Even though the 2012 NBA season is already under way. It’s not too late to make an early-season NBA projection. In this article I will preview the winners of each division, and each conference and I will give my playoff predictions and, the team I see as ultimately, the champion of the 2012-2013 NBA season.
Here are my picks of each division in the Western and Eastern Conferences.
Atlantic Division (Eastern Conference)
The Atlantic Division has been dominated by storylines within the past year. Jeremy Lin leaving the New York Knicks, Ray Allen leaving the “Big Three” in Boston. And then, of course, there’s the brand-new Brooklyn Nets franchise debuting their first season in Brooklyn, New York.
The Atlantic Division is a tough one to pick, however, I believe the New York Knicks will come out on top. It will be close with the Boston Celtics, the new-look Philadelphia 76ers, and the Nets all lurking for the division title in the difficult Atlantic division. The Celtics will come in a close second, and the Celtics and the Knicks will make the 8-team playoffs at the end of the year.
Central Division (Eastern Conference)
Obviously the biggest headline in the Central is the return of the 2011MVP Derrick Rose for the Chicago Bulls after he tore his ACL in the playoffs last year. Even with the MVP being back in Chicago, the Bulls are not an obvious lock to win the Central.
The up-and-coming Indiana Pacers are looking to rebound after loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals last season. This is an improved Pacers team from last year who added a couple of players in the offseason including guards D.J. Augustin and Gerald Green, who were the biggest acquirements for the Pacers this offseason.
The Bulls, however, will win the Central. It will be close, but the Bulls will pull away from the Pacers in the end and the Pacers and the Bulls will make the playoffs this season.
Southeast Division (Eastern Conference)
This one isn’t even funny. The defending champion Miami Heat will absolutely annihilate this conference. Here’s a prediction for you. The Heat will win by a minimum of 10 games in the Southeast.
The Atlanta Hawks will be distant second, even after making the playoffs last season. The Heat will take the number-1 overall seed in the Eastern Conference and the Hawks will also gain a playoff berth.
Central Division (Western Conference)
The Central division is another up-in-the-air conference. Even with the defending Eastern Conference champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. In October, the Thunder traded the 2012 6th Man of the Year James Harden to the Houston Rockets. Harden averaged nearly 17 points per game last year. His absence should be a huge loss to the Thunder, and will create a more open Central Division. The Denver Nuggets acquired former 76er Andre Iguodala this summer. The Nuggets will compete with the Thunder, however, I believe the Thunder will pull away in the end and win the division and gain a number-1 overall seed in the West.
Pacific Conference (Western Conference)
In recent years the Pacific division has been dominated by the Los Angeles Lakers, but with their cross-town rivals Los Angeles Clippers vastly improving the Pacific is now up for grabs.
The Lakers may not only be the second best team in the Pacific division; they may be the second best team in Los Angeles. Even though the Lakers may have had the biggest accusations this offseason, with the additions of all-pro center Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic and long-time veteran Steve Nash from the Suns – the Lakers still will not win their division. The Clippers will gain a number 2 or 3 seed come playoff time and the Lakers will gain a 5 or 6 seed.
Southwest Conference (Western Conference)
The Southwest division is vastly decreasing in power in comparison to recent years. The only team to still a legitimate chance to make a deep playoff run is the San Antonio Spurs, who earned the number-1 overall seed last year. The next closest will be the Memphis Grizzlies. I believe those to teams will finish one and two and they will both lead their teams into the 2013 playoffs.
With the champions in division being predicted, all that is left is to name the one overall champion. And this year the Miami Heat will repeat as NBA Champions by defeating the Thunder, again, in 6 games. Lebron James will also gain his second straight MVP award.
Overall I’m excited about this upcoming 2012-2013. The many early storylines and predictions this season already has to offer will pave the way for a fantastic season.
