sportsrus

The Beast of the East has to be the Boston Celtics. They are the NBA Champions and they have the third best record in the league behind the Cavs and Lakers. The only reason I pick the Celtics over the Cavs is because they’re the champs.

The Celtics are almost as good as they were last year. As soon as they get their defense back to what it was last year I think they will be even better. The added two new players who they hope can get them more help off the bench, Micky Moore and Stephan Marbury. Marbury really hasn’t played very much because he was to busy warming the bench in New York, but now he’s getting the chance to play. He’s not making a big impact yet, but that’s because he’s only played in 3 games. Micky Moore won’t put up a lot of points but he can pull down rebounds.

Not to mention they still have the Big 3. No more need be said.

The Celtics have already clinched a playoff spot and are hoping to get back to the NBA Finals for the second year in a row and repeat.

I’m pretty sure they will have to get through the Cavs before making it there and I’m sure if they get there they will be facing the Lakers which wouldn’t be a bad series to watch again. The Lakers have the best record in the league and will defiantly have something to prove to the Celtics if they happen to meet in the Finals.

The Los Angeles Lakers have to be the Best of the West. They have the best record in the league and are the representatives of the west from last year. They are playing better basketball than they did last year and without Bynum again.

The Lakers have one player that make them as good as they are and that’s Kobe Bryant. Without Kobe Bryant they wouldn’t be the same team. They would be better than some of the other teams in the west, but they wouldn’t be the best. But if Bryant was the only player on the court they wouldn’t win very much.

Again the Lakers are playing without Andrew Bynum. Hopefully Bynum will be back in time for the finals if the Lakers are to make it that far. Last year it hurt them in the finals not having Bynum in the line up. Bynum can score and he can rebound. But if he’s hurt all he can do is act as a cheerleader.

With Bynum out other player have to step up and make plays and play good basketball. One player that can do that is Lamar Odem. The Lakers have also added players to their team, Shannon Brown and Adam Morrison.

The west is still full of contenders which could surprise the Lakers in the playoffs. The Spurs, the Jazz(when healthy), the Hornets and the Nuggets. But I expect the Lakers to hold them all off and make it to the NBA finals and face the Boston Celtics.

But if they don’t have Bynum I think the out come will be the same as last year.