Mid Way Review/Preview

Basketball is at the mid season and this is what we learned so far.
Miami is bad. New Orleans is good. Kobe is back in LA and better than ever. Boston's moves have paid off. Orlando is real and Portland is too.
The solid teams have stay enact, and are putting it together for playoff runs. These teams include SA, Dallas, Detroit, and Phoenix.
Right now the league MVP in my book is Kobe. But KG will win it hands down. I really wish Caron Butler and Chris Paul can finish out this year like they have the first half. They have carried their teams to great records.
Coach of the year should be Stan Van Gundy. The man needs to be shown respect. He is a top tier coach and was in Miami too.

Who will make the playoffs?
Logically you would think San Antonio would put it all together and win their division. But they are 8-9 on the road and have the most road games left out of the top Western teams.
In the West:
1. BIG D- Dallas wins southwest
2. Phoenix wins Pacific
3. Utah Wins Northwest
4. New Orleans 2 in SW
5. SAN AN 3 in SW
6. Denver and out in the first round...
7. LA Lakers- Injuries have them Bummin 2 in the PAC
8. Portland and I wouldn't want to see them inthe first round with nothing to lose

The Western Conference finals will dull with Utah and Dallas, but I really think Utah can win. Utah is playing tough with Kirelenko, The booze and Deron Williams all at the top of their games.

In the East: Boston looks unstoppable, but Orlando is playing great basketball. Detroit is the same team, but just as solid as they were in previous years. No one is more than 10 games out of the playoffs as of today meaning no one is eliminated. Atlanta sits in the 7th seed right now. That is how unsettled the East is.
1. Detroit Number 1 in the Central
2. Orlando Number 1 in Southeast
3. Boston Number 1 in Atlantic
4. Cleveland On Bron's back make it into a home court playoff series
5. Toronto and hopefully getting Ford back for the playoffs
6. The Wiz and hopefully not getting Gilbie back
7. Chicago should put it together to get in
8. Surprise Philly will make the playoffs.
Eastern Conference finals of Detroit and Orlando with Orlando winning and winning the Championship.

Some story lines:
Chris Webber is going to sign in Golden State with big Nellie
Damon Stoudamire has been bought out and should end up in Boston to help them make their run. Should be a one year and done kind of thing.
If the Nets make a trade and get Nocioni or Sefolosha from the Bulls they should steal that playoff spot from the sixers.
the Sixers should create some room around the trade deadline. Look for the knicks to try and unload anyone they can.
Miami may be going the same.