NBA - All-Star Break

We have now reached the NBA All-Star Break. Every team in the league has played more than half their schedule and are gearing up for the stretch run. Over the next month we will start to see who will be in contention for an NBA title. The NBA is the one league that generally crowns the best team champion. There are currently four teams that have distanced themselves as favorites (Miami, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, and yes the LA Clippers). There are some teams looking to jump to that level and could be darkhorses as well (Memphis, New York, Indiana, and Denver). 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 60-22
2. New York 52-30
3. Indiana 51-31
4. Brooklyn 49-33
5. Chicago 47-35
6. Boston 44-38
7. Atlanta 41-41
8. Milwaukee 40-42
9. Philadelphia 39-43
10. Toronto 33-49
11. Detroit 31-51
12. Cleveland 28-54
13. Orlando 26-56
14. Washington 25-57
15. Charlotte 19-63

Western Conference
1. San Antonio 61-21
2. Oklahoma City 60-22
3. LA Clippers 56-26
4. Memphis 52-30
5. Denver 50-32
6. Utah 45-37
7. Golden State 45-37
8. LA Lakers 43-39
9. Houston 41-41
10. Dallas 39-43
11. Portland 37-45
12. Minnesota 33-49
13. Phoenix 30-52
14. Sacramento 29-53
15. New Orleans 29-53

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

Western Conference Quarterfinals
1 San Antonio over 8 LA Lakers 4-2
4 Memphis over 5 Denver 4-3
3 LA Clippers over 6 Utah 4-2
2 Oklahoma City over 7 Golden State 4-2

Eastern Conference Semifinals
1 Miami over 4 Brooklyn 4-2
2 New York over 3 Indiana 4-2

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

Eastern Conference Finals
1 Miami over 2 New York 4-1

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

NBA Finals
1 Miami over 1 San Antonio 4-3

The Miami Heat appear primed to repeat as NBA Champions. LeBron James is playing out of his mind lately, and Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh are quietly having their most efficient seasons as pros. As defending champions, they will have an even bigger target on their back than in the past two seasons. Before the season began, I picked the LA Lakers to beat the Heat in the Finals. That doesn't look too likely at this point. LA may be represented in the Finals but it would probably be the Clippers if it does happen. Right now I like San Antonio to represent the West and take Miami down to the wire. In the end, I don't see anyone dethroning King James and Miami.

Midseason Awards
NBA MVP - LeBron James
Defensive POY - Joakim Noah
Rookie of the Year - Damian Lillard
Coach of the Year - Mark Jackson
6th Man of the Year - Jamal Crawford