year we get to see Kobe vs. Lebron! (Phooey!!!)

This year, they have added some big bodies to the frontcourt. And when I say big, I mean Shaquille O’Neal and Jermaine O’Neal. I know, they’re old. But you give these guys spot minutes to spell Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, and Glen Davis and you’ve got a pretty formidable bench. You can also throw them at the Dwight Howard’s of the league. Their size advantage trumps any other team in the league. You better believe it will be an advantage against the undermanned Heat. As far as defending the Heat, they can play their normal tenacious team defense to try and limit at least one or two of the big three’s effectiveness.

Another underrated addition is the Delonte West signing. He will provide some great backup minutes to Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. And don’t forget about Nate Robinson, who had a tremendous impact in the playoffs last year.

The Spurs are no strangers to proving everybody wrong. They are never the favorites to win. They have been dubbed as a boring team. They have had one of the best defenses in league history, let alone the last decade. They are too old to go far… On and on it goes.

Unlike their previous years after winning the 2007 title, the Spurs’ “old” big three have some much needed help. The Spanish League MVP Tiago Splitter has finally arrived to help Duncan down low with pick and roll defense, something that killed them against the Suns in last year’s sweep. Judging from his pre-season performances, DeJaun Blair has lived up to his nickname of the beast. He could win the most improved award. George Hill is another year wiser and has the opportunity to learn from Tony Parker. Richard Jefferson is poised to improve after last year’s dud. And, might I reiterate, nobody expects this team to be a player come May and June.

I expect a career year from Tony Parker. He spent most of last year hobbled by injuries. The previous year he averaged 22 points per game, the highest of his career. I believe he can supplant that number in a year where he is playing for a contract. He will surprise many.

The Spurs can be last year’s Celtics. A team no one expected to be relevant, but then, out of nowhere, they make a run and are playing for the championship. Who’s to say that can’t happen again with this improved team?

By now every reader probably thinks I’m an idiot. That’s okay. Maybe by June I will be proven wrong, or maybe even proven right! But for now, I like my picks, believe it or not. And believe it or not, the expected norm just might be thwarted by a bunch of grandpas with their leather belts bending over the kids to teach them a lesson.

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

The East is more lopsided than ever this year as the fringe contenders in the Hawks have been brushed aside for the Bulls. The primary contenders are said to be the Celtics, Magic, and Heat. In the West, seeds one through eight are much closer. Every Western Conference playoff team last year won at least 50 games. The Thunder, who were the eighth seed, provided a scare to the first-seeded Lakers, but the Lakers ultimately emerged victorious in the end, as we all know.

This year looks to be more of the same. However, some of the teams have dropped off a bit. It’s impossible to predict the seeding, especially if the race is as tight as it was last year. Let’s see how the West shapes up this year.

#8 New Orleans Hornets
I like this bunch. A lot of people don’t think this team as currently constructed and with the recent moves ownership has made can make the postseason, but I think they can sneak in. They are on of my three surprise teams to watch for this year. They’ve got a new coach in Monty Williams, who has served under Nate McMillan in Portland. They’ve added a couple of new pieces in attempts to entice Chris Paul to stay. Trevor Ariza, Marco Belinelli, Willie Green, and Jason Smith are all newcomers that figure to contribute. Washington rookie Quincy Pondexter might get some significant minutes as well. Marcus Thornton will continue to flourish with an outstanding floor general in Chris Paul leading the way. I just hope trading away Darren Collison was the right move. If Paul misses some significant time again, these guys are in trouble. The frontcourt tandem of David West and Emeka Okafor are solid. Look for Ariza to have a quality year now that he is in a familiar spot that he was in with the Lakers. The Rockets were asking him to create and score more than what was his comfort level. Paul is determined to succeed this year. This bunch sneaks in the playoffs with 46-48 wins.

