25 Bold NBA Predictions For 2011
With 2011 almost upon us, it's time we make some bold predictions for the second half of the NBA season.
Whether it's a trade, an award winner or the team that walks away with the ultimate prize, everyone has their own opinions on how 2011 will play out.
So, without further ado, here are 25 bold predictions for the upcoming year.
25. Brook Lopez Will Remember How to Rebound
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For a seven-foot center, Brook Lopez has been absolutely horrible at rebounding this season. He averages a pitiful 6.2 rebounds a game.
To put in perspective how bad Lopez has been at cleaning the glass, Landry Fields, a 6'7" rookie shoot guard, averages 7.5 rebounds per game in less minutes.
He only has two double digit rebounding games and five games with four or less rebounds.
Well, Lopez will flip a switch in 2011 and begin to rebound at a much higher rate.
24. Kevin Love Will Challenge Dennis Rodman
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Kevin Love emphatically grabbed the rebounding crown from Dwight Howard only a few weeks into the season.
Love has a dominant lead in rebounding with a 2.4 rebounding average difference between him and the next competitor, Dwight Howard.
He has been slowly increasing his rebounding average every month with his increased minutes.
By the time the regular season comes to a close, his rebounding average will fall just short of the 17 rebounding mark, being the first player to approach and break some of Dennis Rodman's absurd averages.
23. Brandon Roy Will Get Shut Down
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Brandon Roy's knee is in bad shape and it doesn't appear to be getting any better.
The Portland Trail Blazers have been opting to rest him, but they will come to the realization that they are jeopardizing his future by playing him this season.
They will put Roy on the shelf for the remainder of the season so he can hopefully return at full strength next year.
22. Blake Griffin Will Destroy in The Dunk Contest
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Right now, Blake Griffin is without a doubt the best in-game dunker in the NBA.
However, he'll get a chance to show off his creativity in the dunk contest during All-Star weekend.
Griffin will absolutely destroy the competition with acrobatic dunks that will absolutely amaze the world.
21. Blake Griffin Will Be an All-Star
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Blake Griffin will defy the odds and shake up the All-Star game by being the first rookie named to the team since Michael Jordan did it.
Griffin would certainly deserve the nod with the way he has played thus far.
He's not only a fan favorite in Clipper-land, but he's become a league-wide fan favorite with the constant highlight reel plays he performs.
20. The Nets Keep All Their Picks
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The Nets made a bold move when they facilitated a three team trade to land them three first round picks.
It was their way of not only jumping back in the Carmelo Anthony sweepstakes, but potentially taking the lead as a trade partner.
There have been rumors going around that Anthony is willing to sign an extension with the Nets if they can bring back complimentary pieces along with him.
However, when all is said and done, the Nets will fail to put together an enticing enough package for both Anthony and the Nuggets and they will be left empty handed.
19. Carmelo Will Be Playing Under The Bright Lights Of Broadway
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Carmelo Anthony is on the verge of being traded.
The Denver Nuggets have been resisting the Knicks overtures, but the Knicks will ultimately put together the most enticing package for the Nuggets.
Anthony will refuse to sign an extension with any team other than the Knicks and the Nuggets will have no choice but to accept New York's offer for their disgruntled star for fear of losing him for nothing.
18. Suns Go Into Rebuilding Mode, Trade Steve Nash
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What started out as nothing but pure speculation earlier this season becomes a reality.
The Suns recently made a blockbuster trade with the Orlando Magic and that only helps to raise the speculation that the team will be entering a rebuilding stage.
Phoenix will come to a realization that Nash will not lead the team very far at this stage of his career and that they must trade him while his value is still high.
17. Chris Paul Will Demand a Trade
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The New Orleans Hornets were the hottest team early in the season winning 11 out of their first 12 games.
However, the team has faltered going 6-11 since then.
Chris Paul seemed happy with his situation, but that may not be the case when the Hornets fall short in the playoffs, getting knocked out in the first round.
Paul will put management on notice to get him out of town.
16. Derrick Rose Will Be Named to The All-NBA Third Team
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Derrick Rose is having a phenomenal year with the Chicago Bulls. The team has the third best record in the Eastern Conference and Rose has a legitimate shot at winning NBA MVP.
Rose is seventh in scoring and he's eclipsing nearly every statistical category with career highs.
He will finally be named to an All-NBA Team, but will fall short of the second team to Dwyane Wade and...
15. Rajon Rondo Will Be Named To The All-NBA Second Team
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Rajon Rondo is have his finest season in the NBA by a wide margin.This will be the first season that Rondo makes an All-NBA Team.
Rondo's league leading 13.8 assists is far and away the best mark in the league. However, he'll fall short of the All-NBA First team to...
