2013-14 NBA: Season Preview

Knicks fans, forget it. Carmelo Anthony will have another good year but a 5th seed and a likely first round exit may be on the cards. Enjoy Metta World Peace though, wonderful entertainer. Watch Tyler Hansbrough, who himself loves a little batte, go, “Oh my bad. My bad”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdwweXTQVoo

NBA Finals Predictions: Indiana Pacers vs San Antonio Spurs. Spurs in 7, if their big three are healthy, but 4-5 teams have a real shot.

Teams in the West are more exciting to watch and are more run and gun compared to the Eastern grit and grind teams at the top. But East has Derrick Rose, Kyrie Irving and Lebron James, I guess that makes up for it.

Three picks for MVP: Lebron James, Chris Paul and Kevin Durant.

With Doc Rivers as the coach, the Clippers could finish as first or second seed, and if that happens, Chris Paul would be a serious MVP contender. Lebron James will have another great year, will surely be there or thereabouts as a top contender. Kevin Durant has serious questions being asked of him as a competitor and winner after last year’s playoffs, but expect him and Russell Westbrook to lead OKC to another great year and a deep playoff run.

Three picks for Defensive Player of the Year: Jimmy Butler, Tony Allen and Dwight Howard. Tony Allen and Dwight Howard, when healthy, are great defensive players and should be up there when the voting results are in. Jimmy Butler, for me, is one of the best one on one defenders in the league and guards 3-4 positions. If he has a good season with the Bulls this year, it would probably be on back of his great defensive displays.

Rookie of the Year: Trey Burke. Utah is a nice setting for a rookie to come into, with little competition for his starting place. Victor Oladipo at Orlando Magic is another good player. Giannis Antetokounmpo. Try saying his name.

Coach of the Year: Tom Thibodeau/Frank Vogel. Bulls and Pacers would be near the top of the Eastern standings and whoever is closer to the top should get the COTY award. Gregg Popovich just won it in 2012, they won’t give it to him again so early.

4 Players to break out this year (Make All Star Game): John wall, Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, Greg Monroe. John Wall has signed a max contract and should give Wizards their first playoffs since the Gilbert Arenas days. Greg Monroe has a very good supporting cast and this should be the year that he becomes one of the premier power forwards in the league. Anthony Davis will have a great year, he was very good year last year as well but the injuries kept him out for long spells. Making the All Star game may turn out to be a stretch in the packed Western Conference, but it probably would not be because of his own lack of production. Kawhi Leonard, he should become a top 20-25 player in the league, and being in only his 3rd year, it would bode well for the Spurs.

Final Word: The season will see a lot great players returning at different times during the season and one can only hope for them to remain healthy. Basketball Gods – Please leave them alone. Looking forward to a great NBA season.