2007-2008 NBA Season Preview Articles | Gambling

By: Richard Bleuze

2007-2008 NBA Season Preview.

October 17, 2025

The 2007 NBA season has already featured many interesting headlines from Greg Oden's season-ending injury to major off season trades and summer transactions. The San Antonio Spurs are in good position to defend its title, while other elite teams, such as the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns, are hungry for their crown. Here's a look at how each division will play out this season.

Pacific Division
Predicted Final Standings

Phoenix Suns (clinch playoffs)
LA Lakers (clinch playoffs)
Golden State Warriors
Sacramento Kings
LA Clippers

The Clippers plunge in the standings mostly because of star forward Elton Brand's long-term injury. He'll miss several months of the season and will leave the Clippers thin up front. In addition, the Clips have several other injury prone players on its roster, such as Corey Maggette and Chris Kaman. This could be a long season for them.

The Warriors could barely miss the playoffs if Baron Davis doesn't have a full and healthy season. He's been known as been heavily injury prone in the past, but was relatively healthy last season. He's crucial to Golden State's success.

Midwest Division
Predicted Final Standings

Dallas Mavericks (clinch playoffs)
San Antonio Spurs (clinch playoffs)
Houston Rockets  (clinch playoffs)
New Orleans Hornets  (clinch playoffs)
Memphis Grizzlies

This might end up being the toughest division in the NBA next season. The Mavericks should start the season fired up and primed to avenge its embarrassing first round exit in the the 2007 NBA Playoffs.

The Spurs will win the conference again next season because of Tim Duncan. The guy is the most underrated player in NBA history and he will win with whoever wears the Spurs uniform in any particular season. The Spurs will be in the finals again.

The Hornets will slip into the playoffs if they can stay healthy. They were very competitive last season, despite dealing with numerous injuries. Peja Stojakovic probably can't be counted on to be completely healthy, but New Orleans hopes for healthier seasons from Chris Paul, David West and others.

Northwest Division
Predicted Final Standings

Utah Jazz (clinch playoffs)
Denver Nuggets  (clinch playoffs)
Portland Trail Blazers 
Minnesota Timberwolves
Seattle Supersonics

The Denver Nuggets will be a lot better than they were last season, as Iverson and Carmelo will have an entire season to learn to co-exist. Keeping Marcus Camby on that roster was key.

Despite the improvement of the Nuggets, the Jazz are getting better too. Rookie guard Morris Almond will have a subtle, yet productive, effect on the Jazz's success. Moreover, look for Deron Williams to be even better than he was last season.

The Timberwolves and Supersonics will drop a lot. Both teams are rebuilding and though they'll get a lot of media attention, they won't be very competitive.

Central Division
Predicted Final Standings

Detroit Pistons (clinched playoffs)
Chicago Bulls (clinched playoffs)
Cleveland Cavaliers (clinched playoffs)
Milwaukee Bucks
Indiana Pacers

The Detroit Pistons should be even better than they were last season. Chris Webber is gone, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. He was a defensive liability and Nazr Mohammed should have gotten more playing time last year anyway. Moreover, the Pistons will have a renewed bench, as several of its young prospects should be ready to step up. Rodney Stuckey might have been the steal of the 2007 NBA Draft and will turn heads right away.

The Bulls are young, energetic and they play basketball the right way. They haven’t been able to get by the Pistons for the last few years but now that Detroit is weakened, the Bulls will have a free shot at either the Cavs or the Celtics in the conference finals. Ben Gordon, Kirk Heinrich, Loul Deng and Chris Duhon play on both ends of the floor, and no one guy is bigger than the team. It’s fun to watch. Add defensive superstar Ben Wallace in the middle and you have a certified contender.

The Cavaliers didn't give LeBron James any help this off season and at some point he may get burned out from doing so much. If Cleveland adds a complimentary offensive weapon that could take some pressure off of James when the team encounters a potent defensive team, such as the Spurs, then making it to the Finals again is a possibility, if they can get by the Bulls and the Celtics.  In addition, Zydrunas Ilgauskas is another year older.

The Bucks have the talent do win more games than 30, especially in the Eastern Conference. However, given the amount of injuries they sustained last season, it's not likely they'll be able to ensure 100% health this season. For instance, if Redd goes down, they may be in trouble.

The Indiana Pacers are on a serious downslide. Expect Jermaine O'Neal to be traded by the February trade deadline. Larry Bird won't want to, but he wasn't motivated at all at the end of last season and nagging injuries may keep him off the court.

Atlantic Division
Predicted Final Standings

Toronto Raptors (clinched playoffs)
Boston Celtics (clinched playoffs)
New Jersey Nets (clinched playoffs)
Philadelphia 76ers
New York Knicks

The Raptors and Celtics will lead the division in an exciting race. Boston's biggest setback will be nagging injuries to Paul Pierce and Ray Allen during the season. They added some depth with the additions of James Posey, but they still can't afford to lose any of their big three for long periods.

The New York Knicks will be bad again. Its defense will be the worst in the league with two poor post defenders, Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph, anchoring a shoddy effort.

Southeast Division
Predicted Final Standings

Washington Wizards (clinched playoffs)
Orlando Magic (clinched playoffs)
Miami Heat
Charlotte Bobcats
Atlanta Hawks

Barring injuries, the Wizards should have no trouble clinching this division. The Miami Heat will fall out of the playoffs. Shaquille O'Neal will play in only 30-40 games and Dwayne Wade will also miss several games. The Charlotte Bobcats will make a jump in the right direction with Jason Richardson providing the offensive boost they badly needed last season. Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic will sneak into the playoffs and Rashard Lewis will post career numbers as the team's go-to-guy.