2010-2011 NBA Predictions: Division Winners, Breakout Stars, and More
The 2010-2011 NBA season is fast approaching. The basketball season is always intriguing. Because of the big personalities that rule the Association’s headlines, there are soap operas on every team.
So many questions need to be answered. Which teams will surprise? Which will falter? Can Miami win with only three players?
Here is some insight into the upcoming season winners, losers, and all.
We will delve into each division, pick it apart, and then move onto bigger and better things such as MVP winners, defensive juggernauts, and eventually the champions that will be crowned.
Atlantic Division
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Atlantic Standings
1. Celtics
2. 76ers
3. Knicks
4. Nets
5. Raptors
One of the weakest divisions in the sport reads like a who’s who of terrible teams, aside from Boston.
The next best I see is Philadelphia, which supports a more well-rounded team. The Knicks could push for the second spot if Amar'e Stoudemire remains healthy. I feel like it will be a good year for the youngsters Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner, though. Elton Brand will have to steady the ship while the two get their feet wet.
The Raptors could surprise some teams, but they will be inconsistent throughout the year. They may have speed off the bench with Leandro Barbosa, but that does it as far as depth. You may not be able to completely sleep on them but they will fight to put consistent wins together.
Central Division
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Central Standings
1. Bulls
2. Pistons
3. Pacers
4. Bucks
5. Cavaliers
Yet another division with an enormous chasm between the haves and the have nots. The Bulls have too many players with too much talent to lose much ground in the Central. Their mission will not be to win the division, as that is all but locked up, but it will be to get a high playoff seed.
Say what you will about LeBron James, but he kept an overachieving team winning. He was the glue that kept the Cavs going. Well, the glue is gone and there are not many pieces to put anything together. Though Dan Gilbert promised a winning team, I don’t think he meant this decade.
Southeast Division
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Southeast Standings
1. Magic
2. Heat
3. Hawks
4. Wizards
5. Bobcats
I am not a Heat hater. I actually think they will win some championships, and soon. But there are some undeniable truths that will hurt this team.
For one, there is no doubt that the media has been covering only one thing this preseason, LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
They are everywhere looking for every nuance. They are watching to see his demeanor at practice as well as his personality in interviews. Even the scrubs are getting more face time than they ever will.
One misstep early will feel like three. As we all know, every NBA team missteps a little during the long season.
We also know every team has to go through injuries, so this will challenge Miami’s depth. They may have to rely to heavily on elder statesman to get them through the year.
Orlando is finely tuned and bringing back the core group they had last year. The Magic should eek out a first place finish in the division.
Pacific Division
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Pacific Standings
1. Lakers
2. Suns
3. Clippers
4. Kings
5. Warriors
I wanted to put the Clippers in the two spot. I really did. They look great on paper. They are getting their future star back in Blake Griffin, they have a stout center in Chris Caveman, oops, Kaman, and they have exciting youngster Eric Gordon.
But the Clippers are jinxed. On top of that, malcontent Baron Davis will find something not to like about new head coach Vinny Del Negro.
There will be little for the Lakers to fear as the Suns will have to find the same production as they had last year without the volatile Amar'e Stoudemire. Steve Nash will do enough to get them wins, just not enough to take out the champions.
Southwest Division
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Southwest Standings
1. Mavericks
2. Spurs
3. Hornets
4. Rockets
5. Grizzlies
This might be the most fun division to watch.
While the Spurs get longer in the tooth, they turn to crafty veterans to get the job done. I will give Richard Jefferson a mulligan on last year. He will be the missing piece the Spurs need to oust the Mavericks from the tops spot.
Another team to look for is the Hornets. They are a conundrum wrapped in an enigma. They have the same core players that won 59 games three years ago. Why they laid eggs the last two years is completely a mystery to me. I still believe that they have the personnel to regroup and make some noise in the West.
Northwest Division
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Northwest Standings
1. Thunder
2. Nuggets
3. Jazz
4. Blazers
5. Timberwolves
This is a division that is determined by one player. The Carmelo Anthony drama will be enough to deter the Nuggets from taking the division. The surging Thunder have a top three player in Kevin Durant and a future All-Star in Westbrook.
I could go either way between the Jazz and Blazers. Jerry Sloan’s teams always play defense and rarely make mistakes.
The flip side is the Blazers has some great young talent that are ready for a breakout season. I am just not a firm believer that Greg Oden will ever be healthy enough for a full season.
Postseason: Eastern Conference
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1: Magic
2: Heat
3: Bulls
4: Celtics
5: Hawks
6: 76ers
7: Pistons
8: Knicks
Eastern Conference Finals: Boston Celtics over Miami Heat
The aging Celtics have shown they cannot put together enough regular season wins to grab a top seed. What they have also proven is that the postseason is what matters. Coming in as the third seed last year, they still managed to make it to the Finals.
Expect the same this year.
Besides their “big three,” they will be able to throw three competent centers at the opposition (Kendrick Perkins, Jermaine O’Neal, Shaquille O’Neal).
Postseason: Western Conference
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1: Lakers
2: Thunder
3: Mavericks
4: Spurs
5: Suns
6: Nuggets
7: Hornets
8: Clippers
Western Conference Champions: Los Angeles Lakers over Oklahoma City Thunder
The Lakers are deep. Well, with the likes of Ron Artest, maybe not philosophically deep, but as far as rosters are concerned they have enough talent to go around. They boast the most versatile bench player in the league in Lamar Odom and they have the years of experience to beat a faster team like the Thunder.
Finals
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Lakers over Boston in seven.
That’s it. No reason to play the games, guys. In a league that values youth and speed, the Lakers and Celtics have sure been successful. There is no reason to think otherwise for 2010-2011. With the possible matchup of big men and the usual Celtics-Lakers rivalry, this could be one of the best matchups ever. Here's hoping that it happens.
Awards
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Let the denouement begin with award winners.
Coach of the Year: Vinny Del Negro
This always goes to a coach that really gets the most out of a crappy team. I could see Vinny Del Negro getting enough wins to get the Clips to the playoffs. Doing this is enough for champagne in Clipper land and may be enough for the voters of the coach of the year award.
Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard
A back-to-back winner already, there is no reason he should not get this a third time. He is a monster down low. Players have to think twice about driving into his lane.
Sixth Man of the Year: Lamar Odom
Lamar is clearly the best bench player in the league talent wise. What he has struggled at is the role of first off the bench. With a year under his belt to get accustomed, he will blow the competition away.
Rookie of the Year: Evan Turner
He is in the perfect situation. He is on a balanced team where he will start. He will get plenty of minutes to do some damage, but will not have to do too much for the 76ers success.
MVP: Kevin Durant
If last year was not any indication, the FIBA Championships should give notice that Kevin Durant has arrived. LeBron will have a drop in stats just by way of playing with a star like Dwyane Wade. That and LeBron's tattered image will be enough to give the young star his first MVP
