The return of Ron Artest will be the biggest storyline of the 2005-2006 season. The Pacers were my pick to win it all last year and since their season was hijacked, that prediction became null and void.  With Artest back and now focused, the Pacers will defeat the Spurs to win it all.

Atlantic Division
1. New York Knicks: The roster has improved significantly during Isiah?s tenure here and you have to believe in Larry Brown.  Eddy Curry is poised to become the center position?s successor to Shaq.
2. New Jersey Nets: Injury woes are bound to happen with this group, keeping them out of first place but in the playoffs.
3. Philadelphia 76ers: See the New Jersey Nets, but they will be on the outside looking in when Spring comes.
4. Boston Celtics: A Paul Pierce trade by the deadline.
5. Toronto Raptors: A Jalen Rose trade by the New Year?s.

Southeast Division
1. Miami Heat: I?m not sure that Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, James Posey and Gary Payton are better than Eddie Jones, Damon Jones and Kenyon Dooling.
2. Washington Wizards: Adjusting without Larry Hughes will be difficult this season, but it won?t be during year three of his Cleveland deal.
3. Atlanta Hawks: A very nice starting five is developing in the ATL.
4. Orlando Magic: Not my favorite team.  If Dwight Howard ends up getting that second year injury that Stoudemire suffered, Steve Francis will get jettisoned out.
5. Charlotte Bobcats: They picked for sentimentality, with another top pick next year, they likely won?t.  Felton will be a nice player though.

Central Division
1. Indiana Pacers: Ron is back.
2. Detroit Pistons: Something will be lost not having LB on the sidelines.
3. Milwaukee Bucks: The most improved club in the league.  Brilliant move picking up Maglore on the eve of the season.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Hughes will finally get LBJ into the postseason.
5. Chicago Bulls: The Eddy Curry situation put them into a corner and not having him will put them into last place in the toughest division in the league.

Southwest Division
1. San Antonio Spurs: Richer and better.  Hungry enough?
2. Dallas Mavericks: Substitute Jim Mora?s ?Play-offs? for ?De-fense.?
3. Houston Rockets: When Skip to My Lou is your PG, I?m not yet a believer in their status as a title contender.
4. Memphis Grizzlies: The most intriguing off-season of any club in the league.
5. New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul, J.R. Smith and Desmond Mason will be one continual highlight reel.  Hopefully some nice young frontcourt players arrive in due time.

Northwest Division
1. Denver Nuggets: This team will look different in April but they?ll still feature ?Melo and KMart and that is enough in this division.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves: KG?s final stand in Minnesota.  If they aren?t in position to make the playoffs, he will be dealt.
3. Seattle Supersonics: That great depth they had last season is pretty much gone, especially up front.  They will have to feature a lot of Collison and Fortson at center.
4. Utah Jazz: It doesn?t look like Carlos Boozer will be healthy again this season.  They could push for a playoff spot next season after Deron Williams has a year of NBA experience under his belt.
5. Portland Trailblazers: The NBA will learn the name Travis Outlaw this season.  They won?t hear it in the playoffs though, maybe at the lottery if he is their representative.  

Pacific Division
1. Sacramento Kings: This year?s club is significantly better than they were last year.  Bonzi Wells, SAR and Kenny Thomas gives the Kings so much more than Doug Christie/Cuttino Mobley and Chris Webber.  The Stoudemire injury leaves the door wide open for them.
2. Golden State Warriors: Expectations are a little too high here, but a weak division should get them into the playoffs.  Expectations will be even higher after their first month when they should waltz to a stellar record against a week schedule.
3. Phoenix Suns: The brilliance of their off-season won?t be seen until Amare comes back, if he?s healthy.
4. Los Angeles Lakers: The ultimate holding pattern, waiting for reinforcements via free agency or a blockbuster trade that the Lakers always are able to pull off.
5. Los Angeles Clippers: More talent than the Lakers but not the right of talent to surpass them.


The Eastern Conference 8
1. Indiana Pacers
2. Miami Heat
3. New York Knicks
4. Detroit Pistons
5. Milwaukee Bucks
6. Cleveland Cavaliers
7. New Jersey Nets
8. Washington Wizards

The Western Conference 8
1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Denver Nuggets
3. Sacramento Kings
4. Dallas Mavericks
5. Houston Rockets
6. Golden State Warriors
7. Minnesota Timberwolves
8. Phoenix Suns


Eastern Conference Champion
Indiana Pacers

Western Conference Champion
San Antonio Spurs

NBA Champion
Indiana Pacers

MVP
Ron Artest

ROY
Andrew Bogut

Coach of the Year
Rick Carlisle

Comeback Player of the Year
T.J. Ford

Christopher Reina is the Executive Editor of RealGM.com and can be reached via email at Christopher.Reina@RealGM.com