On this, the NBA’s opening night, I humbly offer you my predictions for the season ahead, after the jump:
Eastern Conference
- Miami: 66-16
- Boston: 62-20
- Orlando: 60-22
- Milwaukee: 48-34
- Atlanta: 54-28
- Chicago: 47-35
- New York: 36-46
- Charlotte: 35-47
- Indiana: 31-51
- New Jersey: 30-52
- Philadelphia: 28-54
- Detroit: 27-55
- Washington: 25-57
- Cleveland: 24-58
- Toronto: 17-65
Quarterfinals:
- Miami over Charlotte in 3 (just kidding)
- Boston over New York in 4
- Orlando over Chicago in 6
- Milwaukee over Atlanta in 6
Semifinals:
- Miami over Milwaukee in 5
- Boston over Orlando in 5
Conference Finals:
- Boston over Miami in 6
Western Conference
- LA Lakers: 57-25
- Oklahoma City: 56-26
- Dallas: 55-27
- Utah: 53-29
- Portland: 53-29
- San Antonio: 50-32
- Phoenix: 47-35
- Houston: 45-37
- Denver: 43-39
- Memphis: 41-41
- LA Clippers: 36-46
- New Orleans: 34-48
- Sacramento: 28-54
- Golden State: 27-55
- Minnesota: 15-67
Quarterfinals:
- LA Lakers over Houston in 4
- Oklahoma City over Phoenix in 5
- San Antonio over Dallas in 6
- Utah over Portland in 7
Semifinals:
- LA Lakers over Utah in 6
- Oklahoma City over San Antonio in 6
Conference Finals:
- LA Lakers over Oklahoma City in 6
NBA Finals
- Boston over LA Lakers in 6
Awards/Accolades
- MVP: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City
- Scoring Champion: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City
- Rookie of the Year: Blake Griffin, LA Clippers
- Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard, Orlando
- All-NBA First Team: Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard
- All-NBA Second Team: Rajon Rondo, Deron Williams, Carmelo Anthony, Dirk Nowitzki, Tim Duncan
- All-NBA Third Team: Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Andrew Bogut
All-Star Teams
Eastern Conference (top five is starting lineup)
- Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago
- Dwyane Wade, SG, Miami
- LeBron James, SF, Miami
- Amare Stoudemire, PF, New York
- Dwight Howard, C, Orlando
- Rajon Rondo, PG, Boston
- Joe Johnson, SG, Atlanta
- Danny Granger, SF, Indiana
- Paul Pierce, SF, Boston
- Carlos Boozer, PF, Chicago
- Chris Bosh, PF, Miami
- Andrew Bogut, C, Milwaukee
Western Conference (top five is starting lineup)
- Chris Paul, PG, New Orleans
- Kobe Bryant, SG, LA Lakers
- Carmelo Anthony, SF, Denver
- Kevin Durant, PF, Oklahoma City
- Tim Duncan, C, San Antonio
- Steve Nash, PG, Phoenix
- Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City
- Deron Williams, PG, Utah
- Brandon Roy, SG, Portland
- Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Dallas
- Pau Gasol, PF, LA Lakers
- Al Jefferson, C, Utah