As the Los Angeles Lakers begin their season tonight, taking on the Portland Trailblazers, I’d like to let all my fellow Lakers fans out there know that we aren’t the only ones who believe our team will go all the way. NBA Live 09 thinks we have what it takes to be champs once again!

A video game simulation of the 2008-09 season was conducted, using the EA SPORTS NBA Live 09 engine,  and it predicted that the Lakers would end up beating the Miami Heat to win the NBA Championship.

According to the EA SPORTS press release:

A simulation is conducted by artificial intelligence or logic of the video game that uses real-life data from each player. Results are extrapolated by the video game when two teams match up based on player ratings, line combinations, and include variances such as injuries and hot streaks to give a realistic outcome of a game or series.

Pre-season simulations make the assumption that teams will stay healthy and play a season without any big trades, which would alter the end result. NBA LIVE 09 can now be used as a predictive throughout the season to simulate results of big match ups and the rest of the season with authentic data driving the artificial intelligence.

Along with predicting who would win it all, the Live 09 simulation showcased the Award Winners of the NBA season. Here’s are a few:

• Houston Rockets’ Yao Ming  completes an injury-free season and captures the MVP Award after posting 25.8 ppg and 11.1 rpg.
• Kobe Bryant of the championship winning Lakers leads the league in scoring with 27.9 ppg.
• Rockets’ Ming, Lakers’ Bryant and Pau Gasol, Celtics’ Paul Pierce and the Denver Nuggets’ Allen Iverson complete the All-NBA First Team.
• Memphis Grizzles’ OJ Mayo will take home Rookie of the Year honors.
• Randy Foye of the Minnesota Timberwolves is awarded Most Improved Player Award.
• In addition to capturing the NBA Championship, Lakers head coach Phil Jackson will take home Coach of the Year honors.

Being a Lakers fan myself, I’m excited to hear that the Live 09 simulation has the Lakers winning it all, but unfortunately, I still have my doubts.

I mean first of all the simulation has the Lakers taking on the Heat in the Finals. Are you kidding me? The Heat? They were the worst team in the league last year, posting a record of 15-67, and the prediction has them getting to the Finals with a 55-27 record this season.

As for how well the rest of the league faired, here’s the full list of standings:

Final Regular Season Standings:
Western Conference                 W                     L                      Win %
1 Los Angeles                           65                     17                     0.793
2 Houston                                 59                     23                     0.720
3 Dallas                                    54                     28                     0.659
4 New Orleans                           53                     29                     0.646
5 Denver                                   50                     32                     0.610
6 San Antonio                           50                     32                     0.610
7 LA Clippers                            47                     35                     0.573
8 Phoenix                                 46                     35                     0.573
9 Utah                                       45                     37                     0.549
10 Portland                               33                     49                     0.402
11 Golden State                        31                     51                     0.378
12 Memphis                              30                     52                     0.366
13 Sacramento                          29                     53                     0.354
14 Minnesota                            28                     54                     0.341
15 Oklahoma City                      23                     59                     0.280

Eastern Conference                  W                     L                      Win %
1 Miami                                     55                     27                     0.671
2 Detroit                                   48                     34                     0.585
3 Boston                                   44                     38                     0.537
4 Chicago                                 41                     41                     0.500
5 Cleveland                               41                     41                     0.500
6 Orlando                                  40                     42                     0.488
7 Toronto                                  40                     42                     0.488
8 Charlotte                                39                     43                     0.476
9 Milwaukee                              37                     45                     0.451
10 New Jersey                           37                     45                     0.451
11 Philadelphia                          37                     45                     0.451
12 Atlanta                                 36                     46                     0.439
13 New York                              32                     50                     0.390
14 Washington                          30                     52                     0.355
15 Indiana                                 29                     53                     0.354

I guess we’ll have to wait until next summer to find out who’s going to win it all for sure, but I’ll make sure to check back with these predictions to see how well the NBA Live 09 simulation turned out. Here’s to the great NBA season ahead! Go Lakers!!!