EAST
It seems like just yesterday that the Pistons dismantled the Lakers en-route to their NBA Championship. But pro basketball is back and it is shaping up to be a very intriguing season. Shaq is in Miami and this team has nowhere to go but up. The Lakers are now Kobe's team and it will be interesting to see how he does without the 'big fella.' Denver has stockpiled an arsenal of talented players. Will they be able to compete in the tough-as-nails West? Detroit looks stronger than ever but can they once again edge out the Pacers and the up-and-coming Heat? Will GM Isiah Thomas finally find the right combination of players for success in New York? We will know a lot more once the season is in full swing. We have brought all of our NBA selections in house this season and we are looking ahead to a very profitable year. For now, we would like to offer some O/U NBA predictions for the upcoming season. All of the lines are for the full regular season and they come from Bodog.com. If you would like more information on purchasing NBA selections, please visit our NBA picks page.Toronto Raptors
Posted win total: 35
Doc's prediction: OVER
This team would have eclipsed this win total last year if it weren't for a late season collapse. We think that the players did not buy into former coach Kevin O'Neil's half-court philosophy. That old boring style was thrown out the window and new coach Sam Mitchell will have this team running and he will take advantage of the athletic ability of his players. This team should be able to put up some points this season. They have a nice backcourt trio in Vince Carter, Jalen Rose and the newly acquired point guard Rafer Alston. Donyell Marshall played extremely well for the Raptors at the power forward position after coming over from Chicago early last season. He set the Toronto record for consecutive double-doubles with eight. Second-year forward Chris Bosh is an upcoming star in this league and one of the most unheralded players in the NBA.
If this team can stay injury free - which is a big "if," we feel like they will compete for a playoff spot in the East. If they play to the best of their ability, a high seed is a possibility.
New Jersey
Posted win total: 36
Doc's prediction: UNDER
We feel like this team is in big trouble because of the housecleaning that took place this offseason and because of the uncertain status of star point guard Jason Kidd. This team won 47 games and the Atlantic Division last year but they have lost some key players from that squad: Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles, Rodney Rogers and Lucious Harris. But most importantly, Kidd is still recovering from knee surgery and it is unknown when he will be back or whether the repaired knee will hold up during the excruciating NBA season.
Even if Kidd doesn't miss much time, the cupboards are still bare in New Jersey. Richard Jefferson is a budding star at forward but he will have to count on some of his teammates to overachieve in order for this team to enjoy any success this season. We see this team landing at the bottom of the division unless 34-year-old coach Lawrence Frank can pull something out of his behind and get this rickety lineup to perform way beyond their abilities.
Charlotte Bobcats
Posted win total: 15 ½
Doc's prediction: UNDER
While this team has a solid foundation for the future in rookie Emeka Okafor and second year forward Marvin Ely, there are going to be plenty of growing pains during this inaugural season. Charlotte decided to do the financially prudent thing and stay away from high-priced free agents instead opting for lower-level free agents and players cast off by other teams in the expansion draft. This team signed a couple of veterans - namely guard Steve Smith (13 years in the league), Brevin Knight (7 years) and Jahidi White (6 years), but other than that the team is made up of a mishmash of players with little to no experience. Even those three veterans failed to make any sort of impact on their former teams last season.
The fledgling franchise has started off on the right foot, however, in trading up in the draft to land Okafor, who has as much upside as any young player in the league. This team will struggle offensively this season as its two main players - Okafor and Ely - will probably play a lot better defense while they are leaning to develop on the offensive side of the ball. This isn't the NFL, where expansion teams can succeed in their first or second year. This team will take some lumps this season and they will be lucky to win ten games. That statement is even more profound when you consider they will be playing in the newly formed Southeast Division, which is home to bottom feeders such as Atlanta, Orlando and Washington.
WEST
Denver NuggetsPosted win total: 49
Doc's prediction: OVER
Can this team win seven or more games than it did last year? We don't see any reason it won't. This should be one of the most improved teams in the West (once again) and they could make a serious run at Minnesota for the top spot in the new Northwest Division. Nuggets GM Kiki Vandeweghe has made all the right moves with this team. He brought in point guard Andre Miller last season and this offseason he engineered a sign-and-trade deal that acquired forward Kenyon Martin from the Nets.
Of course, the main focus of every defense will be second-year small forward Carmelo Anthony, who is already a superstar the league. This kid can do everything. But the addition of Martin will give the Nuggets another weapon. Martin brings some "Eastern flavor" to the West. He is a consummate workhorse and a huge physical presence down low. Challenge Martin and he will make your insides bleed. This team will be much tougher this year and they have a deep bench that will take some of the pressure off of Anthony and other key starters. This team wants to run and Martin fits in perfectly to that scheme since he played that game in New Jersey. This team has a little bit of everything and they will be a major force in the West this season.
Portland Trail Blazers
Posted win total: 40
Doc's prediction: OVER
After missing the playoffs for the first time in 22 years, we feel like this team will be right back in the mix this season. Known as the "Jail Blazers" in recent years because of a team makeup of questionable characters, Coach Maurice Cheeks has done the right thing and traded away the biggest problems in order to promote team harmony and improve the image of the team in the eyes of the fans. Despite an alleged animal abuse crime by second year guard/forward Qyntel Woods, it seems like Cheeks has this team on the right track to get back in the postseason.
This team is loaded with talent, albeit a little thin in the backcourt. Forward Zach Randolph won the Most Improved Player Award last season and he should be even more of a factor down low this year. Theo Ratliff and Shareef Abdur-Rahim should be impressive post players for the Blazers as well. The team should be fine if point guard Damon Stoudamire and shooting guard Derek Anderson can stay healthy. We think that Portland will play like a team this year and that they will wind up with a better record than last season and a possible playoff berth.
LA Lakers
Posted win total: 45 1/2
Doc's prediction: UNDER
The Lakers are the biggest public team and that is one reason that we chose to take the 'under.' The oddsmakers know that people will bet the 'over' on the Lakers no matter what the circumstances. We think that this team will struggle to make the playoffs and that would likely be a very low seed if they do achieve that feat. Losing Shaquille O'Neal at center was a devastating blow although it was necessary because the Kobe Bryant-Shaq marriage had obviously reached its breaking point.
Now the team lacks an inside presence, which was their main strength with O'Neal. Brian Grant, one of the three players that was sent to the Lakers in the O'Neal deal with Miami, will get most of the minutes at center, at least until Vlade Divac comes back from a back injury. Divac is not the player he was in his last go-around with LA and this team will be soft in the middle. Point guard is another problem as several mid-level players will be competing for playing time.
Bryant wanted this to be his team and now he has his wish. He will have to shoulder the load and carry this team on his back if the Lakers have any hope to make the playoffs. Lamar Odom will have a nice season for this team and help take some of the pressure off Bryant. This team will need some other players to step up big time if they hope to top this number and make some serious waves in the West.