1. Miami Heat - Although the path to NBA Championship will be a lot tougher in the 2013 - 2014 season the Miami Heat are still the favorite to repeat. Although the Heat had to amnesty playoff hero Mike Miller most of their championship core remains intact. Lebron James the leagues reigning MVP is still the best player on the planet and is only getting better. NBA All Star Dwayne Wade returns healthy as well as Chris Bosh. Mario Chalmers returns to run the point and forward Shane Battier returns for another year. Last year's key role players Ray Allen, Chris Anderson, Udonis Haslem, and the improving Norris Cole also returns for the Heat. In order to combat the NBA Big's of the league Pat Riley brought in former number 1 overall pick Greg Oden. If this team can stay healthy throughout the season and playoffs there will be another championship celebration in Miami in June.
2. Chicago Bulls - This picks may surprise some people who haven't really watch the Bulls play but Chicago is the Heat's biggest threat in the east this year. The Bulls finally get back their leader and former MVP Derrick Rose from his ACL injury and will be much better because of it. Luol Deng also returns from his illness that he suffered during the NBA Playoffs. Joakim Noah is back healthy after battling through injuries all season long last season. The Bull other role players Carlos Boozer, Taj Gibson, Kirk Hinrich, and Nazr Mohammed return as well. The Bulls also featuring up and coming young talent such as Jimmy Butler and Marquis Teague.
3. Brooklyn Nets - Last year the Nets took some major strides in the right direction making the playoffs as a fourth seed. In to having All Stars Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez, and Deron Williams the Nets have just brought in the likes of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry. In addition to having a star studded starting lineup the Nets revamped their bench by signing Andray Blatche and picking up Andrei Kirilenko. If rookie head coach Jason Kidd can become the that many believe that he is capable of being this team can make a lot of noise deep into the playoffs.
4. Indiana Pacer - Okay I must admit that putting the Pacers fourth does seem kind of ridiculous especially seeing them last year take the Miami Heat to 7 games in the Eastern Conference Finals. Paul George is an emerging star in the league as well as the big man Roy Hibbert. The Pacers were able to resign their leader David West and return a key hog for their team Danny Granger from a season ending injury which allows Lance Stephenson to return to be bench. Add guard CJ Watson and Luis Scola should help fortify what was a pedestrian bench last season. If wouldn't surprise me if the Indiana Pacers were facing the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals for a second consecutive season.
5. New York Knicks - The New York Knicks are sitting at 5 on this list for a reason. The Knicks have perhaps the best scorer in the game in Carmelo Anthony and also return the reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year J.R. Smith. The Knicks also feature a one time Defensive Player of the Year in Tyson Chandler. Resigning Kenyon Martin and adding Metta World Peace should add some needed toughness to the Knicks. Iman Shumpert also returns and adds Tim Hardaway Jr. and Andrea Bargnani. If Amare Stoudemire can stay healthy and accepts a role coming of the bench the Knicks could be dangerous.
6. Detroit Pistons - The Pistons have vastly improved themselves for this upcoming season. The Pistons already have big men Greg Monroe and the rapidly improving Andre Drummond. The Pistons also drafted two promising rookies in Kentavious Caldwell Pope and Tony Mitchell. On top of the talent that the Pistons accumulated through the NBA Draft the Pistons managed to get rising star Josh Smith and upcoming talented point guard Brandon Jennings. Some other brilliant moves by Joe Dumars and the Front Office is bringing veteran Chauncey Billups back to Detroit and bring in Rasheed Wallace as an assistant coach to help develop their big men.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers - Looking at the Cleveland Cavaliers record last year its hard to imagine this team being in the playoff but this much improved team will be. The first reason why the Cavaliers will make the playoff this season is the return of Mike Brown the most winiest coach in team history. Brown will not improve the teams defense but also shot selection as well. The second reason why the Cavaliers will make the playoffs is Kyrie Irving who made the All Star team last year and is on his way to becoming a superstar. The third reason why the Cavaliers will make the playoffs is the huge upgrade of talent. The Cavs upgraded talent surrounding Kyrie Irving includes the 2013 number 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett, Sergey Karasev, Tristan Thompson, Anderson Varejao, Dion Waiters, and Tyler Zeller. The Cavaliers also manage to land All Star Andrew Bynum and veteran guard Jarrett Jack in free agency. Combine the reasons together and if the Cavs are healthy they will make the playoffs easily.
8. Washington Wizards - After starting the season 5 and 28 the Wizards finished last season with 24 and 25 run. The Wizards John Wall returned from injury and averaged a career high in points 18.5 points and field goal percentage 44.1 percent. The Wizards also return the vastly improving guard Bradley Beal and drafter small forward Otto Porter Jr. from Georgetown. Factor in veterans big men such as Nene and Okafor and the Wizards should be good enough to secure the 8th and final playoff spot.
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