NBA at the All-Star Break

We have reached the All-Star Break of the NBA season. Which is more of the unofficial 2/3 mark of the regular season. At this point in the year, we usually begin to separate the pretenders from the contenders. The NBA is notorious for not having surprise teams emerge as legit title contenders. I'd say the closest thing we have to that this year is the Chicago Bulls appearing to be a year ahead of schedule. Nonetheless, here is how the remainder of the season projects based off of current standings and simulations of the remaining games.

Eastern Conference
1. Miami 62-20
2. Boston 60-22
3. Chicago 56-26
4. Orlando 52-30
5. Atlanta 50-32
6. New York 41-41
7. Philadelphia 38-44
8. Milwaukee 37-45         
9. Charlotte 36-46
10. Indiana 35-47
11. Detroit 27-55
12. New Jersey 26-56
13. Washington 25-57
14. Toronto 20-62
15. Cleveland 16-66

Western Conference
1. San Antonio 66-16
2. Dallas 57-25
3. LA Lakers 56-26
4. Oklahoma City 54-28
5. Portland 48-34
6. Utah 46-36
7. Denver 45-37
8. New Orleans 44-38        
9. Memphis 42-40
10. Phoenix 41-41
11. Houston 39-43
12. Golden St. 36-46
13. LA Clippers 33-49
14. Sacramento 22-60
15. Minnesota 19-63

East Quarters
1 Miami over 8 Milwaukee 4-0
4 Orlando over 5 Atlanta 4-2
3 Chicago over 6 New York 4-2
2 Boston over 7 Philadelphia 4-0

West Quarters
1 San Antonio over 8 New Orleans 4-1
4 Oklahoma City over 5 Portland 4-1
3 LA Lakers over 6 Utah 4-3
2 Dallas over 7 Denver 4-1

East Semis
1 Miami over 4 Orlando 4-3
2 Boston over 3 Chicago 4-1

West Semis
1 San Antonio over 4 Oklahoma City 4-1
2 Dallas over 3 LA Lakers 4-3

East Finals
2 Boston over 1 Miami 4-2

West Finals
1 San Antonio over 2 Dallas 4-3

NBA Finals
1 San Antonio over 2 Boston 4-2

I may be changing my thinking. I keep waiting for San Antonio to run out of gas and start losing more games, but they continue to win. With the Lakers looking very vulnerable, the NBA's worst nightmare could come true with a San Antonio-Boston Finals matchup.