#7 Denver Nuggets
This will be a tough year for this years’ Nuggets. They’ve had to deal with the constant barrage of Carmelo Anthony trade talks, not to mention the displeasure of J.R. Smith. Who knows if Melo will still be a Nugget past this year’s trade deadline, but as of now, it doesn’t seem like he wants to stick around for long. They could have made a move to improve their roster, but the only addition they added was Al Harrington. He’s fine and all, but he’s basically a Kenyon Martin clone, who has been battling injuries recently. Martin hasn’t been the same player of late. Chris Anderson will miss early time this season as well. The Nuggets look a little thin in the frontcourt, as Martin is scheduled to be out until December and Anderson will miss a couple of games to start the season. Nene and Harrington will have to step up this season and perform. This Nuggets team, as currently put together, doesn’t look like they can compete with the best of the West. Add to that Melo’s status in limbo and it results in a shaky season for this Nuggets team. Hey, at least they still have Chauncey Billups. They’ll stumble into the postseason with 48-50 wins.

#6 Utah Jazz
The Bulls practically gutted the Jazz roster. Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, and Carlos Boozer have all been transferred to the Windy City. Not to worry, though. They picked up Timberwolves big man Al Jefferson to fill the void. The Jazz have a pretty favorable frontcourt lineup in Jefferson, Paul Millsap, and Mehmet Okur. Millsap will have his time to shine at power forward now that Boozer is gone. Okur will be a nice bench piece to provide a spark. The Jazz stayed busy this offseason. They picked up Raja Bell, athletic swingman C.J. Watson from Golden State, and the ninth overall draft pick in Gordon Hayward. Jerry Sloan is one of the best coaches in basketball and he is the man to mesh these new pieces with the mainstays. I’m sure Deron Williams won’t miss a beat with the absence of Boozer by feeding two big bodies in Jefferson and Millsap. Hopefully Andrei Kirilenko can stay healthy as well. There’s now doubt the injuries to him and Okur hurt this team in the playoffs last year. The Jazz look strong again this year, and could finished higher in the West. I’ll give them 50-53 wins.

#5 Portland Trail Blazers
This squad is full of ifs. They have been for as long as they’ve had Greg Oden. He has been the butt of many injury jokes that also have people labeling him as a bust. While it’s too early to say that, he needs to start showing that he can play something close to a full season. He has played 82 games in the three seasons. Not good. On top of Oden’s injury woes, Brandon Roy had problems staying healthy when it mattered most during the playoffs last year. Joel Przybilla was also hurt, leaving them thin at center until they picked up Marcus Camby in a trade. Now, barring injury, the Blazers are in a position to compete with the Lakers. The only lingering problem is Rudy Fernandez. He wants out, and the Blazers have been moving sluggishly in trading him. His situation, among other things, has been a little confusing in the way they have been handled. Wesley Matthews was signed to a five-year $32 million deal. Nobody knows exactly how that happened. All in all, these guys should be pretty darn good IF they can stay healthy. They’ll win 50-54 games.

#4 Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs are masters of the regular season. They seem to be in the top echelon every year, then they flop in the playoffs. They got a couple of newcomers that could make an impact, but not a big enough one. New additions to the team include Tyson Chandler. I could see Kidd and Chandler hooking up on a couple of nice lob plays, similar to Chandler’s stint with Chris Paul and the Hornets. They also signed Ian Mahinmi away from the Spurs. The Mavs have the same core returning. They have their rock in Dirk Nowitzki, an aging yet still capable Jason Kidd, the sharpshooting ace in Jason Terry, the defensively minded Shawn Marion, and tough-minded scorer in Caron Butler. I’m afraid they are headed for similar results unless Dirk shows us all something we’ve never seen out of him, or if Mark Cuban can land Carmelo Anthony (ha, long shot). Dirk just hasn’t shown that he can be a featured player on a championship team. I really don’t see that changing this year. They’ll win 52-55 games, but after that, they’ve got some proving to do.

