Looking Back at Last Year's Howard-Bynum-Iguodala Trade

Remember on August 10, 2012 when the NBA had one of it's biggest blockbuster trades in a long time? Dwight Howard ended up on the Los Angeles Lakers, Andrew Bynum went to the Philadelphia 76ers, Andre Iguodala was sent to the Denver Nuggets and the Orlando Magic ended up with a few young players and picks.

That trade looks a lot different now. If you are a Magic fan, the chances are you're happier than the fans of those other three teams.

The Trade:

Los Angeles Lakers Receive:

Dwight Howard, Earl Clark & Chris Duhon

When the trade happened it looked like they were the winners. They finally had the center that could possibly lead their team to glory again as his predecessors had done before (Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Shaquille O'Neal). The Lakers also added free agent signing Steve Nash and then nothing seemed to work for this Lakers team.

Only five games into the season and already the Lakers had fired Mike Brown and then hired Mike D'Antoni over Phil Jackson. What team could possibly think choosing a guy who never wins playoffs series over a guy who has won 11 rings as a head coach is a good idea?

Injuries plagued the Lakers all season and struggled to make the playoffs. They were able to finish seventh in the West after Kobe Bryant through the team on his back towards the end. All of the minutes that Bryant played in the season is probably what led to him going down with an injury late in the season. In the first round of the playoffs the Lakers were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in four games with Bryant unavailable for the playoffs. A first round exit wasn't exactly the finish anyone expected from the "Lake Show."

Two and a half months later and Dwight Howard is no longer wearing the purple and gold. Both Clark and Duhon are also no longer with the Lakers either, but I'm sure most Lakers fans don't really care. Looking back at this trade, Los Angeles must hate themselves. They gave away a center that wanted to be there for a guy that didn't and never reached the potential that this 2012-2013 team had.

When the Lakers look back at this trade now they must be regretting it. The Lakers failed in the 12-13 season and they took themselves out of the running for any titles for another 2 years. By then Bryant will likely retire and never get the sixth ring that would tie him with Michael Jordan.

When free agency rolled around it didn't appear that the Lakers even had a chance of bringing back Howard. The Rockets were the favorites from the beginning and the Warriors almost swooped in and stole him. The Mavericks and Hawks had almost as much a chance as the Lakers and neither of them were ever really in the picture. The Lakers even stooped to as low as putting up a banner for Dwight in hopes of him not leaving. Since when do the Lakers have to try and convince players to come play at the Staples Center.

By the way the Clippers were able to get their guy. What the hell is going on in Los Angeles?

Grade: D+

While the team didn't live up to expectations, they at least made the playoffs and had some glimpses of hope during the season. Injuries plagued the team more than anything else and they weren't going to win without Kobe Bryant.

Philadelphia 76ers Receive:

Andrew Bynum & Jason Richardson

0. That's the amount of games that Andrew Bynum ended up playing for the Philadelphia 76ers.
12.8 Million. That's how much the 76ers are stuck paying for Jason Richardson total for the next two seasons.

Talk about getting the worst of the deal. The only reason they made this trade was in the hopes that Bynum could be their franchise center. Bynum then gets injured and misses the entire season with an array of problems and the only thing Sixers fans had to bring smiles to their faces was this.

In the 2011-2012 shortened season the Sixers went 35-31 and finished with the eighth best record in the East. The following season they won one less game in a full season and finished with a record of 34-48. Not exactly what anyone expected from the "Illadelph."

The Sixers will likely be a lottery team this year. They'd be lucky to win any more than 30 games with their current roster. They couldn't have screwed up with this trade anymore than they did. In what was supposed to be a trade that helped the Sixers, it was actually a trade that completely killed this team and led them to starting over.

Bynum has now signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers, so he will never end up playing a game for Philadelphia. There really is no way for anyone dealing with the 76ers to actually look at this trade in a positive way. They got worse from the trade and took on a bad contract. I can't think of a trade where a team did so poorly in it. At least the Phillies and Eagles are doing good right? Wait they both still suck too. Sorry Philly.

Grade: F

They gave away their best player, traded for a guy that didn't play a game all season for them and got stuck with an overpriced player that nobody wanted. Good Job!

Denver Nuggets Receive:

Andre Iguodala

"Iggy" to the Nuggets was a trade that really helped Denver this season. I know that Iguodala is no longer with the Nuggets as he has signed with the Golden State Warriors, but this trade wasn't bad for them at all.

