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| Kobe Bryant and the Lakers will win the 2011-12 NBA Championship. |
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| Derrick Rose will lead his Bulls squad to the finals. |
Predicted Order of Finish
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (Northwest)
2. Dallas Mavericks (Southwest)
3. Los Angeles Lakers (Pacific)
4. Los Angeles Clippers (Pacific)
5. Memphis Grizzlies (Southwest)
6. Denver Nuggets (Northwest)
7. San Antonio Spurs (Southwest)
8. Portland Trail Blazers (Northwest)
9. Utah Jazz (Northwest)
10. Houston Rockets (Southwest)
11. Phoenix Suns (Pacific)
12. Golden State Warriors (Pacific)
13. Sacramento Kings (Pacific)
14. Minnesota Timberwolves (Northwest)
15. New Orleans Hornets (Southwest)
Eastern Conference
1. Chicago Bulls (Central)
2. Miami Heat (Southeast)
3. New York Knicks (Atlantic)
4. Orlando Magic (Southeast)
5. Indiana Pacers (Central)
6. Atlanta Hawks (Southeast)
7. Boston Celtics (Atlantic)
8. Philadelphia 76ers (Atlantic)
9. Milwaukee Bucks (Central)
10. Washington Wizards (Southeast)
11. New Jersey Nets (Atlantic)
12. Charlotte Bobcats (Southeast)
13. Detroit Pistons (Central)
14. Cleveland Cavaliers (Central)
15. Toronto Raptors (Atlantic)
(See below for playoff results)
After 149 days, the NBA finally returned to work. The players had to deal with abbreviated training camps, and less time for free agent signing and trades. But now it’s time for Amazing to Happen. The Big Three, Kobe, the Durantula, CP3, Blake the Snake, Dirk, Amare, and more. The NBA is back.
What happened during the free agency and trading period? Chris Paul almost went to the Lakers. Dwight Howard stayed in Orlando, Tyson Chandler is now a New York Knick, Lamar Odom and his wife Khloe moved to Dallas. The most surprising move however, was the trade of Chris Paul. Chris Paul was traded from the New Orleans Hornets to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu, and a first round pick. The Clippers also added veteran guard Chauncey Billups. (you can read more about the Clippers’ acquisition of Chris Paul here.)
Kyrie Irving, Derrick Williams, Jimmer Fredette, and Ricky Rubio joined their respective teams during the lockout. After a reduced preseason, which of the rookies from this year’s will stand out from the others? Will it be number one overall pick Irving? Irving will try his best to usher in a new era in Cleveland. Or, will it be Derrick Williams? Williams, who with the support of Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love, will help the T-Wolves reach the playoffs for the first time since K-G left. Or, will it be Jimmer? Fredette, who was traded from the Bucks to the Kings, is expected to score numerous points off the bench for the Kings.
Playoffs:
Western Conference Finals Eastern Conference Finals
Lakers beat Thunder 4-3 Bulls beat Knicks 4-1
Finals:
Lakers beat Bulls 4-2
In a rematch of the 1990-1991 NBA finals, the Bulls and Lakers will battle it out. This time however, the Bulls will not have Phil Jackson or Michael Jordan. Derrick Rose has played just 28 career playoff games, while Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, has played in 208 postseason games. Experience always rules in the postseason. Rose and the rest of his team will take lessons from Kobe, and fight for a title next season. The Lakers should take this season as a “last hurrah” and will fight to win one last championship. Who knows when they will have an opportunity to play for another one?
