Which NBA Teams Will Make It Back to the Playoffs in 2011-2012?
The NBA lockout is far from being settled, but that doesn't mean we can't look into the crystal ball and predict which teams will and will not make it to the playoffs next season.
Of course, we haven't even had a free agency season yet, so it's really difficult to predict the changes. Despite this, we can still a get a pretty good idea of who will qualify in the great spring tournament.
Here we go!
Atlanta Hawks
1 of 302011: Fifth seed, East (44-38)
2012 Prediction: In
The Hawks have too much talent to not qualify for the playoffs, plus the bottom of the Eastern Conference is very weak.
Players like Joe Johnson, Al Horford and Josh Smith will propel Atlanta to the playoffs again. They should be a top-six team in the East again, just closer to the bottom than the top.
Boston Celtics
2 of 302011: Third seed, East (56-26)
2012 Prediction: In
Call them old. Call them brittle. Call them whatever you want.
Boston is still stacked, with Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. The Celtics are a shoo-in for the playoffs and will compete for the title again.
Charlotte Bobcats
3 of 302011: Missed the playoffs, East (34-48)
2012 Prediction: Out
After making the playoffs in 2010, the Charlotte Bobcats were on the outside looking in during 2011.
Chances are the Bobcats will miss the playoffs again. They don't have any star power on their team, and they lack a center presence.
Chicago Bulls
4 of 302011: First seed, East (62-20)
2012 Prediction: In
After winning 62 games last year and advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the Jordan era, Derrick Rose and the Bulls are ready to make another run for the NBA title next season.
They will easily make the playoffs and go deep.
Cleveland Cavaliers
5 of 302011: Missed the playoffs, East (19-63)
2012 Prediction: Out
There's a reason why so many Ohioans were upset when LeBron James left Cleveland; it was the beginning of a dark era in their history.
Despite drafting highly-talented rookie Kyrie Irving, the Cavs are still far away from a playoff appearance. They will improve from last year's 19 wins, but will still fall short.
Dallas Mavericks
6 of 302011: Third seed, West (57-25)
2012 Prediction: In
The defending champions may find it hard to defend their title, but they won't have a hard time qualifying for the playoffs. Although they have plenty of free agents, Mark Cuban will still be able to assemble a solid team and compete again.
Denver Nuggets
7 of 302011: Fifth seed, West (50-32)
2012 Prediction: Out
Despite all the Carmelo Anthony drama and his eventual trade, the Nuggets were still able to win 50 games and finish fifth in a competitive Western Conference. They gave the Oklahoma City Thunder some fits before being disposed by them in the playoffs.
Denver enters the new season without a star, and this is a problem.
The NBA is a star-driven league, and without one, it's going to be difficult to win games. Although they have some good pieces with Aaron Afflalo, Andre Miller and Danilo Gallinari, the Nuggets don't have a core to build the team around.
They will make a run for the eighth seed, but will fall short.
Detroit Pistons
8 of 302011: Missed the playoffs, East (30-52)
2012 Prediction: Out
The Pistons have experienced a downward spiral in recent years, and it will probably continue.
Recent draft classes have been weak, and the team hasn't had top-three selections they can build the team around.
With veteran, washed-up players like Rip Hamilton and Ben Wallace, the team has no sense of direction and will continue to struggle.
Golden State Warriors
9 of 302011: Missed the playoffs, West (36-46)
2012 Prediction: Out
The Golden State Warriors might be one of the most exciting teams in the league with Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry.
However, they can't play a lick of defense. Because of this they will suffer the consequences and fail to make the playoffs again.
Houston Rockets
10 of 302011: Missed the playoffs, West (43-39)
2012 Prediction: In
Despite winning 43 games last season, the Rockets failed to make the playoffs; this is how competitive the Western Conference was.
With Yao Ming's contract off the books, the Rockets have more money to spend in the free agency season. They also have some solid pieces like Kyle Lowry, Kevin Martin and Courtney Lee.
They may not make a run for the title, but Houston will make the playoffs as a seventh or eighth seed.
Indiana Pacers
11 of 302011: Eighth seed, East (37-45)
2012 Prediction: Out
With only 37 wins, the Pacers were able to make the playoffs this past season.
They do have some solid players, such as Tyler Hansbrough and Danny Granger, but with the Nets and Bucks emerging as playoff teams, it's going to take a lot more than 37 wins to make the playoffs.
They'll make a run, but in the end, the Pacers will be on the outside looking in.
Los Angeles Clippers
12 of 302011: Missed the playoffs, West (32-50)
2012 Prediction: In
Here's the bold pick of the season:
The Los Angeles Clippers will make the playoffs next season.
Blake Griffin is not a rookie anymore. He is a budding superstar, and he has what it takes to lead a team to the playoffs.
He's also surrounded by some solid players, like Mo Williams and Eric Gordon. Plus the Clippers also have a strong, inside presence with DeAndre Jordan and Chris Kaman.
They have to stay healthy, but if they can, the Clippers will make the jump and be an eighth seed.
