Celtics Report Card: Forgetting Football Ever Existed

2012 NFL Playoffs Expert Picks: Super Bowl Results

No Edwin Jackson? No Roy Oswalt? No Problem.

Connelly’s Top Ten: Manning & Manningham Yes – Brady & Welker No!

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Celtics 2008-09 NBA Season Preview

382 days ago, I offered my 2007-08 Season Preview. The Celtics had just turned the roster upside-down, and welcomed new additions Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, James Posey, Eddie House, Scot Pollard, and Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis. I figured it would take some time for the team, while very talented, to gel. Then they started the season 29-3 and had people talking of a possible 73-win season.

I did have the Celtics making the NBA Finals last year, only to lose to the San Antonio Spurs in six games. As we all know, I was wrong again, as it was the Celtics winning in 6 over the Los Angeles Lakers. Why is it important to bring up past predictions? Well, because I’m going to offer my predictions for the 2008-09 season.

Here’s a rough projection of the Eastern and Western Conferences. (Please keep in mind that projected records are not exact, so I gave what records each team could expect to have and roughly where they would fall in the standings. The exact numbers of wins and losses may be a little off)…

Eastern Conference Projected Standings

	Team	Record	Division Finish
1.	Boston	64-18	1st, Atlantic
2.	Cleveland	58-24	1st, Central
3.	Detroit	55-27	2nd, Central
4.	Philadelphia	55-27	2nd, Atlantic
5.	Orlando	50-32	1st, Southeast
6.	Toronto	46-36	3rd, Atlantic
7.	Washington	42-40	2nd, Southeast
8.	Atlanta	41-41	3rd, Southeast
9.	Miami	40-42	4th, Southeast
10.	Indiana	35-47	3rd, Central
11.	Chicago	32-50	4th, Central
12.	Charlotte	30-52	5th, Southeast
13.	New Jersey	28-54	4th, Atlantic
14.	Milwaukee	25-57	5th, Central
15.	New York	24-58	5th, Atlantic

Notes: You can’t take away how good the Celtics were last year. They should remain strong this year, maybe off by a couple games. For the most part, the playoff picture will look the same as in 07-08. Philadelphia and Cleveland should be much improved, and Detroit, Orlando, Toronto, and Washington should remain the same. I think the Hawks (that’s for you Shotgun) can squeak in ahead of the MUCH-improved Heat. The Knicks will certainly miss the playoffs, but D’Antoni should give the team some direction.

Western Conference Projected Standings

	Team	Record	Division Finish
1.	L.A. Lakers	62-20	1st, Pacific
2.	New Orleans	57-25	1st, Southwest
3.	Houston	56-26	2nd, Southwest
4.	San Antonio	55-27	3rd, Southwest
5.	Utah	52-30	1st, Northwest
6.	Dallas	50-32	4th, Southwest
7.	Phoenix	48-34	2nd, Pacific
8.	Portland	46-36	2nd, Northwest
9.	Denver	44-38	3rd, Northwest
10.	LA Clippers	42-40	3rd, Pacific
11.	Golden State	38-43	4th, Pacific
12.	Sacramento	30-52	5th, Pacific
13.	OK City	25-57	4th, Northwest
14.	Minnesota	23-59	5th, Northwest
15.	Memphis	17-65	5th, Southwest

Notes: The Lakers with a healthy Andrew Bynum should rule the West yet again, with New Orleans not far behind. Houston should improve with the addition of Ron Artest and hopefully a healthy Yao Ming. Dallas and Phoenix are getting older, so they should slip. Yes, I have Portland squeaking in. They were really good for a stretch last year, and theyre adding Greg Oden this year. Denver should slip out of the playoffs in a tough conference with the loss of Marcus Camby (though the Nuggets don’t play much defense anyway). And look for the Clippers (yes the Clippers!) to make a run at the 8th spot in the West. They added Baron Davis and Marcus Camby…and lost Corey Maggette. The Grizzlies have got to be the worst team in the NBA, but at least it gives Mike Conley, Jr. and O.J. Mayo time to shine.

NBA Awards Predictions

NBA MVP: Chris Paul, PG, New Orleans Hornets

• Paul should’ve won this award in ’07-’08, and I still think he’s the most important player to his team in the NBA. PG’s should get extra attention (sort of like a QB in football) anyway. Other nominees: Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Elton Brand

Rookie of the Year: Greg Oden, C, Portland Trailblazers

• I know he’s coming off major knee surgery, but Oden is healthy and ready to become a force in the middle for the Blazers. Other nominees: Michael Beasley, O.J. Mayo, Kevin Love

Defensive Player of the Year: Kevin Garnett, PF, Boston Celtics

• Kevin Garnett instilled a defensive attitude with the Celtics when he arrived, and I doubt it will change in the future. He should garner this award again. Other nominees: Marcus Camby, Tim Duncan, Chris Paul

NBA’s Most Improved Player: Loul Deng, SF, Chicago Bulls

• Deng had an up-and-down season last year, and he comes into this season with a healthy body and renewed focus. Since there’s no Comeback Player of the Year in the NBA, then the league’s Most Improved Player should also include players who were once good that become good again. Other nominees: Darko Milicic, Dwayne Wade (using my criteria), Travis Outlaw

Sixth Man Award: Manu Ginobili, SG, San Antonio Spurs

• Ginobili has owned this award for years, and as long as he stays on the Spurs bench, he should remain the award winner. He does have an ankle problem however, so that could haunt him this season. Other nominees: Jerry Stackhouse, James Posey (if he doesn’t start)

NBA Executive of the Year: Ed Stefanski, Philadelphia 76ers

• Danny Ainge won it last year for his amazing offseason moves, and Stefanski won’t be any different. He landed a prized free agent in Elton Brand, and has vaulted the 76ers to near the top of the conference. Other nominees: Danny Ainge (BOS), Danny Ferry (CLE)

NBA Coach of the Year: Doc Rivers, Boston Celtics

• He better win it this year, after getting robbed of the honor last year by Byron Scott. Doc proved he’s one of the best in the NBA, and he brought together a team that had never played with each other before, and won the NBA Title. Other nominees: Mike Woodson, Maurice Cheeks, Rick Adelman

NBA Conference Finals Predictions

East: Celtics over Cavs, 4-2
West: Spurs over Lakers, 4-3

FINALS: Celtics over Spurs, 4-3

Notes: This is always extremely difficult to pick. I had the Spurs facing the Celtics in the Finals in my prediction last year, which wasn’t that far off. I think the Celtics, now with a full year under their belt, should be able to play almost as well as last year (2007-08 was hard to top). The Cavaliers are even better this year than last, and LeBron James is a year older, but I don’t think their time has come yet. The Celtics are now playoff-savvy, having played the most playoff games in one postseason in NBA history (26), and are certainly poised to make another deep run in the playoffs.

The Spurs are always good. They may be getting older, but Tim Duncan & Co. usually respond very well in a season after they do not win the NBA Title. The Lakers should be awesome this year, but when it comes to the playoffs, Andrew Bynum is untested so he’s going to be a wild card. Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant should be solid as always, and Lamar Odom will probably disappear yet again.

OK, enough with the previewing. Let’s play some Celtics basketball.

Are you ready for a run at Banner No. 18?

Tags: Celtics, Kevin Garnett, NBA, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen

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