Gotterdammerung's Playoff picks!

[Gotterdammerung]

Another season brings forth another bunch of narratives to drown in or float until a timely rescue boat of logicians and degenerate gamblers happen by.


Eastern Conference

1. Chicago Bulls
Luckily for Chicago fans, and Derrick Rose himself, the FIBA World Cup was a great step towards regaining that old MVP form. Free agent Pau Gasol replaces the vastly overrated and overpaid Carlos Boozer - tho not a tough mofo, he's a true seven footer who will add scoring and size up front next to Joakim Noah. Expect 55 to 60 plus wins, if Rose stays healthy throughout.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers
LBJ and Uncle Drew and K-Love are already believers of Coach Blatt's system that creates space and open look with cuts and ball movement. I don't foresee a clumsy beginning like the 9-8 start of the Miami Heat in 2010-11, but there will be growing pains. Coach Blatt is legitimate, but the NBA learning curve is quite steep.

3. Toronto Raptors
No longer surprising anyone this year, the young nucleus with DeRozan & Lowry will continue to mature.

4. Washington Wizards
Just like the Raptors, the Wizards are young and surprising. Spearheaded by their dynamic backcourt in Wall and Beal, plus a powerful frontcourt, they can take another leap from playoff-level to contender-level.

5. Miami Heat
Bosh will return to his salad days at Toronto, but wiser and more skilled. Wade will continue to show flashes of his old self, but less and less often.

6. Brooklyn Nets
New coach Lionel Hollins will try to right the sinking ship, but unless Deron Williams regains his old form, this team will not even match last season's brief turnaround.

7. Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets
Al Jefferson and friends will crack 40 wins and qualify for the playoffs, but not much else.

8. Indiana Pacers
Indeed, they lost their two top scorers in Paul George (horrific injury) and "Born Ready" Stephenson (free agency), but the Eastern conference is quite weak, and nobody else qualifies. Hawks? Knicks? Puh-leez.

Western Conference

1. San Antonio Spurs
Yes, Virginia, it is a dynasty going strong 15 years and counting. Expect another 50-plus wins and deep playoff run, if not necessarily a repeat.

2. Los Angeles Clippers
A rough preseason (rebounding kinks) will be a forgotten memory if Griffin takes the last step to MVP candidacy. If OKC or San Antonio suffer a down season, the Clippers can step in and steal the title.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder
If and only if Durant and Westbrook and Ibaka are healthy during the postseason...


4. Golden State Warriors
Expect new coach Kerr to infuse offensive creativity with the best shooters in the league and maintian defensive integrity.

5. Portland Trailblazers
Another surprise, but I can't expect them to fly under the radar again this year.

6. Dallas Mavericks
The two Chandlers will add fresh blood on offense and defense, but it's just too bad that Dirk Nowitzki is no longer in his prime.

7. Houston Rockets
Yes, they got weaker with free agent defections, but reserve big Kostas Papanikolaou might help off the bench.

8. Memphis Grizzlies
2 years ago, the Grizz were on the verge of title contention. Then they began that slouch towards Gommorah...

[oarabbus]

Wouldn't be surprised if OKC drops down to 5-8 seed, considering they have no Durant till December, and right now no Reggie Jackson plus a host of other players. If teams capitalize, those losses will add up. Of course, at full strength they will be a top 3 team in the West.

[Gotterdammerung]

Wouldn't be surprised if OKC drops down to 5-8 seed, considering they have no Durant till December, and right now no Reggie Jackson plus a host of other players. If teams capitalize, those losses will add up. Of course, at full strength they will be a top 3 team in the West.

That's a big drop, from 60 wins to the high 40s.

Perhaps the development of Lamb and Adams will offset this fall to the pack and deter the Thunder from the "Year from Hell" syndrome.