Western Conference: The West is as always impossible to figure out, but this is the best guess.
1) Lakers: Last year the Lakers would have won the NBA Finals if they had a healthy Andrew Bynum to take care of the paint which would have allowed Odom and Gasol to become factors. This year they look better than ever and are ready to post the best or second best record in all of the NBA and finish first in the West.
2) Rockets: The only reason this would not happen is if the Houston "Big Three" cannot stay healthy. They are the deepest team in the league as was seen with last year's twenty plus game winning streak in Yao's absence. Shane Battier is a top notch defender, Aaron Brooks can shoot the lights out three and drive to the basket. Brent Barry is a great veteran presence and the Houston Big Three rivals that of the Spurs and Celtics. T-mac, Yao, and Artest will get past the first round of the playoffs this year and are the team I am relying on to knock the Lakers out.
3) Hornets: As upsetting as it was to see James Posey leave Boston, and as big of an addition as he is, that is not the reason for this prediction. This team was a game seven win (at home) away from reaching the Western Conference finals last year, but lost to aging Spurs team. The NBA has become a point guard's league and Chris Paul is the very best, which is the reason for this pick. Paul, last year's true MVP, will lead his team to the NBA Finals this season as he continues to prove he is a top five NBA player. The Hornets will lose to the Celtics in the Finals, but are a true contender for years to come.
4) Jazz: Very little is different with this team compared to last year's squad, but they are still one of the NBA's top teams. Deron Williams is the second best point guard in the league behind Chris Paul, but he certainly has a better overall team around him. Utah has the right idea keeping their strong team nucleus of Boozer, Okur, Kirilenko, and the addition of Kyle Korver last year will continue to pay dividends.
5) Suns: Amare Stoudemire is having and will end up having a monster year which his team will find crucial in their fifth seed finish in the West. Shaq has enough left in the tank to complement Stoudemire's dominance and Nash's ability to get Hill, Barbosa, and Raja Bell going. The window of opportunity for Phoenix is closing fast and they'll need a bench to emerge to stand a chance in any playoff series.
6) Spurs: When Parker, Ginobli, and Duncan are all healthy again this team will have no trouble reaching the post season again, don't see them going deep, but certainly a sixth seed playoff team who may win a series.
7) Nuggets: The acquisition of Chauncey Billups has galvanized this Denver team and will lift them from their usual 8th seed spot.
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