5. Lakers: Bynum's game is coming along, Sessions is fitting in nicely, but Kobe and Pau's numbers are beginning to drop and will continue to do so. Also, losing Derek Fisher, their clear-cut leader, is a huge loss for them. It all comes down to, and i'm being serious, is Jordan Hill. He provided a huge spark in the Denver series this year and will need to play like that all year for the Lakers to have a chance.

I like Sessions. He's quick and can score but he needs to work on those three's. Kobe can't shoot them all. He's the guy to do it. Just has to work on it more. Jordan Hill is not the only guy who has to step up. Pau, World Peace, Steve Blake, and Barnes have to step up their game too. The Lakers are getting older and older. And Kobe isn't able to do everything anymore. I still agree on the Lakers being fifth though. They're a smart team and will contend for the Finals. Or at least get into the playoffs.

4. Clippers: Chris Paul and Blake Griffin's connection is only going to get better, this was their first season together and it looked like they had been playing with each other forever. Deandre Jordan is going to play a huge role defensively, one of the league's leading shot blockers. But, the league is talking about giving technical fouls for flopping, if they do, the Clippers are screwed. Also, Randy Foye needs to be way more consistent this year.

Reggie Evans was one player I believe that this year he really stepped up. He played strong defense and sometimes played hard in the paint and scored as well. Chris Paul is a great point guard and will dish the team the ball like always.

3. Bulls: Biggest boom or bust team this year, we saw what happened in the playoffs, D-Rose gets injured, they get screwed. Rose needs to stay healthy if the Bulls are going to be contenders. With Rose, they are almost unstoppable.

IMO, when Rose and Hamilton were out most of the year. They still played pretty well, they beat the Heat. With Asik, Lucas, Watson, Krover,etc. I was impressed with their gameplay and ball movement. But to truly contend for the Finals, they need Rose to patch up the hole.

2. Heat: D-Wade, Lebron and Bosh will keep doing they thing out there and lead them to the playoffs, no doubt, top 3 seed in the east, easy. But how far they go depends on the play of their role players. Chalmers, Battier and Norris Cole need to play the way they did in the finals all the way through the playoffs and the Heat will repeat. GUARANTEED.

Agreed, the role players showed up in the pressuring Finals and delivered it all the way. In one game it was Chalmers going clutch. One game where Norris Cole helped the team comeback from a 15 point deficit. One game where Mike Miller was 7-8 on three pointers. One game where Battier was just on fire.

1. Thunder: Durant, nuff said. He will be top 3 scorer again, for sure. The only thing is if he stays healthy, which im not too worried about. Westbrook is an amazing scorer, notice i said scorer, not PG. Because he plays for like a streaky 2 guard. He needs to assume for of a PG role and be a "pass first" PG rather than

For the Thunder to win the Finals. Westbrook has to play pass first, yeah. He's been taking more shots than Durant. And most of them are wild panic shots. He needs to calm down and go with the flow. Set up your teammates first, then get on your game.

4. Roy Hibbert: Sounds crazy, but I expect big things from him as his experience advances, both scoring and rebounding, and even shot-blocking.

Hibbert isn't up on top yet. Melo and CP3 have more a chance honestly.

You can't assume Durant is better than Kobe just because Durant's team won Kobe's team

ok fine
go compare the stats

LeBron won season MVP and Finals MVP, so Durant couldn't possibly win any of those.

well this year

You've been saying Kobe is horrible since forever!

hello!
its called trash talking
but im still saying durant is better

For the thunder to have a chance at the title he has to play way more consistently.

its true
i have no clue what happened to him

Also, people have been saying he deserves a spot in the starting lineup. I think that he is definitely good enough to be a starter, there is no doubting his skill, but I think he needs to remain on the bench because the team does need someone like him to bring some energy off the bench.

i agree
he is good enought to make it in but i think if he does he will knock of ibaka and perkin needs help
plus as you said he is amazing off the bench

Perkins, he may not be doing any kind of showtime dunks and stuff. But he does a very good job on the defensive end. Shot blocking and rebounding, it goes unnoticed a lot but it does have a huge effect on the game.

thats true
the more defense the more offense

Or if they use their draft pick to pick another big defensive specialist they can work out a better substitution method for them.

yah they need a better big guy (lol)

And Kobe isn't able to do everything anymore

when does kobe's contact with the lakers end

For the Thunder to win the Finals. Westbrook has to play pass first, yeah. He's been taking more shots than Durant. And most of them are wild panic shots. He needs to calm down and go with the flow. Set up your teammates first, then get on your game

westbrook is truly amazing
but hes gotta add some assist to his numbers
he gonna turn into a ball hog if he doesn't

when does kobe's contact with the lakers end

I may be wrong but I think his contract ends after the 2013 season, but I don't really know.

yah they need a better big guy (lol)

I wasn't saying they need a better big man, I'm just saying that it might help if they got another skilled big man for when Ibaka and Perkins are off the court

westbrook is truly amazing
but hes gotta add some assist to his numbers
he gonna turn into a ball hog if he doesn't

I agree. Westbrook is amazing. But he is an amazing scorer, not an amazing PG, I think if the Thunder draft a good PG they can move Westbrook to SG and that would be good for him because he plays more like SG as it is. And he already is a ball hog, no disrespect but he is.

