NBA Preview

The 2012-2013 NBA season tips off next week when the Celtics visit the Heat in a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference Finals. 

The Heat will receive their championship rings, raise the banner, and then start what they believe will be a rampage towards a second straight title.  They are, on paper, the best team in the East and are the prohibitive favorite to repeat as champions after proving their toughness in last year's title chase and then by adding Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis to their roster.  Allen comes from Boston and wants to prove to the Celtics that they made a mistake in choosing Avery Bradley and Jason Terry over him.  Lewis, a forgotten player the last few years, should have a very good year because he will get so many open shots playing with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.

In the East, the Heat will be challenged by a deep and hungry Celtics team.  Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce know their championship window is rapidly closing but their is enough talent on the roster to give them hope that they can win their second title since coming together in 2007.  The two keys to the Celtics will be how their brilliant point guard Rajon Rondo finds ways to get all the players enough shots and how Doc Rivers, one of the best coaches in the game, will divide up the minutes amongst a roster that legitimately goes thirteen deep.  The Bulls (if Derrick Rose rounds into shape after tearing his ACL in the playoffs), Pacers, Nets, Knicks, and 76ers will also be factors.

Out West, the Lakers have the most star talent in the league after adding Dwight Howard and Steve Nash to play with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.  If the Lakers figure out how to come together as a team - and that took the Heat's trio of LeBron, Wade, and Bosh over a year to do before they won a title - then they will be playing the Heat in the Finals.  The Thunder, fresh off their loss in last year's Finals, will also be contenders as long as Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are playing together.  The Clippers, Nuggets, Spurs, and Grizzlies also have an outside shot at contending.

All-NBA 1st Team

LeBron James, Forward, Heat

Dwight Howard, Forward, Lakers
Kevin Durant, Forward, Thunder
Chris Paul, Guard, Clippers
Russell Westbrook, Guard, Thunder

All-NBA 2nd Team

Carmelo Anthony, Forward, Knicks
Kevin Garnett, Forward, Celtics
Kevin Love, Forward, Timberwolves
Kobe Bryant, Guard, Lakers
Rajon Rondo, Guard, Celtics

All-NBA 3rd Team

Chris Bosh, Forward, Heat
Pau Gasol, Forward, Lakers
Blake Griffin, Forward, Clippers
Deron Williams, Guard, Nets
Dwyane Wade, Guard, Heat

MVP

1. LeBron James, Heat
2. Dwight Howard, Lakers
3. Kevin Durant, Thunder

Defensive Player of the Year

1. Dwight Howard, Lakers
2. LeBron James, Heat
3. Rajon Rondo, Celtics

Rookie of the Year

1. Anthony Davis, Hornets
2. Damian Lillard, Blazers
3. Jared Sullinger, Celtics

6th Man of the Year

1. James Harden, Thunder
2. Jamal Crawford, Clippers
3. Jason Terry, Celtics

Coach of the Year

1. Monty Williams, Hornets
2. Avery Johnson, Nets
3. Mike Brown, Lakers

Eastern Conference Finals

Heat over Celtics

Western Conference Finals

Lakers over Thunder

NBA Finals

Heat over Lakers