We are now approximately 3 months from the playoffs.

Who do you think will be the top 8 teams from each conference after the regular season?

My Prediction:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Celtics
2. Hawks
3. Magic
4. Cavaliers
5. Bobcats
6. Heat
7. Bucks
8. Bulls

WESTERN CONFERENCE:
1. Lakers
2. Mavericks
3. Spurs
4. Nuggets
5. Trailblazers
6. Jazz
7. Rockets
8. Grizzlies

What do you think?

I find it hard to see anyone catching Cleveland or LA in their respective conferences. Dallas has been impressive so far haven't they?

EAST
1. New Jersey....KIDDING! Cleveland - rolling after their slow start
2. Boston - holding onto their spot despite the injuries, not as good this year as the last two, but I can't see anyone taking spot 2 from them just yet.
3. Atlanta - getting better as the season goes on. Finding a way to beat the good teams.
4. Orlando - the Carter experiment hasn't improved them. Seem to dominate good teams then get embarrassed by poor ones. Couple of injuries too.
5. Chicago - Much easier schedule to finish with. No more games against LA or Denver, only one more against Cleveland, Boston and San Antonio. Have had an extremely hard schedule compared to other teams (road games and opponents winning %) yet are just two wins off .500 with plenty of home games coming towards the end of the year. Starting to find some form after a very ugly patch.
6. Miami - have dropped off a little since a great start but hard to see TOR or CHA catching them.
7. Milwaukee - have followed up the Redd injury and a bad patch with a few unexpected wins recently, should get better as the season goes on.
8. Charlotte - because Toronto just aren't all that good.


WEST

1. LA Lakers - might not take it by as much as people think though, what with Kobe playing Russian Roulette with his back every game. Are Gasol and Artest back yet?
2. Denver - couple rough patches with injuries to Anthony and Billups dropped them below Dallas but only for the moment IMO. Very good team and underrated by the experts even after what they did last year. Under the radar so far.
3. Dallas - San Antonio's dropping games like crazy (by their standards). Who's stepping up to take Dallas' place? I'd like to see Houston or Portland do it but Houston's unfortunately dropped to eighth (only for now) but Portland seems to be finding some better form.
4. Portland - They're dead even with the Spurs and IMO should overtake them quite shortly, especially if Roy comes back strong.
5. Houston - I just think they're better than what they've shown so far.
6. San Antonio - have traditionally cruised through seasons only to turn it up a notch late in it, but with Duncan's knee and the way they're going, I'm not so sure it'll be much of a run this year.
7. Utah - Better than the Thunder and Grizzlies, but those two squads aren't all that far off.
8. Phoenix - Only just.

Just my two cents. I'm sure some will disappoint me and others surprise me.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Celtics
2. Cavaliers
3. Hawks
4. Magic
5. Bobcats
6. Raptors
7. Heat
8. Pistons (Yes I still think they will capture the 8th seed)

WESTERN CONFERENCE:
1. Lakers
2. Nuggets
3. Mavericks
4. Spurs
5. Hornets
6. Jazz
7. Thunder
8. Trailblazzers

EASTERN CONFERENCE:
1. Cleveland
2. Boston
3. Orlando
4. Atlanta
5. Toronto
6. Charlotte
7. Chicago
8. Miami

WESTERN CONFERENCE:
1. Los Angeles
2. Dallas
3. San Antonio
4. Denver
5. Utah
6. Portland
7. Phoenix
8. Houston

Would've had Portland ahead of Utah, but I'd love to see a Utah/Denver series. Will be much easier after the trade deadline, as we could see Boozer, Bosh and other big names moved around.

people say Boston out in second round,the old legs won't keep up with the young playoff teams..

Rondo and Nate will keep up but its hard to imagine us getting very far

Rondo and Nate they always wonder for big.............