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You know the drill it is me, thebasketballguru, coming to tell you about the good old Association. Except this is not about some current events, but a summary of the 07-08 NBA season, which could go down as one of the best seasons in the NBA's history. There will also be a rundown of my off-season specials that will get you your basketball fix through out the off-season.

Let's get started with the review.

Regular Season

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division

There was many suprises in the good old Atlantic Division as things shifted dramatically in the favor of the Boston Celtics in the off-season, with their acquring of KG and Ray Allen, and the Celtics ran away with the division title and the best record in the NBA . But the Toronto Raptors put up a good fight and finished second in their division, but their win total slipped from last year and they were under .500 for most of the season. The suprise of the Atlantic was the play of the 76ers, who made the playoffs for the first time in the post AI era. The Nets shook things up by trading Jason Kidd for Devin Harris, but failed to make the playoffs, but have a point guard for the future. The Knicks continued to struggle and Isaiah Thomas was finally dumped and Mike D'Antomi was hired as their new head coach.

Final Atlantic Division Standings

TeamWLPCTGBBoston Celtics-z (1) C6616.805-Toronto Raptors-x (6)4141.50025Philadelphia 76ers-x (7)4042.48826New Jersey Nets3448.41532New York Knicks2359.28043

CENTRAL DIVISION

The Detroit Pistons continued their dominance of the Central again this year winning the division by 14 games. The Cavs continued to play second fiddle to the Pistons, but finished strong and made the playoffs. The Pacers finished third, but Jermaine O'Neal played only 42 games and looks to be on his way out of Indiana. The biggest suprise of the Central was the lackluster play of the Bulls. They just could not win, Scott Skiles was fired, and Ben Wallace was traded for Larry Hughes at the deadline.

FINAL CENTRAL DIVISION STANDINGS

TeamWLPCT.GBDetroit Pistons-y (2)5923.720-Cleveland Cavaliers-x (4)4537.54914Indiana Pacers3646.43923Chicago Bulls3349.40226Milwaukee Bucks2656.31733

 SOUTHEAST DIVISION

This was by far the weakest division in the East this year, but the division did send three teams to the playoffs. The Orlando Magic, with the 08 Slam Dunk Champ "Superman" Dwight Howard, won the division by 9 games. The Wizards finished second without Agent Zero in the line-up for most of the season. The Atlanta Hawks, that is right the Atlanta Hawks, finished third and made the playoffs. The Miami Heat were like the Bulls this season, losing horribly when they were expected to contend. Shaq was traded for Shawn Marion at the deadline and the Heat tanked the season.

FINAL SOUTHEAST DIVISION STANDINGS

TeamWLPCT.GBOrlando Magic-y (3)5230.634-Washington Wizards-x (5)4339.5249Atlanta Hawks-x (8)3745.45115Charlotte Bobcats3250.39020Miami Heat1567.18337

FINAL EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

Eastern Conference  WLPCTGBHMRDCONFDIVPFPADIFFSTRKL101z-Boston6616.805-35-631-1041-1114-2100.590.3+10.3Won 49-12y-Detroit5923.720734-725-1637-1511-597.590.1+7.4Won 48-23y-Orlando5230.6341425-1627-1438-1412-4104.599.0+5.5Won 36-44x-Cleveland4537.5492127-1418-2328-247-996.496.7-0.4Lost 15-55x-Washington4339.5242325-1618-2329-2310-698.899.2-0.3Lost 15-56x-Toronto4141.5002525-1616-2529-2310-6100.297.3+2.9Lost 14-67x-Philadelphia4042.4882622-1918-2325-277-996.696.2+0.4Lost 43-78x-Atlanta3745.4512925-1612-2924-289-798.2100.0-1.8Lost 35-5 Indiana3646.4393021-2015-2624-285-11104.0105.4-1.4Won 17-3 New Jersey3448.4153221-2013-2826-264-1295.8100.9-5.1Lost 13-7 Chicago3349.4023320-2113-2824-2811-597.3100.4-3.1Won 25-5 Charlotte3250.3903421-2011-3019-337-997.1101.4-4.4Won 15-5 Milwaukee2656.3174019-227-3418-346-1097.0103.9-6.9Lost 82-8 New York2359.2804315-268-3320-325-1196.9103.5-6.6Lost 33-7 Miami1567.183519-326-358-442-1491.4100.0-8.6Won 12-8

WESTERN CONFERENCE

NORTHWEST DIVISION

THE Jazz rode their incredible home record to a division title, beating the eight place Nuggets by 4 games. The Portland Trail Blazers started as the hot Cinderella team, but fizzled and missed the playoffs in the most competitive conference of all time. The SuperSonics got Kevin Durant, but are likely out of Seatlle and had another unsuccessful season.

FINAL NORTHWEST DIVISION STANDINGS

Northwest DivisionTeamWLPCT.GBUtah Jazz-y (4)5428.659-Denver Nuggets-x (8)5032.6104Portland Trail Blazers4141.50013Minnesota Timberwolves2260.25932Seattle SuperSonics2062.24435

SOUTHWEST DIVISION

The New Orleans Hornets returned for their first full season in New Orleans since Katrina and they puty on a show. Led by the emergance of Chris Paul and many other young players, the Hornets tied for the divison with the defending champion San Antonio Spurs and won the tie breaker for the division. The Houston Rockets went on a 22 game winning streak without Yao Ming and went on a magic run to the playoffs. The Dallas Mavericks finished fourth in the division, but 7th in the conference, they traded Devin Harris for Jason Kidd and that didn't help as Avery Johnson was fired at the end of the season and Rick Carlise was hired.

