GNB Sports 2010-2011 NBA Predictions

The NBA season is back! After a turbulent offseason which saw LeBron take his talents to South Beach, and several other stars make big moves themselves, we’re ready for another eight months in which the Lakers will look to go for three in a row against the Heat, Celtics and a number of up-and-coming teams.

Here is a preview of the NBA, with the predicted order of finish in the conferences.

Western Conference

Los Angeles Lakers – While the Heat pushed the two-time, defending
champions out of the media spotlight this summer, the Lakers remain
the best team in the West and are favorites to make it three in a
row.

In Matt Barnes and Steve Blake, the Lakers added more toughness
and defensive strength to their already top-tier team. Look for them
to be best in the west once more.

Prediction: 58-24

Oklahoma City Thunder – The Thunder notched up a stunning 50 wins last
season (one year after only winning 23) and nearly took the Lakers to
seven games in the first round of the playoffs. With Kevin Durant
starting the season as an MVP favorite, and Russell Westbrook looking
to cement his place as a star in the league, the Thunder have lots of
great young talent and with no clear frontrunners other than Los
Angeles out west, look for the Thunder to shoot up to the second seed.

Prediction: 54-28

Portland Trail Blazers - Last year was a horror show for Portland as far
as health went, with a host of players either going out with injuries
or playing throughout the season with one. Marcus Camby had to be
brought in to fill the center position, while two of their best
players in Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge played through pain for
large stretches. Despite such setbacks, the Blazers did make the
playoffs, where, without Roy, they fell to the Suns in six games. With
a fully healthy roster, look for the Blazers to finish with over 50
wins and in third place in the west.

Prediction: 53-29

Houston Rockets - Despite finishing last year with a winning record, the
Rockets would probably consider their 2009-10 season as something of a
disappointment, as they failed to make the playoffs a year after
pushing the Lakers to seven games in the Western Conference semifinals.

Of course, much of it came down to injury curses as Yao Ming was
kept out for the whole season by a foot injury. The Rockets traded salary-encompassing Tracy McGrady to the Knicks after he was also plagued by injuries which limited his effectiveness. Health will also be key this year; if Yao can play, the Rockets young talent can provide him with valuable assistance.

If he's hobbled by injuries yet again, Houston could lack the potency needed to be a factor come April. Look for the former to happen and for Houston to finish top
four in the west.

Prediction: 49-33

Dallas Mavericks - Last season followed a depressingly similar script
for the Dallas Mavericks; led by Dirk Nowitzki, they finished the
season in red hot for and entered the playoffs as the second seed,
only to falter in the playoffs, this time to traditional rivals San
Antonio.

Look for Nowitzki to once again play like the star he his, but both he and his support cast are aging, and there is very little "X-factor potential" young talent on the Mavs. Expect another good regular season to be followed by yet another playoff disappointment.

Prediction: 48-34

Utah Jazz - The loss of Carlos Boozer undoubtedly hurt, but the Jazz are
a team that always find a way to be competitive despite their lack of
great talent. Utah have one truly established star in Deron Williams,
who will continue to lay claim to the honor of best point guard in the
league.

They were manhandled the last few seasons by the Lakers in the
playoffs and shouldn't be a big postseason force this year either
but look for Williams and coach Jerry Sloan to keep the Jazz in the
upper echelon of the Western Conference.

Prediction: 47-35

San Antonio Spurs - This team is aging quickly, and some of their best
players (Duncan, Ginobili, etc.) are probably only a few years from
retirement.

Despite their seniority, however, the Spurs find ways to
win, and their experience makes them a team no one wants to play in
the business end of the season, last season's postseason triumph over
Dallas being a good example.

However, while San Antonio should make the playoffs again this year and could make some noise, don't count on Duncan and co. adding another ring to their collection.

Prediction: 46-36

Los Angeles Clippers - A playoff finish would definitely be a shock for
a team that couldn't win 30 games last year, but the Clippers have
the potential to do it in a Western Conference which is largely even
outside the top few teams.

Blake Griffin in particular looks like he could be a genuine star in just his first real season in the NBA, and while the Clippers have a history of ineptitude, look for them to be a
dark horse playoff team this year.