Injuries plagued the Nuggets for a majority of the season and Iguodala was one of the few guys on this team that was on the court on a consistent basis. He was the leader of a team that ended up with the three seed in the playoffs somehow and if it wasn't because of so many injuries they might have actually advanced in the playoffs.

This trade was really a rental for Denver as they only had him for the season, but they have to know that they did better than LA and Philly. Their team made it to the playoffs and the player they received was the main reason for it. They didn't give up too much in the trade either outside of losing Arron Afflalo and a first round pick so they have to keep their chins up.

This team has a future with Ty Lawson, Kenneth Faried and Danilo Gallinari so they have to look forward to their future. If Javale McGee can become a little less of a headcase and Wilson Chandler can stay healthy they will be fine without Iguodala this season. They will still be a playoff team without him, just not as good.

Grade: B

They were a much better team due to the addition of Iguodala. Even though he didn't stay with the team he gave the Nuggets a real chance during last season. They also didn't lose too much in the trade either.

Orlando Magic Receive:
Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, Moe Harkless, Josh McRoberts & Christian Eyenga
3 1st Round Picks (2014 Nuggets (or Knicks), 2017 Lakers (Conditional) & Future 76ers (Conditional))
2 2nd Round Picks (2015 Lakers & 2017 Lakers (Conditional))

The Magic traded away Dwight Howard because he wanted nothing to do with playing for them anymore. This happened only a short while after he extended his contract after being questioned about whether or not he was going to stay all season long. I think he just felt guilty about leaving even though it was all he wanted to do. You can only go to Disney World so many times before you get sick of the rides I guess. (I've been twice and I'm terrified of heights so roller coasters aren't exactly my cup of tea.)

If you really look at it, Howard did Orlando a favor. By extending his contract for another season and then saying he wanted to leave, he allowed the Magic to actually get something for him. I know they hate him in Orlando now and will probably hate him for a long time, but he actually helped give this team a future through the trade.

If you look at what they gave up, they really did an excellent job in this trade. They were able to get rid of Howard and three players that they didn't want in Duhon, Clark and Richardson. They made it so that if they were going to get rid of their key player, they were going to get rid of guys they didn't want and stack up on young talent and draft picks.

Of the four guys they still have on their roster from the trade, the only one that isn't really a part of the team's future is Al Harrington. Harrington didn't play all that much for Orlando last year and will likely see even less minutes this year. Eyenga was released before the season started and McRoberts was traded during the season.

When you look at the other three players they received, Orlando has to be happy. Afflalo ended up being the Magic's best scorer last year as he averaged 16.5 points per game. Mo Harkless ended up putting up relatively good numbers in his rookie campaign as he scored eight points and had four rebounds per game. But the key piece in the trade was Nikola Vucevic. That's right Vucevic. One of those foreign centers actually playing up to what Fran Fraschilla said about him.

I think it was halfway through last season when I finally realized who this dude was. Vucevic went from being a guy I hadn't really heard of to a double-double machine. He finished the year starting in all 77 of the 77 games he played in and averaged 13.1 points and 11.9 rebounds per contest. Not bad numbers from a guy playing in his second season.

This team won't likely compete this season so a lottery pick is on the horizon. They likely won't be ready next year either but three years from now this team could be moving up in the Eastern Conference. With the young pieces they received in this trade in Harkless and Vucevic and the addition of Oladipo they could be a pretty good team in the future. Another early pick in this year's draft could really set them up. Now they just have to get rid of Jameer "remember when people thought St. Joe's was good" Nelson.

Grade: A-

Traded away the guy that didn't want to be there. Ended up getting rid of a guy they didn't want. Added two young studs and a bunch of draft picks. The Magic once again have a future.

The Somewhat Late NBA 1st Round Predictions

I know this is slightly late as the NBA Playoffs are already four days in, but I thought I'd get this up now anyways. All of the picks made in this piece were done last Thursday and have not been changed.

My favorite time of the year is now upon us. In my opinion there is no better postseason than the NBA Playoffs. The NBA Playoffs are really the only postseason tournament that really shows which team was the best team of the year for the most part. When it's a one-and-done tournament like the NFL Playoffs or the NCAA Tournament I don't think you end up with the best team winning every year. I also think that baseball's playoffs usually don't show which team was the best all year, but rather which team got hot at the right point. The NBA Playoffs is two months of best-of-seven series' featuring the 15 best teams in the NBA along with the Milwaukee Bucks and in my opinion there is nothing better.

