2011 NBA Playoffs: Top 5 Pretenders Heading into Postseason
These are the top five teams that will be pretenders come playoff time.
There are plenty of surprising stories heading into the postseason. The Chicago Bulls lead the Eastern Conference with a 59-20 record.
What Derrick Rose has done for that organization is more than just pure statistics. He has brought hope and excitement back to the city of Chicago, which is something they haven't had since Michael Jordan. He will be the NBA MVP when the season ends.
Will this be the year the Spurs get back to the NBA Finals? It seems like the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs are always "too old" to compete.
Let's weed out the pretenders from the contenders!
5. Atlanta Hawks
1 of 5
The fifth seed in the east is like missing the playoffs in the west. The Hawks want to get back at Orlando for the sweep they handed to them last season.
They are 4-6 in their last 10 games and are currently on a four game skid. Three of those losses were to Indiana, Houston and Washington.
This team is too inconsistent to win two rounds in the NBA Playoffs.
4. Chicago Bulls
2 of 5
Depending on match-ups, the Bulls could be a team that is pretending that they are one of the top two in the league.
Tom Thibodeau has done a great job coaching defense since coming from the Boston Celtics. He would get my vote for Coach of the Year.
Derrick Rose has been fantastic this season. He has put up great numbers (25 ppg and 8 apg) but has done it without Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer for stretches at a time.
Luol Deng is the X-factor for me. The Bulls are going to be relying upon Rose down the stretch of ball games, but will need a "Robin". Deng is a great fit along side of Rose.
I can't see this team making it to the NBA Finals. They are plenty capable of doing so, but a team like Orlando could give them trouble in the second round. If they get by that series then it will be Boston or Miami.
When Boston traded Kendrick Perkins, that really opened the door for Chicago, Miami and Orlando.
3. Dallas Mavericks
3 of 5
It seems like they struggle in the playoffs every year aside from their NBA Finals run. An upset is in the making if they play Portland.
Brandon Roy has been back for 20-plus games, but hasn't look himself. Confidence could be an issue as his playing time increases. If he can find that confidence before the playoffs, the Trail Blazers could be a surprise team in the West.
Mix in Gerald Wallace, who they got at the trade deadline, with an emerging LaMarcus Aldridge, the Trail Blazers could do work.
2. Denver Nuggets
4 of 5
I like this team better without Carmello Anthony. Their defensive numbers have been increasingly better since they traded him away.
Raymond Felton and Ty Lawson are doing a great job of scoring and getting other people involved. Nene Hilario is controlling the paint. They have so many role players that are doing their job.
Who is going to be the go-to guy in the clutch? Role players are great but who will be the star? J.R. Smith can score with the best of them, but he will need to be that guy late.
Hilario has been injury prone throughout his career so who knows if that bug will return?
Playoffs are a different animal compared to the regular season.
Great story, solid club but they are pretenders
1. New York Knicks
5 of 5
The Knicks are definitely pretenders this season. The Carmelo Anthony trade that happened in late-February was for down the road, not now.
They play better against better clubs, which will help them against Boston or Miami.
This team can contend and stay competitive, but they don't play solid enough defense to win two series.They can maybe win one, but I think that would be a stretch.