Prediction: 40-42

Denver Nuggets - The biggest story in the Rockies this offseason has
been Carmelo Anthony and his desire to leave Denver for greener
pastures. While he may be forced to play out the season in Denver,
chances are he won't be playing at his best—a major setback for a
Nuggets team on which he is by far the best player.

Chauncey Billups and George Karl will probably keep Denver battling on bravely but
look for the off-the-court controversies to overshadow the team's play, and for them to fall short of the postseason.

Prediction: 39-43

Phoenix Suns - Last year they gave the Lakers a strong challenge in the
Western Conference Finals but expect for them to drop from those
heady heights this season.

Steve Nash continues to play at an All-Star level, but his Stoudemire-less supporting cast isn't particularly impressive; when a team's most exciting offseason recruit is Hedo
Turkoglu, chances are they're in for a mediocre year.

Prediction: 39-43

New Orleans Hornets - Chris Paul is one of the best players in the
league; unfortunately for New Orleans, one player does not make a team. With a roster of a number of role players such as Peja Stojakovic and Trevor Ariza, the Hornets are bound to fall short this season unless one unlikely player steps up to complement Chris Paul.

Prediction: 38-44

Memphis Grizzlies - Rudy Gay is a promising young player, and Marc
Gasol should be a force to be reckoned with in the paint. Besides that,
the Grizzlies and their fans have little to look forward to.

A team that hasn't been relevant since trading Marc's older brother will
probably continue living in anonymity, hoping that the youngsters they
have banked their future on will someday rescue them from the depths
of the Western Conference.

Prediction: 37-45
 

Golden State Warriors - The Warriors are one team that has genuine
potential to rise in the future. Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry look
like the real deal, and with Don Nelson at the helm for at least a few
more seasons, the Warriors could be a playoff team within one or two
years if they start playing defense. Don't count on it this season though.

Prediction: 33-49

Sacramento Kings - Tyreke Evans set the league on fire last season, and
he will be joined this season by another promising young talent in
DeMarcus Cousins of Kentucky. Kings fans shouldn't expect radical
improvement but look for their team to gradually become more
competitive, although not competitive enough, however, to stay above
the bottom feeders in the west.

Prediction: 26-56

Minnesota Timberwolves - With Al Jefferson getting shipped out to Utah,
the Timberwolves are finally devoid of basically all proven talent.
Unless some of their young draft picks start showing up in a big way
over the next few seasons, look for Minnesota to finish at the bottom
of the pile in the Western Conference and for that trend to continue
for the foreseeable future.

Prediction: 22-60

Eastern Conference

Miami Heat - The team at the center of one of the most talked-about offseasons in NBA history, the Heat haven't won too many fans with their extravagance (think "The Decision"), but their sheer talent is undeniable, and their schedule relatively soft.

The Celtics and Magic have a shot of giving Miami a tough time in the playoffs, but expect the Heat to be No. 1 in the east this season (and for quite a few seasons to come).

Prediction: 63-19

Boston Celtics - The Celtics are just a few years (i.e., when Pierce, Allen, and Garnett retire) from a period of rebuilding. In the present, however, Boston should still be considered a serious championship contender, with their own Big Three continuing to play at a high level, Rajon Rondo cementing his place as a true star, and new acquisition Shaquille O'Neal adding more physical presence. While the Celts should finish behind the Heat in the regular season, don't put another great playoff run past this Boston team.

Prediction: 55-27

Orlando Magic - Coming off a postseason in which they were shoved aside by the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Magic will look to once again ride the powerful Dwight Howard into the playoffs.

Orlando made no great changes this offseason (a contrast to their in-state rivals), but should have enough talent to finish among the top teams in the East. A second trip to the Finals in three seasons, however, looks fairly unlikely at this point.

Prediction: 55-27

Milwaukee Bucks - The Bucks were somewhat of a surprise package last year, grabbing the sixth seed in the East and nearly knocking off the Hawks in a seven-game series. The team will look for Brandon Jennings to carry with last season's electrifying form, and for players like John Salmons and Drew Gooden to lift their team as well, but the key for the Bucks is their Australian center Andrew Bogut.