At the beginning of the year Darryl Wilson and I sat down and went through our preseason picks and midway through the year we made a revised edition that I posted here: NBA Midseason Projections. At the end of the year I finished slightly better than Darryl and managed to get all 16 teams in the playoffs from the mid-point with Darryl getting 14 right. When sitting down the other day we decided that we would come up with our first round projections. Rather than picking the entire playoffs all at once we will just get together before each new round begins.

Eastern Conference:

#1 Miami Heat vs. #8 Milwaukee Bucks (Heat lead 2-0)
Jim: Heat in 4
Darryl: Heat in 5

In all honesty I don't think the Bucks should have been allowed to compete in this year's playoffs. Before the series even started I gave them no chance and expected them to be swept rather easily. So far they haven't done anything to show me or anyone else that they were worthy of being a part of the 16 team tournament. In my opinion I think the NBA should have just given the Heat a bye in the first round, because that's what these two games have basically been for Miami so far.

Brandon Jennings was dumb enough to come out and say that the Bucks would win the series in six games. It's good and all to think that, but when you're playing the team that has been the best all season long, you shouldn't be trying to make any crazy guarantees. If you are going to make a guarantee you are supposed to go out and win the game. People remember Joe Namath's guarantee because he went out and led the Jets to the Super Bowl. In a few years no one is going to remember this series unless LeBron or D-Wade manage to put on one of the greatest statistical performances of all time. By the end of the weekend the Heat should be out enjoying the Miami sun for a few days while the Bucks are unpacking their lockers.

#2 New York Knicks vs. #7 Boston Celtics (Knicks lead 2-0)
Jim: Knicks in 6
Darryl: Knicks in 7

As a Knicks fan I was so happy to get this series. New York fans hate Boston fans and vice versa so getting to see seven possible games between these two teams makes a lot of fans in the northeast very happy. Through two games in New York, the Knicks have come out early trying to get rid of one of their biggest rivals. Carmelo Anthony stated that season two was a must-win and he made sure that Tuesday night the Knicks came out and defeated the Celtics.

Ever since Rajon Rondo went down with injury, many fans and journalists talked about how the Celtics might be better without Rondo. The easy truth is that they are definitely not a better team. Without Rondo the Celtics have had to rely heavily on Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett and the last time I checked it isn't 2008 still. The Celtics needed Rondo this year if they were going to make one last attempt at competing for a championship, because after this season they will likely start all over.

The Knicks have been hampered by injuries all season as much as the Celtics, but Gotham's squad has made many key moves before and during the season to make them the biggest threats to the Miami Heat for the east title. While bringing in Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin have been great moves for the Knicks, it's the move that they didn't make that I think has bettered them the most. When New York chose not to match the Houston Rockets contract for Jeremy Lin I was skeptical at first if it was that great of a move, but during the season I came to the realization that it was definitely the right move by the front office.

With the series now headed to Boston, the Celtics will likely have to win both games if they are going to see this series go much further as I don't see them coming back to MSG and winning in game five. I originally predicted the Knicks to end this in six, but I'm starting to think it might be over even earlier than that.

#3 Indiana Pacers vs. #6 Atlanta Hawks (Pacers lead 1-0)
Jim: Pacers in 6
Darryl: Pacers in 5

The Pacers have been without their best player almost all season long and have still managed to get the third seed in the east and will likely be headed to the conference semifinals. With Danny Granger out now for the remainder of the playoffs after missing most of the season, I'm expecting both Roy Hibbert and Paul George to be able to lead them past the Hawks and put up a good fight with the Knicks in the conferene semis. If they had Granger I think they'd finish this series even earlier and would have a much better shot at moving on to the conference finals or even in the NBA Finals.

The Hawks have seemed to be that one team that just can't get over the hump. Over the years they have had Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Al Horford leading their squad and haven't been able to reach the conference finals. With Johnson now playing for Brooklyn the Hawks have now had to rely on Smith and Horford more and it seems as if the two of them are incapable of being the leading man on a team. After the season they will have to possibly work on a trade to bring in someone else because they just don't seem to be going in the right direction at this point.

This is definitely the least sexy of the series' being played in the east including the Heat-Bucks series that is already finished. Neither team will likely contend past this round and expect the Pacers to finish this series in five or six games. The only things to really look forward to in this series are the match-ups between George and Smith as well as Horford and Hibbert.

#4 Brooklyn Nets vs. #5 Chicago Bulls (Series tied 1-1)
Both: Bulls in 6

New York's new team is definitely on the rise and have had a pretty good team in the first season back in the big apple. With their new core of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez they have proven to be one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference all season long. However, they are playing a team that just happens to look better than them, even without their best player.