FINAL SOUTHWEST DIVISION STANDINGS

TeamWLPCT.GBNew Orleans Hornets-y (2)5626.683-San Antonio Spurs-x (3)5626.683-Houston Rockets-x (5)5527.6711Dallas Mavericks-x (7)5131.6225Memphis Grizzlies2260.26834

PACIFIC DIVISION

This was the most intriguing division in the league this season. Kobe Bryant demanded a trade in the offseason if Mith Kupchak did not improve the team, and when Andrew Bynum went down with season ending knee injury, he got his wish as the Grizzlies stole Pau Gasol from the Grizz in exchange of Kwame Brown and the Lakers won the division and finished first in the conference. The Sns did their own wheelin and dealin as they traded Shawn Marion for Shaq, A.K.A., the Big Cactus, which hurt the Suns more than it helped, and even after finishing second in the division and making the playoffs, Mike D'Antoni was fired.

FINAL PACIFIC DIVISION STANDINGS

TeamWLPCT.GBLos Angeles Lakers-z (1)5725.695-Phoenix Suns-x (6)5527.6722Golden State Warriors4834.5859Sacramento Kings3844.46319Los Angeles Clippers2359.28034

FINAL WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

  WLPCTGBHMRDCONFDIVPFPADIFFSTRKL101z-LA Lakers5725.695-30-1127-1437-1512-4108.6101.3+7.3Won 48-22y-New Orleans5626.683130-1126-1534-1810-6100.995.6+5.3Lost 16-43x-San Antonio5626.683134-722-1933-1910-695.490.6+4.8Won 27-34y-Utah5428.659337-417-2433-1910-6106.299.3+6.9Lost 17-35x-Houston5527.671231-1024-1733-198-896.792.0+4.7Won 16-46x-Phoenix5527.671230-1125-1631-2110-6110.1105.0+5.0Won 27-37x-Dallas5131.622634-717-2433-1910-6100.495.9+4.5Won 16-48x-Denver5032.610733-817-2431-2110-6110.7107.0+3.7Won 26-4 Golden State4834.585927-1421-2028-2410-6111.0108.8+2.2Lost 24-6 Portland4141.5001628-1313-2826-2611-595.496.3-1.0Lost 13-7 Sacramento3844.4631926-1512-2921-313-13102.5104.8-2.3Lost 26-4 LA Clippers2359.2803413-2810-3113-395-1193.8101.1-7.3Lost 72-8 Minnesota2260.2683515-267-3414-383-1395.6102.4-6.8Won 13-7 Memphis2260.2683514-278-3311-412-14100.7106.9-6.2Lost 33-7 Seattle2062.2443713-287-3412-406-1097.5106.3-8.8Won 23-7

PLAYOFFS

FIRST ROUND

EASTERN CONFERENCE

The Celtics showed signs of weakness as the Cinderella Hawks took them to 7 games before being blown out by the Big Three. The Toronto Raptors were ousted in an embarassing fashion losing to the Orlando Magic. The Philly 76ers gave their fans something to cheer about as they scared the Pistons before losing in 6. The Cavs and Wizards carried out their rivalry as even Soulja Boy and Jay Z got involved, but the second round was not off to see the Wizards as they lost in 6.

ADVANCING

Orlando, Cleveland, Boston, Detroit

GOLF TIME

Toronto, Washington, Philly, Atlanta

WESTERN CONFERENCE

The Lakers swept the Nuggets, and the Spurs and Suns had a classic first game with multiple overtimes before the Spurs won the game and handled the Suns quite easily finishing them off in 5 games. The Jazz continued to roll at home at home as the Rockets ran out of fuel and lost in 6. The Hornets finished off the Mavs and signalled a new era in the West.

ADVANCING

L.A., New Orleans, San Antonio, Utah

GOLF TIME

Denver, Dallas, Houston, Phoneix

SECOND ROUND

EASTERN CONFERENCE

The Celtics contineued to struggle on the road going to seven games against the Cavs and won in a classic game 7 with two great performances from paul pierce and King James. The Pistons handled the Magic in 5 and went to the Eastern Conference Finals for the 6th straight time.

ADVANCING

Boston, Detroit

GOLF TIME

Orlando, Cleveland

WESTERN CONFERENCE

The Lakers continued to roll with a quick series defeat over the Jazz. And the San Antonio Spurs needed to beat the odds and win a game 7 on the road in New Orleans to advance to the Conference Finals.

ADVANCING

San Antonio, L.A.

GOLF TIME

Utah, New Orleans

CONFERENCE FINALS

EASTERN CONFERENCE

The Pistons were defending their turf in the East versues the new up and comers from Beantown, Detroit won a game on the road against Boston, ending their home win streak, but the Celtics ended their abysmal road losing streak shortly after and won in six games to set up a possible Lakers-Celtics Finals.

ADVANCING

Boston

GOLF/FIRING TIME

Detroit(bye bye Flip & Rasheed)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

This series wasn't even close, a Game 4 no-caqll turned the series around faster than a Texas tornado and La won in 5 to set up an old-school Celtics-Lakers Final.

ADVANCING

L.A.

GOLF TIME

San Antonio

NBA FINALS

Game 1 was one for the ages. Paul Pierce pulled a Willis Reed in the thirtd quarter to complete a 134 point third and set the tone for the series, you did not want to miss one second of the action. Game 2 was the Powe Show as Leon "rhymes with show" Powe scored 21 points and gave the Celtics a 2-0 series lead. The Lakers got back in the series with a game three win. Then there was Game 4.  The Celtics came back from 24 down in the third to give the Celtics a 3-1 series lead and take away the little momentum the Lakers had. The Lakers got their Game 5 win. Then in Game 6 the Celtics dismantled the Lakers and then came the Larry o' Brien Trophy presented to the Boston Celtics for the 17th time. I have my prediction for next season, Lakers-Celtics round 2 same time same place, next season.