Originally posted on 10/24/2014:

Personal Note:
i have never done this, as i think it is quite difficult,
and usually the person who makes the prediction emerges looking quite silly.

However, this is what it looks like to me, and i just wanted to post it.

Golden St. • Talented, young, fast... 3-Pt. machine.. they pass the ball and fast-break.
this is the look of the new NBA (imo) big centers are no longer the focal point.
When you have a guy like Klay Thompson who is a FA next year..
it only makes them play harder and faster. Barring injury at year's end to Curry
or Thompson, i like this team to sneak past OKC.. Jazz need a couple more years.

Kerr looks like he hit the ground running and is a bit of a 3-PT specialist himself, so great fit with the coaching, it is what he likes, as well he can personally coach that shot, as he is quite proficient in this area.

Cleveland • (same as above)
Talented, young, fast... 3-Pt. machine.. they pass the ball and fast-break.
EXCEPT they all rebound like mad. Love, Lebron, Varejao, difficult to win the Reb-war..
the only team that went all the way, losing the Reb-war was Miami, and that is because they shot 50% as a team for the season.

PLUS, the Cavs have: (according to ESPN)
No.1 LEbron, and the
No.7 (Love), as well as the
No. 23 Irving (undervalued?)

I think the coach will grow as well, because Lebron does not challenge his coaches,
he has no insecurity issues regarding who is perceived as the boss. Spoelstra grew into a great during the four years the Heat went to the Finals. Spoelstra knows what he is doing now, young as he is.

i think Cleveland wins this matchup in the Finals, if it should come to pass.



The "NO"List

Spurs will fall off considerably, i find it shocking that all the GMs picked the Spurs to repeat. (wtf?) Why would they do that? Pop has only ever been to the Finals in consecutive years ONCE. (the last two)..

Leonard is great, but he really caught fire at the right time..
but he can't carry that team.. they are pretty dang old.

OKC I think Duarant might have an off year after such a stellar one last year, setting that absurd record of 41 games with 25 pts or over. That is unbelievable, but i think he may just be a spot more reserved this season, (bad start already) him being out with the fracture. Impossible for them to reach Finals, unless he has stellar year.

LA Clippers That Sterling drama really messed 'em up.. it cost them that series, just to much unrest, may take them a year to refocus, still great talent, all around, but more flash and less pure 'big picture' winners.. they seem focused on flashy alley-oops too much.

Bulls are overrated (imo) let's see if Rose can remain injury free for the entire season.. i see that he takes too many shots, and is trying to score too much. As required it is good.. but not most of the time for a PG..

.. and what was the GM thinking bringing in a washed-up Gasol?!!?. I like him very much, kool guy, was a great shot once. But very large people like him, age and deteriorate earlier than smaller men. He is 34 yrs. old, 7-Ft. and dead slow on Defense. Speed and athleticism, 3-PT shooting is the name of the new NBA.. and he does not fit the bill in any of these categories. Mistake to fill that slot with a slow big man. it won't help you out-rebound the Cavs.


anyways, there is my pick, after watching the pre-season thus far..

let's see how it all plays out.

best luck to everybody, may your wallet swell like the tide coming in.