The Chicago Bulls have managed to get the five seed in the East without former MVP Derrick Rose. Rose has been on the shelf for the entire season with some questioning whether or not he is capable of lacing them up now for the playoffs. The likelihood of Rose suiting up at all for these playoffs is very slim, so I'm not giving them a realistic shot at possibly getting past the Heat in the next round. Even without Rose I still think they are the better team as Tom Thibodeau is one of the best coaches in the NBA today.

The series is currently tied at one a piece and heading to Chicago for the next two games. The place that Michael Jordan built will definitely be rocking in the next two games as the Bulls have always managed to have one of the best home-court advantages in the NBA. Expect the Bulls to take a 3-1 lead after four with the Nets winning at home in game five and the Bulls finishing it in Chicago in six.

Western Conference:

#1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #8 Houston Rockets (Thunder lead 1-0)
Jim: Thunder in 5
Darryl: Thunder in 4

James Harden went from being on the best team in the Western Conference to the eighth seed about a week before this year's NBA season started. Somehow the Thunder have managed to not skip a beat when losing one of their big three and managed to finish with the best record in the Western Conference.

Kevin Durant has been the MVP this year in the NBA. He has been so important to the success of the Thunder in Harden's absence. While I don't think the Thunder will be able to sweep the Rockets, I do expect them to get it done rather quickly. Durant's new "fire" has been huge for the Thunder and I really think his added attitude and confidence are the key to his success. If he continues to carry the monkey on his back of possibly being second and being out to prove that he should be first, this could end up being the Thunder's year to take home the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Watching Harden play against his former team might be exciting for some, but you shouldn't expect the Rockets to really compete with the Thunder this year. With Linsanity, Chandler Parsons and Omer Asik they are definitely a playoff team, but they still need at least one more piece if they are going to compete with some of the best in the West.

#2 San Antonio Spurs vs. #7 Los Angeles Lakers (Spurs lead 1-0)
Jim: Spurs in 5
Darryl: Spurs in 4

You look at these two teams playing in the first round and you should get excited. Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant are suiting up against each other. Gregg Popovich and Phil Jackson are manning the sidelines. Then you actually look at the squads as they suit up and now you have Jodie Meeks on the floor for the Lakers with Mike Antoni (the D is silent because it doesn't exist) running the plays. Bryant's leg injury stole away the possibility of one last Kobe-Duncan match-up in the playoffs that could have possibly helped show which player will end their career with the more successful legacy.

While the Lakers are without Bryant, you can still look at their roster and see some of the biggest names in the NBA including Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol and "The Artest Formerly Known As Ron." Those four will be going up against the big three of Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.

As much as you could say that the Lakers might actually show up and defeat the Spurs, there's just no way that this team will be able to do it with this coach. They are going to be outplayed and outcoached in this season and this might be ugly for Laker fans. In my opinion, Popovich is the greatest NBA coach I've ever seen as he has managed to take average players and fit them into his system to produce great results. This season is likely to be the last time you see the Spurs contending for a championship with Duncan, Ginobili and Parker as the three of them aren't getting any younger. It's time to enjoy the "Big Fundamental" while we all still can.

#3 Denver Nuggets vs. #6 Golden State Warriors (Series tied 1-1)
Jim: Warriors in 7
Darryl: Warriors in 6

You would think that when all-star David Lee went down with an injury that will have him miss the rest of the playoffs that the Nuggets would likely win this series very easily. I was very nervous about my original pick when the injury happened, but in Tuesday's game we were all remembered that the Warriors still have Mr. Steph Curry.

When I look at the current crop of young NBA guards there aren't many I'd put on the same level as Curry outside of Kyrie Irving. Curry managed to break the record for most three-pointers made in a season and has helped lead a Warriors team that has struggled a lot over the last decade. With Curry, Lee, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes and Andrew Bogut being the main five for the Warriors they are definitely on their way up in the Western Conference. In a couple of years this team could be one of the best teams in the West and could compete regularly with the Thunder over the next decade.

The Nuggets are led by Ty Lawson, Kenneth Faried and Andre Iguodala with Danilo Gallinari missing the rest of the playoffs due to injury. If the Nuggets had a healthy Galo to play with I would have had to choose them to win the series. This season is going to be very close and will likely go the entire season with a winner being crowned in game seven. Remember when Steph Curry came out and put Davidson on the map? He's about to do the same with Golden State.