#3 San Antonio Spurs
The old guys from the Alamo City never seem to go away. This year, like many years, they are flying under the radar. Only this year I think they have the potential to dethrone the mighty Lakers. They just don’t want anybody to know about it. That’s right, I said it. Tim Duncan is still the core of the team. Tony Parker is playing with a chip on his shoulder in a contract year after a year in which he missed significant playing time due to injury. Manu Ginobili is still Manu. It’s the young core that I believe will propel these guys. An improving DeJaun Blair, who has been working on his all-around game, looks to contribute greatly this year. George Hill is coming off a year in which he finished second in the most improved player voting. He will only get better as time goes on and he gets more playing time. The arrival of the Brazilian big man in Tiago Splitter is the guy who will make the most difference. He is also the guy that Ron Artest knows nothing about. He will provide some much needed help on the defensive end in defending pick-and-rolls. Oklahoma State standout James Anderson looks to be a key contributor as well. I like the Spurs winning 52-56 games this year.

#2 Oklahoma City Thunder
I almost put the Spurs in this spot, but in the West, anything can happen. The Thunder have been raved throughout this offseason as the team to challenge the Lakers out West. I’m not sure they are at that level yet. Yes, they did scare the champs last year in the opening round. One thing is certain, Kevin Durant is ridiculously talented. Not one person can deny him that. His range is unbelievable for a player of his size. Th Thunder return was largely the same roster, and for good reason. Both Durant and Russell Westbrook are better for their time in the FIBA games this summer. Look for Westbrook to have a breakout type of year. I like this young group. I’m looking to see the improvement from James Harden and Jeff Green as well. They are going to need those two, among others, to step up and support Durant and Westbrook. I like the Thunder this year, but I’m not sold that they can beat the Lakers. They will win 52-56 games this year.

#1 Los Angeles Lakers
You can pretty much pencil the Lakers as the first seed in the West. That is, unless Kobe Bryant’s body finally collapses and he has to sit out some games. The same core is returning with the addition of Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, and Theo Ratliff. Andrew Bynum still can’t get healthy. He’ll sit out until at least November, according to him. What else is there to say? The Lakers are the champs until someone knocks them off. The West is not as one-sided as people have been pegging it to be though. There are other teams that can defeat them in a seven game series, now let’s see if they can. The Lakers roll into the playoffs with 56-60 wins.

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

The grueling 82-game season from the end of October to the middle of April is only the beginning to the NBA season for 16 teams. What follows is a two month long battle royal to the top of the NBA mountaintop. It certainly will be fun to watch this year with so many key players shifting uniforms. The top teams are evident, but you can’t count out the sleeping giants or the cinderellas. The following is a breakdown of my top eight seeds in the Eastern Conference.

#8 New Jersey Nets
I believe the Nets have what it takes to make the playoffs this year. As detailed in my surprise teams post, the Nets are primed and ready to drastically improve from last year’s poor showing. A new coach (Avery Johnson), the number three draft pick (Derrick Favors), a deeper and more talented sharpshooting and bench contributors (Troy Murphy, Anthony Morrow, Travis Outlaw, Jordan Farmar, etc.), and the continued improvement from the young franchise benchmarks in Devin Harris and Brook Lopez, and it looks like this team could very well sneak in the postseason with 40 wins, maybe even fewer.

#7 Philadelphia 76ers
Philly was one of my three teams that could surprise this year. They, like the Nets, have a new coach in Doug Collins and a promising young talent in the second overall draft pick Evan Turner. He should be a solid rotation piece. It will be interesting to see how he and Andre Iguodala will mesh together. As has been the case for some time, Elton Brand is still a question mark in Philly. Spencer Hawes was brought in to pretty much offset the exit of Sam Dalembert. Lou Williams, Thaddeus Young, and Jrue Holiday are three young studs in a promising back court rotation. Let’s not forget, the Sixers were a playoff team in 2009. I believe they can get back to that level this year in a top-heavy East with around 38-44 wins.

