I will go record with my predictions as well:
West
1 Clippers
2 Spurs
3 Warriors
4 Thunder
5 Mavericks
6 Blazers
7 Rockets
8 Pelicans
I don't think the Clippers are the best team but I think San Antonio will coast through the regular season, rest their stars, and settle for the #2 seed. OKC will slip just enough during the regular season until Durant comes back, thus letting the Clippers steal the #1 seed and the Warriors get the #3 seed.
Dallas should improve over last year, plus they have the second best coach in the NBA.
The Blazers didn't make any major moves but I think Lillard continues to improve. However, this team won't advance further in the ranks until they address their bench.
From an overall talent point of view, I think the Rockets took a step backward from last year (lost Asik, Lin and Parson but only added Ariza in return).
The Grizzles are solid but they are getting older, more injury prone, and do not have a bench to allow them to absorb any significant injuries. I think one or more of their top three gets injured allowing the Pelicans (the best of the next tier) to make the playoffs.
Extra special shout out to the Thunder (not in a good way). They had the most frustrating off season of any team (well, minus Miami). They are a championship contender with Durant-Westbrook-Ibaka but yet they made no significant moves to help their odds. Sorry, but Anthony Marrow is not going to make that much of a difference. The sad part is that they didn't need to make any huge moves. A couple of additional mid-level type veterans would have made a significant difference. Hell, a Chris Kaman signing could have helped this team. The only reason why they didn't make any such moves is because they are afraid to enter the luxury tax. But doing so wouldn't hurt the franchise. So they make $15 million profit instead of $29 million. It is frustrating to see them this close to the championship and not have the ownership be willing to add one or two more small pieces.
Here is a scary thought for you OKC fans. What if Westbrook plays his ass off for the next month and a half and OKC still struggles. He is going to take a ton of (unfair) flack. Scott Brooks could get eventually fired. Add to that the unwillingness of the team to spend money and the appearance that OKC may be stuck where they are at. Doesn't that greatly increase the chance of Westbrook saying screw this and leaving in free agency to a team that is begging to have him (Lakerzzzz)? I think it is more important for OKC to have a good start than they realize.
East
1 Bulls
2 Cavs
3 Sorcerers
4 Raptors
5 Hornets
6 Heat
7 Nets
8 Hawks
Defense still matters. I don't know if a team that didn't have a top 10 caliber defense has won either the Eastern or Western Conference Finals in almost a decade. Accordingly, I think Chicago will win the #1 seed and make it through to the NBA Finals. For all of the offensive firepower Cleveland boasts, they look like they will be horrible on defense. They are closer to the bottom third on defense than they are to the top third. Plus, I don't think they have a particularly deep bench and their #2 through 4 players have never even been to the playoffs. That is going to catch up to them. On the flip side, the Bulls have been a scrappy playoff team for the last two years without Derrick Rose or Pau Gasol. Give me the Bulls over the Cavs.
As for the rest of the East, it isn't nearly as bad as it was last year. While they don't have very many really good teams outside of Chicago and Cleveland, most of the mediocre teams and bad teams have gotten better. Except Philadelphia. Oh dear lord they are going to be bad. Thank goodness the lottery doesn't award bonus points for margin of defeat.