#4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. #5 Memphis Grizzlies (Clippers lead 2-0)
Jim: Clippers in 6
Darryl: Grizzlies in 7

To be honest I'm shocked to see the Clippers hold a 2-0 lead over the Grizzlies. The Clips won game one pretty easily by over 20 points and were able to squeak out a close win in game two following a game-winning floater by Chris Paul. With the next two games headed to Memphis, the Grizzlies will have to come out playing the defense that got them to this point in the season if they are going to advance.

CP3 has been the best player in the NBA this season that doesn't play the 3-4 position that has been occupied by LeBron, Melo and Durant. When CP3 was traded to the Clippers they finally had something to look forward to in Los Angeles in the NBA outside of the Lakers. The Clippers had been the laughing stock of the NBA for years and with CP3 and Blake Griffin now leading them, they are now the best team playing in the Staples Center.

The Grizzlies will need their big men of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol to better protect the rim and control the glass if they are going to turn this series around. Mike Conley and Tony Allen will have their hands full enough with all of the different guards the Clippers can throw out at them so the bigs will be the ones that will be relied on in this series.

I'm expecting the Grizzlies to head back to Memphis and win both games at home to even up the series with the Clippers then finishing it in six. This series should end up with more low scoring games going forward so if you like defense, this is something that should be worth watching.

1/30 NBA Predictions

Tonight's NBA Games:

Washington Wizards (11-32) @ Philadelphia 76ers (18-26)

Wizards are on the road against the 76ers in what appears to be a snoozefest. The 76ers haven't played the way anyone expected them to before the season because of the absence of Andrew Bynum and the Wizards have finally gotten back their best player in John Wall. The Wizards have only won three times on the road this season and it's not looking like they get their fourth tonight.

My prediction: 76ers win 102-92

Detroit Pistons (17-28) @ Indiana Pacers (26-19)

10 years ago this was one of the best rivalries in basketball and the last five years it has slowly gotten worse and worse. The Pistons are on the way down and the Pacers are on the way up and I think the home team will continue to go up in this game. Expect a defensive game played in this one.

My prediction: Pacers win 91-79

Orlando Magic (14-30) @ New York Knicks (27-15)

I don't think there's any "Magic" left in this team this season. The Howard trade had to happen, but it doesn't appear that they got enough to build off of from that trade to this point. The Knicks will be missing Jason Kidd but I still expect them to prevail at home.

My prediction: Knicks win 110-94

Sacramento Kings (17-29) @ Boston Celtics (21-23)

Where do the Celtics go from here. They just won at home on Sunday against the Heat and now have a Kings team visiting the TD Garden that has been completely inconsistent all season. The Celtics should win this game but without Rondo the rest of the season I don't see them blowing anybody out.

My prediction: Celtics win 98-94

Toronto Raptors (16-29) @ Atlanta Hawks (25-19)

The best team in Canada doesn't exactly play all that well outside of the Great White North. Expect the Hawks to win this game rather convincingly.

My prediction: Hawks win 100-86

Miami Heat (28-13) @ Brooklyn Nets (27-18)

This is probably my favorite game of the night and there's a reason why ESPN will be airing this one. These two teams have used free agency and trades to really build squads that will compete come playoff time. The defending champions got to visit the White House yesterday on their day off and haven't played that well outside of South Beach so expect the Nets to win at the house Jay-Z built.

My prediction: Nets win 99-93

Chicago Bulls (27-17) @ Milwaukee Bucks (24-19)

Da Bulls are heading to Milwaukee tonight in a game between two Central Division rivals. The Bucks have played well this season behind their backcourt of Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis and the Bulls have somehow played amazing without their all-star point guard Derrick Rose. This game will be a close one, but I'm giving the slight edge to the home team.

My prediction: Bucks win 96-94

Los Angeles Clippers (33-13) @ Minnesota Timberwolves (17-24)

The biggest story of this game might be the injuries that both teams are facing. Both teams are without their best players in Chris Paul and Kevin Love and will have to continue to find scoring from other players on the court. The Clippers have played well without CP3 while the T'Wolves have not been the same without their 20-12 guy in Love. There won't be any "Love" for the T'Wolves tonight.

My prediction: Clippers win 108-96

Charlotte Bobcats (11-33) @ San Antonio Spurs (36-11)

The Bobcats have won five times on the road. The Spurs have lost twice at home. Yikes this one isn't going to be close even without Tim Duncan.

My prediction: Spurs win 96-80

Houston Rockets (25-22) @ Denver Nuggets (28-18)

The Nuggets might have the best homecourt advantage in basketball due to the high altitude in Colorado. Linsanity hasn't exactly lived up to the same hype that he had when he took over the Big Apple last year due to less shot attempts and teams learning how to play him. Expect Ty Lawson and Andre Iguodala to keep the Rockets backcourt from scoring too many points tonight.

