THE PREDICTIONS ARE IN!

Another NBA Season is amongst us, and the anticipation is almost over. So many great story lines this year and maybe none better than "The Return" of Derrick Rose. While Rose is returning there are some players waiting to make their return to the hardwood as well. Kobe Bryant, Rajon Rondo & Russell Westbrook are all out to start the season, but will return at some point. With all the coaching changes, player additions and subtractions that occurred in the off season this year is shaping up to be one of the best we've seen in recent years. With that being said here are my predictions for the upcoming season.

Rookie of the Year

Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic

Defensive Player of the Year

Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets

Coach of the Year

Kevin McHale, Houston Rockets

6th Man of the Year

Jamal Crawford, Los Angeles Clippers

Most Improved Player

Javale McGee, Denver Nuggets

Executive of the Year

Billy King, Brooklyn Nets

MVP

LeBron James, Miami Heat

ALL NBA FIRST TEAM

Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls

LeBron James, Miami Heat

Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets

Eastern Conference 

1. Miami Heat

2. Brooklyn Nets

3. Chicago Bulls

4. Indiana Pacers

5. New York Knicks

6. Toronto Raptors

7. Cleveland Cavaliers

8. Washington Wizards

Eastern Conference Semi-Finals

Heat vs. Pacers

Nets vs. Bulls

Eastern Conference Finals

Heat vs. Bulls

Western Conference

1. Los Angeles Clippers

2. San Antonio Spurs 

3. Houston Rockets

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

5. Golden State Warriors

6. Denver Nuggets

7. Memphis Grizzlies

8. Minnesota Timberwolves

Western Conference Semi-Finals

Clippers vs. Thunder

Spurs vs. Rockets

Western Conference Finals

Clippers vs. Rockets

NBA Finals

Heat vs. Clippers - Heat 3-peat and LeBron James is named NBA Finals MVP

My predictions are in and I'm ready for the opening tip-off. Plenty of exciting basketball to be played throughout this season with great story lines that need an ending. Only about a handful of teams have been able to 3-peat, and I believe that we will see it happen again with the Miami Heat. Call it what you want, but I just don't believe there's a team out there that can beat them four times in a series. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm right but come June there can only be one champion. Who will rise to the top? Only time will tell.

WHO'S IN YOUR TOP 10?

I know I'm not the only one outraged with the ESPN player rankings that have been released. For most of us it probably all started when the Black Mamba himself was ranked 25th. Are you kidding me??? You mean to tell me there are 24 other players in the NBA better than Kobe? I think not! Injury or not Kobe is still a top 5 player in the game today. Now a days people are so caught up in the moment that they tend to overlook and over hype certain players. Don't get me wrong though, I respect those that were allowed the opportunity to participate in the player rankings, but the list was far from accurate in my book. I'm just going to give my top 10 in the league, and maybe this may make some of the basketball heads out there feel a little better.

1. LeBron James
2. Kevin Durant
3. Derrick Rose
4. Chris Paul
5. Kobe Bryant
6. Carmelo Anthony
7. Dwight Howard
8. Russell Westbrook
9. Dwayne Wade
10. James Harden

The ESPN list included Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry, and Marc Gasol in the top 10 while leaving Wade, Bryant, and Anthony out. That couldn't be far from the truth! While Curry and Irving had breakout seasons that doesn't equal top 10. Doing it on a consistent basis is what separates the good from the great in the NBA. Also, Gasol is a great center in this league, but just like he didn't deserve to win Defensive Player of the Year he doesn't deserve to be a in the top 10 as well. Meanwhile, Kobe just had one of his best statistical seasons before suffering a season ending injury. Not to mention Carmelo won his first scoring title leading the Knicks to an Atlantic Division title, and Wade shot a career high from the field (52%) helping lead the Heat to another championship. These stats alone won't allow me to put these elite players outside the top 10 in the NBA. Whether you agree or disagree with my top 10 it's safe to say it looks much more respectable than that of ESPN.