The 2015-2016 NBA season is upon us – and it’s as if no one knew about it.

I mean, given the whoopla surrounding the NFL, the excitement of college football (especially the last two weekends in Ann Arbor and Atlanta), and the World Series starting tomorrow night (arguably no one probably doesn’t know about that either), it’s easy to see why the NBA would get lost in the shuffle.  However, I believe this season will be just as exciting as last season.

There are lots of storylines heading into the season.  How will LaMarcus Aldridge and David West gel with Tim Duncan and the crew in San Antonio?  Will Keven Durant stay healthy long enough to guide the Thunder back to the NBA Finals?  Will the Warriors repeat?  Who will challenge Cleveland in the East?  And finally, will LeBron James bring a title to Ohio?

I cannot wait.

In the meantime, check out my extremely quick little NBA preview below.  You’ll be glad you did…

*: denotes playoff team

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

1. Toronto Raptors (50-32)-*
2. New York Knicks (40-42)
3. Boston Celtics (38-44)
4. Brooklyn Nets (30-52)
5. Philadelphia 76ers (22-60)

Analysis:  The Raptors are clearly the best out of this wretched bunch.  My Knicks will make a playoff push – MAYBE.  I don’t know if the Sixers should be still considered an NBA franchise.

Central Division

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (59-23)-*
2. Chicago Bulls (53-29)-*
3. Milwaukee Bucks (47-35)-*
4. Indiana Pacers (41-41)
5. Detroit Pistons (36-46)

Analysis:  This is basically a two-horse division.  As long as Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love stay healthy in Cleveland and Derrick Rose does the same in Chicago, those two teams will be the best in the East.  The Bucks will be fun to watch, especially since they revamped their jerseys.  As for the Pistons, at least head coach Stan Van Gundy can put together a phat mix tape…

Southeast Division

1. Miami Heat (52-30)-*
2. Atlanta Hawks (51-31)-*
3. Washington Wizards (46-36)-*
4. Charlotte Hornets (41-41)-*
5. Orlando Magic (30-52)

Analysis:  I think you could easily go with either the Heat or Hawks in this division, largely because both are talented and well-coached.  And if Dwyane Wade stays healthy, Cleveland should look the hell out.  Look for the Hornets to return to the playoffs as possibly the eighth seed.

Eastern Conference Champ:  Cleveland Cavaliers

Western Conference

Southwest Division

1. San Antonio Spurs (59-23)-*
2. Memphis Grizzlies (55-27)-*
3. Houston Rockets (52-30)-*
4. New Orleans Hornets (47-35)-*
5. Dallas Mavericks (44-38)-*

Analysis:  This is easily the best division in the NBA, and arguably in all of professional sports.  All five teams will make the playoffs, and even he Hornets and Mavericks would make plenty of noise in the Eastern Conference.  The only thing preventing the Spurs from winning over 60 games is that the division is too damn good to dominate.

Northwest Division

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (57-25)-*
2. Portland Trailblazers (40-42)
3. Minnesota Timberwolves (36-46)
4. Utah Jazz (30-52)
5. Denver Nuggets (27-55)

Analysis:  The Thunder should moonwalk to a division title.  Only the Atlantic Division would rival this one for all-time suckiness.

Pacific Division

1. Golden State Warriors (55-27)-*
2. Los Angeles Clippers (54-28)-*
3. Phoenix Suns (43-39)
4. Sacramento Kings (40-42)
5. Los Angeles Lakers (34-48)

Analysis:  I am looking forward to seeing the Warriors and Clippers duke it out for the division supremacy.  One could easily make the case for these two teams being the best in the Western Conference, if not the NBA.  I also love that the Warriors and Clips totally hate each other.  Oh, and Kobe’s last year as a Laker will end in embarrassment.  You heard it here first.

Western Conference Champ:  Oklahoma City Thunder

2015-2016 NBA Champion:  Cleveland Cavaliers (this season will be known as ‘LeBron’s Revenge’)

Categories: NBA

Tags: NBA, NBA Season Preview, Opinion, Sports