My prediction: Nuggets win 103-94

New Orleans Hornets (15-30) @ Utah Jazz (24-21)

The Jazz just got embarrassed against the Rockets by 45 points on Monday. This is a great bounce back game for a team that definitely needs one. Expect the Jazz to win at home.

My prediction: Jazz win 98-89

Los Angeles Lakers (20-25) @ Phoenix Suns (15-30)

Kobe Bryant has looked like Magic Johnson 2.0 the last three games for the Lakers and if he continues to play this well I expect the Lakers to keep winning. Expect Kobe not to slow down against a team that has starting guards of Goran Dragic and Jared Dudley. This is the kind of team he could drop 40 on without blinking.

My prediction: Lakers win 106-90

Yesterday's NBA Results: 3-1

Golden State Warriors (28-17) @ Cleveland Cavaliers (13-33) - Warriors won 108-95
(Originally predicted Cavaliers would win 107-90)

Milwaukee Bucks (24-19) @ Detroit Pistons (17-28) - Bucks won 117-90
(Originally predicted Bucks would win 96-92)

Dallas Mavericks (19-26) @ Portland Trail Blazers (23-22) - Trail Blazers won 106-104
(Originally predicted Trail Blazers would win 109-105)

New Orleans Hornets (15-30) @ Los Angeles Lakers (20-25) - Lakers won 111-106
(Originally predicted Lakers would win 112-90)

NBA Midseason Projections

This season marks the second time that Darnell and I have made preseason projections for the NBA regular season. Because last season was shortened we never re-did our projections midway through the season and just went off of what he projected the entire year. Neither of us want to really remember last year's picks because we both thought that Dirk Nowitzki would be in shape and lead the Dallas Mavericks back to the NBA Finals for the West. I'm pretty sure Dirk hasn't cared about basketball since he won his ring in 2011 and he more than likely won't care the rest of his career.

Before this season started I predicted that the Knicks would defeat the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals (ECF) and the Spurs would defeat the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals (WCF). For the NBA Finals I projected the Knicks to defeat the Spurs in a rematch of the 1999 NBA Finals and am sticking with all of those picks for the playoffs.

Darnell is currently predicting the Knicks to defeat the Bulls in the ECF and the Clippers to defeat the Spurs in the WCF. He had the Knicks defeating the Clippers for the title. Before the season started his only difference was that he projected the Heat instead of the Bulls to lose in the ECF.

Anyone could argue that I am being biased in my picks towards the Knicks, but the East looks really weak this year. The Knicks currently sit second in the East and the only team they are struggling against right now is the Bulls. The West could be won by any one of three teams in the Spurs, Thunder and Clippers, but I'm thinking this will be Tim Duncan's "last ride," and he will want to go out on top similar to that of Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens.

For the current NBA Standings you can go to this link. The following standings show how Darnell and I project the standings to look like at the end of the regular season (The number in parentheses indicates what we predicted before the season started):

My Standings (@jimzacharias):

East: 

1. Miami Heat (1) 
2. New York Knicks (2)
3. Chicago Bulls (4)
4. Indiana Pacers (3)
5. Brooklyn Nets (6)
6. Atlanta Hawks (7)
7. Milwaukee Bucks (9)
8. Boston Celtics (5)
9. Philadelphia 76ers (8)
10. Cleveland Cavaliers (10)
11. Detroit Pistons (12)
12. Washington Wizards (11)
13. Toronto Raptors (14)
14. Orlando Magic (13)
15. Charlotte Bobcats (15)

West:

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (1)
2. Los Angeles Clippers (4)
3. San Antonio Spurs (2)
4. Memphis Grizzlies (5)
5. Denver Nuggets (6)
6. Golden State Warriors (12)
7. Los Angeles Lakers (3)
8. Houston Rockets (10)
9. Utah Jazz (9)
10. Portland Trail Blazers (11)
11. Dallas Mavericks (7)
12. Minnesota Timberwolves (8)
13. New Orleans Hornets (14)
14. Sacramento Kings (13)
15. Phoenix Suns (15)

Darnell's Standings (@Darneezee):

East:

