NBA - At the All-Star Break

We have now reached the NBA All-Star Break in this condensed season. Every team in the league is about half way through their schedule and gearing up for the stretch run. Over the next month we will start to see who will be in contention for an NBA title this year. The NBA is the one league that generally crowns the best team champion. This could be a year unlike any other though (besides 1999). The last time the NBA had a shortened season, an 8-seed (New York Knicks) made it to the NBA Finals. Could we see something similar this year? There are some talented teams that aren't having stellar regular seasons that could make a splash in the playoffs (Celtics, Knicks, Lakers, Grizzlies). But time will tell. Here is how the remainder of the season projects based off of current standings and simulations of the remaining games.

Eastern Conference
1. Miami 52-14
2. Chicago 49-17
3. Orlando 40-26
4. Philadelphia 39-27
5. Indiana 39-27
6. Atlanta 36-30
7. New York 35-31
8. Boston 34-32
9. Milwaukee 28-38
10. Cleveland 24-42
11. Detroit 21-45
12. New Jersey 20-46
13. Toronto 20-46
14. Washington 19-47
15. Charlotte 11-55

Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City 49-17
2. San Antonio 43-23
3. LA Clippers 43-23
4. Dallas 42-24
5. LA Lakers 40-26
6. Memphis 38-28
7. Portland 35-31
8. Houston 34-32
9. Denver 33-33
10. Minnesota 30-36
11. Golden St. 30-36
12. Utah 29-37
13. Phoenix 28-38
14. Sacramento 22-44
15. New Orleans 20-46

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
1 Miami over 8 Boston 4-1
4 Philadelphia over 5 Indiana 4-2
3 Orlando over 6 Atlanta 4-3
2 Chicago over 7 New York 4-2

Western Conference Quarterfinals
1 Oklahoma City over 8 Houston 4-1
4 Dallas over 5 LA Lakers 4-3
3 LA Clippers over 6 Memphis 4-3
2 San Antonio over 7 Portland 4-2

Eastern Conference Semifinals
1 Miami over 4 Philadelphia 4-0
2 Chicago over 3 Orlando 4-1

Western Conference Semifinals
1 Oklahoma City over 4 Dallas 4-2
2 San Antonio over 3 LA Clippers 4-2

Eastern Conference Finals
2 Chicago over 1 Miami 4-3

Western Conference Finals
1 Oklahoma City over 2 San Antonio 4-2

NBA Finals
2 Chicago over 1 Oklahoma City 4-2

The Miami Heat appear to be the best team in basketball at the moment. They have been beating the brakes off of teams over the last couple weeks. But can they do it in the playoffs? I do think they can. But I am stubborn so I am sticking with my preseason picks and taking the Bulls to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Here are my midseason awards:

NBA MVP - LeBron James
Defensive POY - Dwight Howard
Rookie of the Year - Kyrie Irving
Coach of the Year - Frank Vogel
6th Man of the Year - Lou Williams