The New Season is Here! The New Season is Here!

With the new season upon us, it's time to move ahead, wash away memories of last season and start anew. With these new changes comes a little different format. Beyond just writing more, I will be going back and forth with my best basketball buddy on the planet, John. We will co-write some pieces, have our own posts, or just respond to one another. If anything, it will be fun to actually print some of the discussions we have over cocktails. In this post, I will give my predictions on various awards and champs and John will respond with his thoughts as well. Let the discussions and season begin! FINALLY!

Lets start out with some seeding predictions for the East and West.

West

1. Lake Show - While I hate to do this with an admitted bias, I must. They all seemed to gel well and with less pressure on Kobe and a healthy Bynum back, they should be really tough to beat. The only thing that could come back to haunt them is the hectic schedule Kobe has been playing with. He's too proud to sit and his body may be feeling it come April.

2. Hornets - This team needs health to survive and potentially win it all but what team doesn't? CP3 will only be better which is scary, Chandler and Wright should continue to improve and the addition of Posey provides insurance if Peja somehow hurts his back due to too much hair gel.

3. Jazz - The Jazz should be playing sweet Jazz flute ala Ron Burgondy. Williams and Boozer will still be a force but they have great depth with a healthy and fit Okur, an improving Ronnie Brewer and the junk man AK47.

4. Rockets - This is a team that will show flashes early but injuries will haunt them in the end. Artest may stay healthy physically, not mentally, but that doesn't mean that T Mac and Yao will still be there with him. At some point they will be proclaimed the best team in all the land and they will fade come playoff time due to the injuries I referenced. Also expect 1,000,000 references to the "Big 3" this year.

5. Spurs - They will go through some pains without Manu for sure but Pop and this smart bunch always find a way. They will cruise and turn it on come March like they always do.

6. Suns - This is another team that will struggle initially with a new style of play and personnel. Age can always be a factor but added depth and a coach that uses a bench will help these worries.

7. Blazers - This years sexy pick. Everybody and their mama has the Blazers being successful with their uber talented young core. They will have ups and downs but they will end up being somewhere in the middle as they learn more about the game and their team in general.

8. Dallas - They have slipped a lot and they regret the Devin Harris trade no matter what they say but they still have a lot of talent and Diop is back to help secure a weak defensive front line.

East

1. Boston - I don't expect a slip with KG and Paul Pierce around. They will be pushed nightly but they still have the "Big 3", I even said it, but they have depth even without Posey around. Losing him could hurt come playoff time but they will still own the regular season.

2. Philly - Take a good up and coming team and drop one of the best post players in the league on their roster and you get a much improved squad. They are a bit of a sexy pick this year too but it is hard to overlook their abundance of young talent ala Portland.

3. Detroit - This is a team that will struggle initially to find an identity. A new coach and new roles within the team will cause a little chaos, even for a team that knows one another so well. Just wait for a Chauncey Billups/Rodney Stuckey starting conversation come March. Just you wait...

4. Cleveland - Williams will help but Lebron will continue to run wild. If his Olympic play is an indication of things to come, watch out. This could be the season that not only makes him memorable but legendary.

5. Orlando - This team is still lean on point guards but Dwight Howard is still a force of nature.

6. Toronto - I expect a solid season from JO and an All-Star season from Chris Bosh and Calderon. They seem hungry and if Bargnani plays up to his potential, could be scary come playoff time.

7. Atlanta - This is a hit or miss pick. They will either play to their potential or injuries will catch up with Bibby and Speedy again and they will sorely miss the bench production of Childress.

8. Bulls - They will have a fun open style with Vinny in house and it should be fun to watch players like Rose, Thomas and Noah grow. Kirk should have a great year and I expect a big bounce back from Deng.

Champ??

I hate to admit it but I think that this is LA's year. If they stay healthy, there is no reason that they shouldn't be able to hang with any team on any given night. Kobe could fade and make this tough but he should have enough around him to help ease that burden.

Awards

MVP - This is Lebron's year all the way. He will put up 30, 7, and 7 and play much improved defense. If he gets rolling, the Cavs could be really tough to beat come playoff time.

Defensive Player of the Year - I am going out on a limb and picking a wild card here. I think Josh Smith takes it this year. If Atlanta makes the playoffs again and he puts up his insane numbers per the norm, he has to be in this discussion. He is a force when motivated.

Sixth Man - I am going out on a limb and taking Louis Williams here. He will put up big numbers off the bench in Philly and I see them as a top tier team in the East this season. All he needs is eyes on him when he plays which he will have now.

Most Improved Player - Andrew Bynum will walk away with this. He will be healthy and motivated on a very good team. This is his to lose.

Coach of the Year - This always seems to go to the coach that has a team that improves the most. Congrats Maurice Cheeks!

Rookie of the Year - I wouldn't normally go with a point guard but I think Rose will get the time and enough points to win this award and take it from Mike "Be Easy" Beasley.