1. Chicago Bulls (9)
2. New York Knicks (4)
3. Miami Heat (2)
4. Indiana Pacers (3)
5. Boston Celtics (1)
6. Brooklyn Nets (6)
7. Milwaukee Bucks (8)
8. Atlanta Hawks (7)
9. Detroit Pistons (13)
10. Toronto Raptors (14)
11. Philadelphia 76ers (5)
12. Orlando Magic (10)
13. Cleveland Cavaliers (11)
14. Washington Wizards (12)
15. Charlotte Bobcats (15)

West:

1. San Antonio Spurs (1)
2. Los Angeles Clippers (3)
3. Oklahoma City Thunder (4)
4. Golden State Warriors (12)
5. Memphis Grizzlies (5)
6. Denver Nuggets (6)
7. Portland Trail Blazers (9)
8. Dallas Mavericks (7)
9. Los Angeles Lakers (2)
10. Houston Rockets (10)
11. Utah Jazz (8) 
12. Minnesota Timberwolves (11)
13. Sacramento Kings (14)
14. New Orleans Hornets (15)
15. Phoenix Suns (13)

Could this be the year that Carmelo Anthony or Kevin Durant win their first NBA Championship? Could Tim Duncan or Kobe Bryant possibly win one more ring before finally hanging it up? Could the Bulls or Clippers finally get healthy enough before the playoffs and make a run behind their all-star point guards? Or could this be the year that the Miami Heat repeat and LeBron James adds another championship ring to his case for being one of the greatest players of all time?

1/28 NBA & NCAA Predictions

NBA Games:

Coming in to these games I'm currently 11-6 when picking the NBA

Golden State Warriors (26-17) @ Toronto Raptors (16-28)

The best team in Canada is hosting the Warriors from the Golden State tonight. The Warriors are coming into this game on a two game losing streak and I don't see them possibly losing their third straight tonight. Behind the guard play of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson I think the Warriors backcourt will be too much for this Raptors team.

My prediction: Warriors win 105-97

Memphis Grizzlies (28-15) @ Philadelphia 76ers (18-25)

Was pretty shocked to see the Grizzlies lose to a team worse than them yesterday and I don't think it's something this Grizzlies team is going to do two games in a row. While the 76ers have been playing alright as of late, their frontcourt will not be able to stop Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. Way too much size for a team that doesn't have their starting center. This one could might not be all that close.

My prediction: Grizzlies win 99-86

Sacramento Kings (16-29) @ Washington Wizards (11-31)

Both of these teams have the potential to be good in a couple of years. However, this isn't the future and both teams currently have no possible chance of seeing the playoffs this year. The Kings never show up on the road and are currently 4-17 away from Sactown so I see the John Wall led Wizards pulling out this game tonight.

My prediction: Wizards win 105-101

Orlando Magic (14-29) @ Brooklyn Nets (26-18)

Magic just lost to the Pistons at home and are going up against a Nets team that has shown to be very reliable team at home. The Nets have been getting great play out of Brook Lopez all season to go along with their guards Deron Williams and Joe Johnson so I'm going with the home team for this game.

My prediction: Nets win 102-86

Charlotte Bobcats (11-32) @ Chicago Bulls (26-17)

Michael Jordan's team is coming to Chicago. If Jordan was suiting up for this Bobcats team tonight they would probably have a better chance of winning this game against the Bulls, but right now the greatest of all time will just be sitting courtside. Sorry Bobcats fans. Expect the Bulls to pound out this Bobcats team and win this game pretty easily.

My prediction: Bulls win 96-79

Indiana Pacers (26-18) @ Denver Nuggets (27-18) - "Game of the Night"

Tonight's "Game of the Night." Both of these teams will be in the playoffs come April and both have played very well while key players were injured. The Nuggets have Wilson Chandler back now, which gives them another scoring option and the Pacers should be getting back Danny Granger soon as well. Paul George has carried this team in Granger's absence but the Pacers have been a poor road team this season and the Nuggets have been almost unstoppable at the Pepsi Center.

My prediction: Nuggets win 98-92

Houston Rockets (24-22) @ Utah Jazz (24-20)

The season is halfway done at this point and these two teams are currently sitting in the 7th and 8th spots in the west. With the Trail Blazers right behind both of them and a surging Kobe Bryant led Lakers team starting to turn it around this game could really effect which team gets to the playoffs in April and which one is a part of the lottery. This game is really a coin flip to me so I'm going with the home team.

My prediction: Jazz win 106-101

NCAA Games:

Pittsburgh (17-4) @ #12 Louisville (16-4)

This game is a battle of two current Big East schools that will be heading to the ACC in the coming years. Louisville is coming in to this game on a three game losing streak and I don't see any possibility of a team this good losing four straight. I do believe this game will be close but I'm going with the home team tonight.

