Mulligan! Revisiting and re-predicting the NBA playoff field

We're about one-third of the way through the modified 2011-12 NBA season, and plenty has become apparent:

- Kobe Bryant likes to shoot the ball
- Dwight Howard wants out
- Steve Nash doesn't think the Suns are talented
- The Knicks aren't who we thought they were
- And, of course, the Bobcats are awful

Today also seems like the ideal date to look back at preseason predictions, mock them, and make revisions.

First, let's look at and analyze my preseason projections:

On the flip side, I owe Atlanta and Denver apologies. The Hawks have the fourth best record in the NBA, even though their most important player, Al Horford, is injured. Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and (surprise!) Jeff Teague have kept Atlanta among the elite. As I noted the other day, they haven't been tested much since Horford's injury, but you can't argue with 16-6.

For the Nuggets, I've got nothing. Initially, I even had Denver on the outside of the Western playoffs. I thought Danilo Gallinari was tracking toward a breakout season, but the emergence of Ty Lawson, efficiency of Nene Hilario and play of Andre Miller have all caught me off guard. As you'll see momentarily, they've convinced me well beyond a shadow of a doubt.

So let's take a mulligan and look ahead! Your fresh-out-of-the-box Feb. 1 NBA playoff predictions: