Dario Argento's predictions for the 2009-2010 season

AK1984 inspired me to do this post, so I kept ( mostly ) the same format as him.

STANDINGS

Atlantic Division-

-Boston Celtics ( 58-24 ) They added the potent Sheed', but age and injuries will rob them of a few games this year.

-Philadelphia ( 34-48 ) Losing quarterback Andre Miler and rebounding tough guy Reggie Evans is going to hurt, even with Iggy doing his normal thing.

-New Jersey Nets ( 36-46 ) Losing Vincanity seems devastating on paper, but this just means more touches for Brooke Lopez and Devin Harris. Lopez has a breakout year, netting them a few more games. 

-Toronto Raptors ( 37-45) Bosh will perform as he always does, the addition of Evans will give them some grit, and Turkoglu adds another playmaker to take pressure off Calderon and Bosh. A few more wins for Hedo's wife.

-New York Knicks ( 30-52 ) Gallinari will start to show promise, but the evidence of a lame duck season ( in the prelude to the Lebron sweepstakes ) will make players lazy.

Central Division-

-Cleveland Cavaliers ( 61-21 ) The addition of Shaq and Jamario Moon will bolster their already formidable defense, but the injury bug will bite at some point, along with Shaq sitting out several games, costing a few wins.

-Chicago Bulls ( 45-37 ) I agree with AK that losing Ben Gordon will be addition by subtraction, giving Rose free reign to rule the backcourt. Also a healthy Deng gives more defense, along with Salmons and Miller providing balance.

-Detroit Pistons ( 41-41 ) The additions of Charlie V and Ben Gordon provide more scoring, but coaching controversy makes improvement marginal.

-Indiana Pacers ( 42-40 ) The continued development of Granger will cause defenses to collapse on him more, allowing easier buckets for role players. Dahntey Jones' addition gives them a wing defender to get nasty.

-Milwaukee Bucks ( 20-62 ) Very good players lost and no good players gained equals a very tough season for Bucks fans.

Southeast Division-

-Orlando Magic ( 66-16 ) Losing Hedo's inefficient scoring, getting an elite scorer in Carter, and another genuine inside presence in Bass will make Orlando a genuine juggernaut. Howard continues to embarass opposing front lines.

-Atlanta Hawks ( 44-38 ) The addition of Jamal Crawford and Jeff Teague will not help the win total, as an aging Mike Bibby, and more ouside shooting make them less efficient. 

-Miami Heat ( 50-32 ) After a disappointing first half of the season, a trade for Carlos Boozer at the deadline makes them a feared opponent.

-Charlotte Bobcats ( 32-50 ) Trading Tyson chandler for Emeka Okafor makes the defense a little tougher, but also takes away their best inside scoring threat,  costing a few wins.

-Washington Wizards ( 45-37 ) Arenas gets to play more this year, meaning lots of scoring that teams have trouble containing, which equals more wins.

Northwest division-

-Portland Trailblazers ( 58-24 ) The addition of Andre Miller will cause minor chemistry problems for the first few games, but with a lighter, quicker and more ferocious Greg Oden, as well as Martell Webster coming back, Roy and Aldridge still improving, the Blazers will have a deep, balanced, and talented roster that will add a few wins.

-Denver Nuggets ( 52-30 ) Denver lost it's two biggest scoring threats off the bench, in Linas Kleiza going overseas, and JR smith getting bumped to the starting line-up after Dahntey Jones fled for Indiana, adding a few losses.

-Utah Jazz ( 42-40 ) Utah starts hot out of the gate, but flounders after injuries, and Boozer getting traded at the deadline.

-OKC Thunder ( 30-52 ) The rise of Kevin Durant continues, adding a few games by himself. No legitimate inside scoring threat prevents them from getting into playoff talk though.

-Minnesota Timberwolves ( 19-63 ) Injuries will prevent them from winning many games. They are a mess.

Pacific Division-

-L.A. Lakers ( 63-19 ) Ron Artest will shoot them out of a few games this year, but they will still be really really good.

-Phoenix Suns ( 38-44 ) Steve Nash will miss some significant time this year, costing several wins. Also, the Amare drama will cause uncertainty and doubt in the front office and the locker room.

-Golden State Warriors ( 25-57 ) Stephen Jackson gets traded before the deadline after a nasty and public feud with Nellie, and injuries to their backcourt will take games away from this high scoring team.

-L.A. Clippers ( 45-37 ) The Clippers benefit from several things this year. Addition by subtraction from the Z-bo trade, a healthy and happy Baron Davis, and a furious front line including the bulldog Blake Griffin, who will win ROY.The cinderella story of the season.

-Sacramento Kings ( 13-69 ) Losing Brad Miller and John Salmons will be felt hard this year. Major strife in this front office and locker room will be the real story.

Southwest Division-

-San Antonio Spurs ( 59-23 ) The addition of Richard Jefferson provides  a fall back scorer when Ginobili or Parker gets hurt, allowing the spurs to keep on grinding out wins with an improved front line with Mcdyess, improving their win total.

-Dallas Mavericks ( 54-28 ) Adding Shawn Marion more than replaces Brandon Bass's production ( who left for Orlando ). Possible big mid season trade might also help.

-Houston Rockets ( 44-38 ) Losing Yao for a part of ( maybe all ) the season is going to hurt and cost them wins, but Houston will still be able to get plenty of wins due to their ( frustratingly ) relentless front court defense and efficient scoring. Scola is the hero this year.

-New Orleans Hornets ( 54-28 ) Chris Paul, David West, Emeka Okafor. Pretty intimidating. Draft pick Darren Collison should do a better job of holding down the fort when Superstar Chris Paul sits.

-Memphis Grizzlies ( 29-53 ) The addition of Z-bo and AI looks great paper and stat wise, and will no doubt net them some wins, but this team is just not going to stop people from scoring, which will prevent them from taking a bigger step toward respectability.

Awards-

MVP-Dwight Howard

Defensive player of the year- Dwight Howard

Rookie of the year- Blake Griffin

Most improved player of the year- Greg Oden

Coach of the year- Nate Mcmillan

Executive of the year- Otis Smith

PLAYOFFS

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals - (#1)Orlando beats (#8)Indiana 4-0, (#2)Cleveland beats (#7)Atlanta 4-2, (#3)Boston beats (#6)Washington 4-3, (#5)Chicago beats (#4)Miami 4-3.

Western conference Quarterfinals - (#1)L.A. Lakers beat (8)Houston 4-1, (#2)San Antonio beats (#7)L.A. Clippers 4-2, (#3)Portland beats (#6)Denver 4-3, (#4)Dallas beats (#5)New Orleans 4-2.

Eastern Conference Semifinals - (#1)Orlando beats (#5)Chicago 4-0, (#3)Boston beats (#2) Cleveland 4-2.

Western Conference Semifinals - (#1) L.A. Lakers beat (#4) Dallas 4-2, (#4) Portland beats (#3) San Antonio 4-2.

Eastern Conference Finals - (#1) Orlando beats(#2) Boston 4-2.

Western Conference finals - (#1) L.A. Lakers beat (#3)Portland 4-3 ( in a game that will live in infamy, sparking even more David Stern conspiracy theories, fights, bloody noses, ejections, and fear in the hearts of Laker fans everywhere that their reign over the Western conference is over ).

NBA Finals - Orlando beats L.A. 4-0 in a devastatingly one-sided series due to several injuries to the Lakers from the ferociously physical series with Portland. 

Props to AK1984 for lighting the fire.