Knocked out at the end of the season by a freak injury, if Bogut returns healthy, the Bucks have an excellent chance at first round home-court advantage in the playoffs.

Prediction: 46-36

Chicago Bulls - Chicago add much needed size and physicality in the signs of former Jazz players Carlos Boozer and Kyle Korver, who will look to provide support to the new face of the franchise, Derrick Rose.

The Bulls could only manage a .500 record last year and a meek playoff effort against the Cavs in the first round but look for tangible improvement from the Bulls, who should be able to hang with the best teams in the East.

Prediction: 45-37

Atlanta Hawks - Their deficiencies were exposed in a drubbing at the hands of Orlando in last year's playoffs, and they didn't do much to address it in the offseason, shelling out $120 million to keep a fairly average player in Joe Johnson.

With the rest of the competition making large scale changes, expect the Hawks to drop in the standings, although they should manage enough wins for a playoff spot in an Eastern Conference that remains unintimidating outside the top handful of teams.

Prediction: 45-37

New York Knicks - The New Yorkers have been turned into something of a laughingstock, as they have dealt with off-court controversy and on-court ineptitude for years.

This season, however, could be the year that all changes; while they missed out on LeBron, they grabbed Amare Stoudemire and could yet land Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul.

Even if they miss out on Melo and CP3, however, expect the Knicks to be one of this season's surprise packages and finish in the top half of the Eastern Conference.

Prediction: 39-43

Charlotte Bobcats - With Michael Jordan at the helm, the Bobcats made their maiden playoff appearance last season, a clean sweep at the hands of the Magic. Unfortunately for Charlotte fans, MJ hasn't done much to improve this team since then, with center being the glaring hole; Tyson Chandler going out for Kwame Brown isn't quite an upgrade. Look for Charlotte to scrape out consecutive playoff berths, and not much more.

Prediction: 38-44

Washington Wizards - The team's lackluster play last season was overshadowed by the drama of Gilbert Arenas and his firearms, but they caught a good break with winning the first pick of the draft.

John Wall should be an absolute beast, but he'll need a few years to develop, and there aren't too many other quality players on this Washington team. They should improve though, going from awful to merely average.

Prediction: 33-49

Indiana Pacers - The Pacers seem to be mired in no man's land; not quite a bottom feeder in the East, but not really a playoff contender either. That should once again be the case this year, as Indiana has done little to bolster its roster, which is largely young and inexperienced. 

Prediction: 32-50

New Jersey Nets - After nearly setting a historically low bar for failure last season, Nets fans would be excused for not expecting much this season.

However, there are signs that this team is getting its act together; Brook Lopez and Devin Harris are developing into solid players, and Jordan Farmar isn't a bad addition to go along with draft pick Derrick Favors. Look for the Nets to surprise and finish closer to a playoff berth than last season.

Prediction: 29-53

Philadelphia 76ers - With Allen Iverson taking his talents to Turkey, Andre Iguodala is the new face of this team, although he may soon be challenged for that label by rookie and former Ohio State star Evan Turner. The talent is there, but it will take time to truly blossom, and Philadelphia fans probably shouldn't expect too much from their team this year.

Prediction: 28-54

Cleveland Cavaliers - LeBron James was the biggest departure, but Cleveland also saw O'Neal, Ilgauskas and Delonte West, among others, bail as well. In games where they've been LeBron-less, the last few seasons, the Cavs have been pretty woeful, and that form should continue for this season. Cleveland had their championship window during the King's stay; it will probably be many years before it is opened again. 

Prediction: 27-55

Toronto Raptors - Look over the Raptors roster, and one might be excused for thinking they are a Euroleague team. Look at them play, and one would be forgiven for thinking the exact same thing.

Last year was the Raptors' last chance at making some kind of mark; they missed it and will likely spend the next several years close to or in the basement of the Eastern Conference.

Prediction: 25-57

Detroit Pistons - Just a few seasons after being a yearly contender for a Finals spot, the only thing the Pistons will be competing for this year is the bottom spot in the Conference. Detroit sports fans would be better served following the Red Wings.

Prediction: 25-57