Beastern Conference

Shaq, JO, Big ben, Sheed...hey, you can even add Samuel Dalembert in here. The East has some serious big men to contend!!! Sure, the west is far more loaded, but the east is no longer the least.

After checkin' out some pre-season ball, here who I see making it in the top 8:

DET, IND, MIA, NY, PHI, BOS, ORL, TOR

Yep - toronto. I gotta beleive in my home town and Sam Mitchell.

And Orlando is gonna be a surprise. The franchise and the cat know one another already and Howard is the ROY. Grant hill ain't in pain and if he's only 80% of what he used to be - I'd take it.

Where is MIL? I'd put them here is I wasn't a Raptors fan.

Can ATL do it with toine? Hey, I love that guy, I hope he gets his.

In the end, I see the beasts being right there: either DET or IND will face MIA. My money is on DET comin out to party at the end of the year again. That team has got sick defence.

Chicago will have its share of trades again this year. I don't see Curry being around for much longer. Heinrich and Gordon are the future.

Not Portland again?

At this point, I could almost guaranteed that the first 5 playoff teams in the west will be a combo of SAC, SA, HOU, DEN, DAL....after that, its a dogfight for the remaining 3 positions.

I think those will be LAL, MEM, and POR.

I think Golden state will be a surprise this year, and should contend for a playoff spot in the west. The entire race for the final playoff spots in the west may be a bit more closer this year. See some scrappy matchups with LAC and NO.

I love nash and Phoenix will be fast. But will they make the playoffs? I'm not so sure. There may be a big disappointment here. One I hope doesn't happen.....cause I hate portland.

NBA 2K5 Predictions - Detailed

Based on offseason activity and preseason games:

- Love what Denver, Utah and Orlando have done; looking for serious improvements here
- Heat will be very competitive but not finalists
- Pacers will end up with best record again, but Detroit rules the east (Dice, the Argentinian?)
- Boston is interesting: may be the surprise team of the east this year
- Surprise team of the west: L.A. Lakers (Vlade and Kobe will work well together)
- I feel bad for the nets and hornets - going nowhere fast
- Can Memphis improve? They didn't do much in the offseason and some players are in contract situations - will that help or hinder their progress?
- San antonio will be tough to beat, as will the Pacers and Kings, but its Minnesota's year (Sam I AM)
- Houston is still my dark horse to win it all

NBA 2K5 Predictions

Neva, eva, dount the deisel. Shaq will come out on top of the eastern conference.

Minnie will battle it out with San Antonio but eventually come out of the west.

Dark horse to win it all - houston.