14. Deron Williams Will Make First Team All-NBA
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Deron Williams has long stayed under the shadow of Chris Paul and Steve Nash.
He made the All-NBA Second Team and was finally named an NBA All-Star last season.
Well, Williams will no longer play second fiddle this season. He will take his place as a well-deserved member of the All-NBA First Team.
13. Most Improved Player Will Go to Kevin Love
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Kevin Love is finally getting recognition for being one of the best young players in the NBA. Even Kurt Rambis can't keep him from getting the minutes and spotlight that he deserves.
Love has made a drastic surge this season and he will be awarded for his dominant work on the glass.
12. Jason Terry Will Take Sixth Man
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Jason Terry has been clutch for the Dallas Mavericks all season long and he'll continue his strong play all the way down the stretch.
Terry will walk away with his second NBA Sixth Man award.
11. Gregg Popovich Will Win Coach Of The Year
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Greg Popovich won Coach of the Year during the 2002-03 NBA season when he led the San Antonio Spurs to a 60-22 record.
Tim Duncan is having the worst season of his career, the team's defense is not as strong, but they still have the best record in the NBA.
With the Spurs on pace to win over 60 games, he will be recognized for his efforts and rewarded with his second Coach of the Year award.
10. Tyson Chandler Will Be Defensive Player of The Year
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Tyson Chandler has seen a resurgence with the Dallas Mavericks this season.
Chandler has been playing like a man possessed and he deserves a lot of credit for the strong play of the Mavericks.
Dirk Nowitzki compared Chandler's defensive presence much like Kevin Garnett's when he first joined the Boston Celtics.
Like Garnett, Chandler will earn Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts.
9. Amar'e Stoudemire Takes The Scoring Crown
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Amar'e Stoudemire looked lost at the start of the season. His scoring was down and he was turning the ball over at an alarming rate.
However, the Knicks made a surge thanks to the improved play of Stoudemire. He really turned it on in mid November, and he's been absolutely dominant throughout the month of December.
Stoudemire currently has a 26.4 point scoring average, but he'll save his best for the post All-Star stretch run. He'll tear down rims on a nightly basis to just barely edge out Kevin Durant for the lead in the scoring race.
8. Dirk Nowitzki Will Be The MVP
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Dirk Nowitzki is in the midst of one of his finest seasons as a pro.
He's shoot a career high field goal percentage and he has fully bought into Dallas' defense first approach.
The Mavericks have the third best winning percentage in the NBA and he's far and away the best player on his team.
Nowitzki will walk away with his second NBA MVP award.
7. We See Vintage Shaq in The Playoffs
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At the ripe age of 38, Shaq was being written off as an aging, washed up big man.
However, O'Neal isn't finished just yet. He's saving his best for the playoffs and he will be the X-Factor for the Boston Celtics.
O'Neal will turn back the clock and revert back to the immovable, rim destroying monster we all know and love.
6. Chicago Will Once Again Give The Celtics a Stiff Test
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The Chicago Bulls will meet up with the Boston Celtics in the second round of the NBA playoffs.
Chicago will once again put on a seven game series for the ages, taking Boston all the way down to the wire.
However, Boston's experience and defense will ultimately win out.
5. We See Vintage Duncan in The Playoffs
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Tim Duncan is having by far the worst season of his career. He's averaging career lows in minutes, points and rebounds.
However, once the playoffs start, the Big Fundamental will break out of his shell and put up 22-plus points, 11-plus rebounds and two-plus blocks throughout the playoffs.
4. San Antonio Makes The Western Conference Finals
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San Antonio will make the Western Conference Finals after battling the Dallas Mavericks to seven games in the second round.
It'll be a hard fought battle, but Greg Poppovich and the team's deep playoff experience will give them the ultimate edge.
3. Heat Battle Celtics To Seven Games in The Eastern Conference Finals
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The Miami Heat started the season out of sorts, but they've turned it on recently. The team has the second best record in the East and I predict that they'll make a memorable run through the playoffs to reach the Eastern Conference Finals.
There, they will be pitted against the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics won the first two matchups this season, but the Heat will be a different team come playoff time. They'll give Boston a true challenge, but will ultimately fall short in seven games.
2. The Lakers Still Have Some Zen Left in Them
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The Los Angeles Lakers look nothing like the championship team from a year ago.
They reloaded over the summer and they are arguably deeper than ever before, but they've faltered early in the season.
However, come playoff time, they'll battle their way through the Western Conference to ultimately come out on top and make yet another trip to the NBA Finals.
1. The Boston Celtics Walk Away With The NBA Championship
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The Boston Celtics are deeper than ever before and they look even better than the title team from 2008.
Behind Kevin Garnett's lockdown defense, Rajon Rondo's pinpoint passing and their deep bench, the Celtics will walk away with the NBA Championship.