#6 Atlanta Hawks
Joe Johnson is resigned to a ridiculous six year, $124 million contract. So there’s that. That’s about the only good thing the Hawks have going for them this year, although they severely overpaid for him. The Hawks failed to add frontcourt size in Shaquille O’Neal. They have failed to offer the reigning sixth man of the year in Jamal Crawford a new contract. Their major offseason acquisitions were Xavier rookie Jordan Crawford and center Etan Thomas. Once considered (albeit arguably) a contender, due to their inactivity, they are no longer near that level. They still have Josh Smith, Al Horford, Marvin Williams, etc. There’s just not much else going for this squad. I think they’ll get about 45 wins this year, good enough for no better than the 6th seed.

#5 Milwaukee Bucks
This year, teams might want to really consider fearing the deer. This team surprised last year with the emergence of Brandon Jennings and improved play from Andrew Bogut. They took the Hawks to seven games and almost beat them. They resigned John Salmons to a new deal, who was a key piece in the Bucks success last year. They signed two guys that figure to be big contributors in Corey Maggette and Drew Gooden. Michael Redd is always a question mark with his injury history, but if he stays healthy, it puts this team in an even better situation. Scott Skiles has this bunch playing tight and tough defense and they have the offense needed to stay relevant. I flirted with putting this team as the number 4 seed. These guys are looking good and can make some noise. I think they’ll get around 46-49 wins.

#4 Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are in the conversation as a contender in the East due to their pickup of Carlos Boozer. His scoring and rebounding coupled with Joakim Noah’s toughness and rebounding could be the best frontcourt tandem in the league. Noah will be energized with the organization putting faith in the big man with a $60 million contract extension. They’ve also added the sharpshooting Kyle Korver, the versatile and lanky Ronnie Brewer, a backup point guard in C.J. Watson, and old man river Kurt Thomas. Add to that Derrick Rose’s drive to win the MVP this year and you’ve got quite the determined bunch. And don’t forget about their new defensive-minded coach in Tom Thibodeau. Boozer’s early injury could mean tough sledding in the early going, but once he comes back, they have a legitimate shot at competing. However, I think they were at the level the Hawks were last year: on the cusp of contender, but not quite. Too bad they didn’t trade for Carmelo Anthony. That would have put them in that company. 50-52 wins for this squad.

#3 Boston Celtics
The reigning Eastern Conference champs are determined to not let last year happen again. The slow finish to the regular season, I mean. An injury mired second half of the season was a contributing factor to the Celts going 27-27 to finish the year. It lead to a lot of tinkering with lineups. Doc Rivers is hoping he doesn’t have to do that again because he wants home court advantage, something they lacked throughout the playoffs last year. The O’Neal brothers are in town this year (Shaquille and Jermaine), adding even more size to an already beefy frontcourt. Delonte West is back with the team after a hiatus in Cleveland. So is Nate Robinson with the signing of a new contract after his stellar performance off the bench last year. This team should compete for the title once more. Their window (boy that phrase is getting old) is not closed yet. They win 51-53 games this year.

#2 Orlando Magic
Frankly, I’m not quite sure what to expect from the Magic this year. You know Dwight Howard will be his regular beastly self. Jameer Nelson will be their steady and trusty point guard. But question marks abound after that. This team has the talent to compete, but on any given night a guy who they need to win under-performs. Case in point with Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis in their playoff loss to the Celtics last year. J.J. Redik might even start. That doesn’t bode well for them in my eyes. Brandon Bass was underused last year. Hopefully Stan Van Gundy can realize what a talent he is and use him more. Their offseason was relatively quiet. They let Matt Barnes bolt for the Lakers. They signed former Knick Chris Duhon, and they drafted the unproven big man from Kentucky in Daniel Orton. The more I look at the Magic the more I am tempted to put the Celtics at the #2 spot. Then I look at what they have in Howard and am tempted to put them at #1. It will certainly be an interesting season for the other team from Florida. I think they’ll win 54-56 games this year.

