NBA pre-pre-season picks 2

Well, glad to see the guys at ESPN finally catch up with my predictions! :) I do have a few changes after 2 months...

West East
1. Lakers 1. Celtics
2. Hornets 2. 76'ers
3. Suns 3. Cavs
4. Jazz 4. Heat
5. Houston 5. Pistons
6. Spurs 6. Raptors
7. Blazers 7. Wizards
8. Mavs 8. Magic

So I couldn't keep with my surprise pick of Wizards missing the playoffs. Once Childress left Atlanta, I have them dropping out. Not that he's that good, but I don't see them as better than any of these teams. The Heat continue to rise, especially after D-Wade's dominate performance in the Olympics. He might just be the "smoothest" player ever.

Out West...this is tough, but the Lakers are the favorites, and then after that it's hard to get a definite order. I have the Suns up a few spots, for obviously biased reasons. However, I do feel they will do better than people think, and have extra motivation knowing this really is the LAST year they have a chance to do anything before Shaq leaves to become Sherriff, Grant Hill dies and Steve Nash lays down on the floor and can never get back up! Plus I like what they've done this off-season and they now have a GOOD backup PG, and energy dude and a 10-man rotation!!! I see the Spurs, aged and decrepit taking a dive, especially with Manu's injury. They'll still be tough in the playoffs, but are getting old. (Plus I want them to lose for once to the Suns in the playoffs! Notice the 3-6 matchup!) I want to move the Blazers and Mavs higher, but don't see who they'd replace. I think the wild card is Houston, I could see them as high as 2 or 3, or worst case (Yao, McGrady injuries, Artest issues) I could see them out of the playoffs...still not sure about them.