My prediction: #12 Louisville win 71-67

South Florida (10-9) @ #25 Marquette (14-4)

Ever since moving to the Big East, South Florida have been cellar dwellers every year. They are currently 1-6 in the conference and are visiting a ranked opponent in Marquette. This game will be a rout from the beginning.

My prediction: #25 Marquette win 76-55

#2 Kansas (18-1) @ West Virginia (9-10)

The #2 Kansas Jayhawks are on the road against the Mountaineers of West Virginia tonight. While the Mountaineers are usually a team that come March always seems to make the tournament, this year's team is much weaker than any of the past few years. I'm expecting to see what I consider the best team in the country in the Jayhawks completely manhandle this lesser team tonight led by Ben McLemore and Jeff Withey.

My prediction: #2 Kansas win 84-61

1/26 NBA Predictions

Tonight's NBA Predictions:

New York Knicks (26-14) @ Philadelphia 76ers (17-25)

Tonight marks the return of Knicks starting point guard Raymond Felton. The 76ers are currently above .500 at home, but I don't see them having enough to win this game against the Knicks. Sixers starting point guard Jrue Holiday has been showing all-star qualities all season but without Andrew Bynum this team doesn't have the frontcourt size to compete with the Knicks big men in Tyson Chandler and Amare Stoudemire.

My prediction: Knicks win 99-90

Cleveland Cavaliers (12-32) @ Toronto Raptors (16-27)

In a battle of two teams that have no postseason hopes this year, this game will feature a lot of rising star Kyrie Irving. Irving has just been named to his first all-star game and I see him putting up big numbers tonight for the Cavs.

My prediction: Cavaliers win 102-96

Chicago Bulls (26-16) @ Washington Wizards (10-31)

The Bulls currently have more wins on the road this season (12) than the Wizards have total. I don't see this game being close at all.

My prediction: Bulls win 98-81

Minnesota Timberwolves (17-23) @ Charlotte Bobcats (10-32)

The only thing Bobcats fans have been able to look forward to all season is the possibility of them regaining their former name the Hornets. Other than that it looks like it will be another losing season for a team that continues to draft poorly and end up in the lottery year after year.

My prediction: Timberwolves win 97-88

Brooklyn Nets (26-17) @ Houston Rockets (23-22)

If you are interested in seeing a lot of scoring coming from the backcourt this is a game that you will enjoy. Both teams currently have starting guards that combine for 34+ points per game. The Nets have impressed in their first season in Brooklyn and the new starting backcourt of Jeremy Lin and James Harden have shown glimpses of a future that looks promising for Houston.

My prediction: Rockets win 94-92

Golden State Warriors (26-16) @ Milwaukee Bucks (22-19)

This game will mark the first meeting between Monta Ellis and his former team the Golden State Warriors this season. Both teams seem to have been better off since the trade a year ago and this game will be very similar to that of the Nets & Rockets. With a lot of guard scoring I see this game being very competitive all the way until the end.

My prediction: Bucks win 101-99

Phoenix Suns (15-28) @ San Antonio Spurs (35-11)

The Spurs have been unstoppable at home this season with only two losses and the Phoenix Suns have been abysmal on the road with only four wins. This game will be a blowout from the beginning.

My prediction: Spurs win 102-78

Sacramento Kings (16-28) @ Denver Nuggets (26-18)

This will more than likely be the last season of the Sacramento Kings as it's looking like the team is all but ready to be moved to Seattle and be renamed the Supersonics. That has really been the only newsworthy thing about the team besides "Boogie" Cousins causing problems for the team all season.

My prediction: Nuggets win 104-90

Indiana Pacers (26-17) @ Utah Jazz (23-20)

The Pacers have been one of the best defensive teams all season and have managed to slow down just about everybody. However, while the Pacers are on the road they tend not to perform as well as they do at home. The Jazz currently have a frontcourt that contains Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson and Derrick Favors. All three of these guys should be starting but only two of them can take up the spots at the 4 and 5. It's only a matter of time before 1 of those 3 is on the trading block and be shopped to half of the NBA.

My prediction: Jazz win 91-88

Los Angeles Clippers (32-12) @ Portland Trail Blazers (21-21)

In the last game of the evening the big question is when will Chris Paul return. That's the only thing that really matters to a Clippers team that has shown signs of contending for an NBA title this year. While the Clippers have been winning without Paul, he is what makes this team so successful. Without Paul in this game I see the Trail Blazers pulling the upset and beating the Clips.

My prediction: Trail Blazers win 103-98