#1 Miami Heat
Who would’ve guessed? Any team with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, regardless of the talent surrounding them, will be a surefire lock to contend for a title. Thing is, I believe that’s as far as they will go, for now. They aren’t going to win it all just yet in my opinion. There’s too many question marks. Mike Miller is a brilliant find, but outside of that, you’ve got to wonder. Carlos Arroyo and Mario Chalmers are their options at point guard. Neither are serviceable starters. Take a glance at their frontcourt: Joel Anthony, Udonis Haslem, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Juwan Howard, and Dexter Pittman. Yikes. None of these guys can begin to even think they can cover the multiple skilled bigs the Celtics have as well as Howard in Orlando. One thing’s for sure, the Magic-Heat rivalry is back with all the smack talk Van Gundy and Co. are doing. I can’t wait to see how the Heat deal with their shortcomings against the elite in the east. They will win anywhere from 59-67 games, but certainly not 73. Let’s get real here. And don’t forget about the injury bug, which has already bitten Wade. Anything can happen.

Stay tuned for my eight playoff teams in the Western Conference.

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

Now that the individual awards have been doled out, it’s time to look forward to overall team performances. There are a handful of teams in the league that are considered to be contenders for the title. But each year there are squads that fly under the radar or exceed expectations. Last year’s teams included the 50-win Thunder, the overachieving, Scott Skiles’ led Bucks and even the Grizzlies. This year could yield NBA fans more unexpected playoff berths from annual cellar dwellers. Let’s check out some of those squads.

The Sixers have been pretty busy this year. They have hired a new coach in the defense-oriented Doug Collins. They acquired the number two draft choice in Ohio State standout Evan Turner, who I believe could have went number one in the draft as well (I know… shocking!). They have also shipped Sam Dalembert to the Kings for Andres Nocioni and Spencer Hawes. I like their chances to make a spirited run for the 7th or 8th seed in the East. They’ve got a promising core in Turner, Iguodala, Lou Williams, Thaddeus Young, and Jrue Holiday. If only they knew what they were getting in Elton Brand they’d be set. It should be an interesting year for this bunch.

IF Chris Paul can stay happy and healthy and IF the newly acquired head coach in Monty Williams can successfully coach all of the new guys and IF all of the newcomers like Trevor Ariza can make a big enough impact, then the Hornets are in good shape. That is a lot of ifs, but I like their chances at sneaking into the playoffs. Paul is driven to succeed on whatever team he stars for, and it won’t be any different with the Hornets. Marcus Thornton is sure to improve on his surprising play from last year. The frontcourt tandem of David West and Emeka Okafor should continue to gobble up rebounds and produce effectively. A lot of people are claiming this team is dead in the water, but I like their chances to sneak in with the 8th seed in a suffocating Western conference. I don’t know about that Darren Collison trade though.

The Nets have done the best that could possibly do this offseason without landing LeBron James. Derrick Favors should be a nice, developing young talent for them this season with Troy Murphy likely getting the start. Brook Lopez will likely duplicate his production last season, as will Devin Harris. The difference is, they have more scoring options this time. Three-point shooters in Jordan Farmar, Anthony Morrow, Travis Outlaw, and Troy Murphy all should make them more of a threat on the offensive end. I love the hiring of Avery Johnson as coach. He was great as a player and a great coach for the Mavericks. Cuban shouldn’t have let him go in the first place. And let’s face it, the Nets were the best 12-win team in NBA history last year. They will surely win more games this year, especially if guys can stay healthy, which was one of their problems last year. In the top heavy East, the Nets have a great chance for the 8th seed. And who knows what’s going on these days with the Carmelo Anthony trade talks.

While there are other surprise eligible teams, I picked these three. The Clippers, Kings, and Rockets are others that have been pegged as such. I like the prospect of Blake Griffin, but don’t know if he can stay healthy. And there’s always the Baron Davis conundrum. The Kings have the 2010 ROY in Tyreke Evans and a young promising talent in DeMarcus Cousins, but we’ll have to see how that pans out. The Rockets are never easy to predict due to the fact that Yao Ming can never stay healthy, but Rick Adelman puts out a very competitive group on the court regardless.

We’ll see how it all pans out. This year should be a good one though for teams looking to cash in on their higher than usual expectations.

Stay tuned for my forecast on the 16 playoff teams.

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network