IMO, when Rose and Hamilton were out most of the year. They still played pretty well, they beat the Heat. With Asik, Lucas, Watson, Krover,etc. I was impressed with their gameplay and ball movement.

I agree. They really stepped up and surprised a lot of people.  But the problem with that is I don't think they can win a title without Rose. Sure they can make playoffs. But I think a title will be out of the question

when does kobe's contact with the lakers end

I may be wrong but I think his contract ends after the 2013 season, but I don't really know.

yah they need a better big guy (lol)

I wasn't saying they need a better big man, I'm just saying that it might help if they got another skilled big man for when Ibaka and Perkins are off the court

westbrook is truly amazing
but hes gotta add some assist to his numbers
he gonna turn into a ball hog if he doesn't

I agree. Westbrook is amazing. But he is an amazing scorer, not an amazing PG, I think if the Thunder draft a good PG they can move Westbrook to SG and that would be good for him because he plays more like SG as it is. And he already is a ball hog, no disrespect but he is.

IMO, when Rose and Hamilton were out most of the year. They still played pretty well, they beat the Heat. With Asik, Lucas, Watson, Krover,etc. I was impressed with their gameplay and ball movement.

I agree. They really stepped up and surprised a lot of people.  But the problem with that is I don't think they can win a title without Rose. Sure they can make playoffs. But I think a title will be out of the question

I may be wrong but I think his contract ends after the 2013 season, but I don't really know.

that will most likely be the end of his carrer

I wasn't saying they need a better big man, I'm just saying that it might help if they got another skilled big man for when Ibaka and Perkins are off the court

yah i guess so

I agree. Westbrook is amazing. But he is an amazing scorer, not an amazing PG, I think if the Thunder draft a good PG they can move Westbrook to SG and that would be good for him because he plays more like SG as it is. And he already is a ball hog, no disrespect but he is.

but then what will happen to durant
westbrook is trying to be superman
he should stop doing that and use his teamates for help
he has to trust them

I agree. They really stepped up and surprised a lot of people.  But the problem with that is I don't think they can win a title without Rose. Sure they can make playoffs. But I think a title will be out of the question

maybe they will get someone good to help them this year in the draft

that will most likely be the end of his carrer

I don't think Kobe is even close to retiring. Even though he is getting old and the Lakers aren't doin as well as they used to, I think once Kobe's scoring goes down drastically he will retire, not just his shooting percentage. Or when the Lakers don't make the playoffs will be the year he leaves. But I think he has more than 2 more good years left in him.

but then what will happen to durant

If Westbrook goes to SG, I don't think that would have any effect on Durant because Westbrook plays like a SG right now, also if Durants numbers go down a bit Westbrooks will go up because he wont have to worry about the PG duties he worries about right now that interfere with his scoring.

maybe they will get someone good to help them this year in the draft

Even if they get someone good in the draft, nobody can fill the void Rose leaves when he gets injured

OKC!!!!!!

I don't think Kobe is even close to retiring. Even though he is getting old and the Lakers aren't doin as well as they used to, I think once Kobe's scoring goes down drastically he will retire, not just his shooting percentage. Or when the Lakers don't make the playoffs will be the year he leaves. But I think he has more than 2 more good years left in him.

i have a feeling that might happen this season

Even if they get someone good in the draft, nobody can fill the void Rose leaves when he gets injured

he like micheal jordan

i have a feeling that might happen this season

I guarantee it won't happen this year. Hes not going to go from 27 points per game to the level of play that would enable him to retire. And if u mean the Lakers not making the playoffs, think again. Bynum is playing extremely well, Sessions is still getting used to being in LA and will be great soon. And their role players like Barnes and Hill and Steve Blake are better than a lot of teams starters. Also Pau Gasol is still playing pretty well and Kobe is still Kobe.

I guarantee it won't happen this year. Hes not going to go from 27 points per game to the level of play that would enable him to retire.

I give him 2 or 3 more years, if the Lakers don't make a good draft or trade by then they probably won't be doing good in their season.

And their role players like Barnes and Hill and Steve Blake are better than a lot of teams starters.

Steve Blake isn't that good. He's getting to the age of retirement too so he's game should drop a bit. Barnes would be a good defender if only he didn't commit so many fouls! I agree with Hill though.

Also Pau Gasol is still playing

Yeah him and Bynum did great working together in the playoffs.