Los Angeles Lakers
13 of 302011: Second seed, West (57-25)
2012 Prediction: In
Considering the fact that the Lakers have only missed the playoffs five times in franchise history, it's a safe a bet to count them in again this season.
Memphis Grizzlies
14 of 302011: Eighth seed, West (46-36)
2012 Prediction: In
The 2011 Memphis Grizzlies were the Oklahoma City Thunder of 2010, and this team is only going to get better.
Marc Gasol has really shown huge improvements throughout the last few seasons. Zach Randolph is one of the most underrated players in the game. Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo will be solid scoring threats.
The Grizzlies will not only qualify again this year, but they'll make a run for the division title. The Spurs and Mavericks are both aging teams, plus the Mavs have plenty of free agents and will look a lot different next year.
Miami Heat
15 of 302011: Second seed, East (58-24)
2012 Prediction: In
Not only will they make the playoffs—they will make the NBA Finals again.
Milwaukee Bucks
16 of 302011: Missed the playoffs, East (35-47)
2012 Prediction: In
The Bucks made the playoffs in 2010, and they had high hopes for another playoff appearance last season because of budding superstar Brandon Jennings.
However, Jennings missed almost 20 games last season, and this cost the Bucks a playoff spot.
They missed out on the playoffs by two games, and there is no doubt that if Jennings was healthy, they would've been able to qualify. With Aussie big Andrew Bogut and Jennings, the Bucks will make a return to the playoffs as an eighth seed.
Minnesota Timberwolves
17 of 302011: Missed the playoffs, West (17-65)
2012 Prediction: Out
The Wolves are going to need a lot more than Kevin Love to even come close to making the playoffs. They do have Michael Beasley and Wes Johnson, but they are a few years away from becoming a threat.
New Jersey Nets
18 of 302011: Missed the playoffs, East (24-58)
2012 Prediction: In
Deron Williams only played in 12 games for the Nets last season, so none of us were able to see the real impact he had on the team. In those 12 games, the Nets only won four, but Williams went on a tear in some of those games; he had 21 assists against Minnesota.
Williams facilitates the offense for New Jersey, and with Brook Lopez providing a strong inside presence, the Nets will be primed to make a run to the postseason in a weak Eastern Conference.
Is it really outrageous to say the Nets can't be a seventh or eighth seed? Williams can lead this team on his own to 40 wins and a playoff appearance.
New Orleans Hornets
19 of 302011: Seventh seed, West (46-36)
2012 Prediction: Out
Yes, they have Chris Paul.
Yes, they gave the Lakers fits in the playoffs last season.
But the Western Conference is just too competitive. There are too many good teams that are hungry after not making it into the postseason last year.
The Hornets will make a good run, but they are limited. Because of this, they will fall short.
New York Knicks
20 of 302011: Sixth seed, East (42-40)
2012 Prediction: In
Basketball in Madison Square Garden hasn't been this exciting since 1999. The Knicks are back.
Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire will develop more team chemistry and lead the Knicks to consecutive playoff appearances. The chances of them getting Chris Paul makes them a scarier team.
The Knicks might not play defense much, but they'll be a solid team and will perhaps even make it to the second round of the playoffs.
Oklahoma City Thunder
21 of 302011: Fourth seed, West (55-27)
2012 Prediction: In
After making the Western Conference Finals last season, anything short of the NBA Finals will be a disappointment for the Thunder.
Orlando Magic
22 of 302011: Fourth seed, East (52-30)
2012 Prediction: In
As long as Dwight Howard is in Orlando, the Magic are a playoff team.
The second he leaves though, they will automatically become a lottery team.
Philadelphia 76ers
23 of 302011: Seventh seed, East (41-41)
2012 Prediction: Out
The 76ers may have been a game behind the sixth seed in the East, but let's face it, they are very limited.
Sure, they got on a little bit of a cute run last year with Andre Iguodala, but they will come down to earth this year. Especially with teams like the Nets and Bucks getting better and healthier, respectively, it's going to be a lot harder for the Sixers to make a playoff spot.
Phoenix Suns
24 of 302011: Missed the playoffs, West (40-42)
2012 Prediction: Out
Like the Hornets, the Phoenix Suns will have to suffer the consequences of playing in a competitive Western Conference.
The Suns will fall short by a few games and miss the playoffs. They're most likely going to part ways with Vince Carter, and Steve Nash is a year older and a year slower.
The Suns need a new direction to be competitive again.
Portland Trail Blazers
25 of 302011: Sixth seed, West (48-34)
2012 Prediction: In
The Blazers have consistently been a very good team, even without Greg Oden. But they don't have enough to make a Finals run unless Oden stays healthy and lives up to his pre-draft expectations—this is unlikely.
However, LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy and Nicolas Batum are enough to lead them to the playoffs.
Sacramento Kings
26 of 302011: Missed Playoffs, West (24-58)
2012 Prediction: Out
Jimmer Fredette is not going to change the Kings' fortunes that much.
They do have athletic guys like Tyreke Evans, but Sacramento is extremely limited defensively and doesn't have a solid big.
The Kings will miss the playoffs again. Hopefully Jimmer helps sell a few tickets to help keep the Kings in Sacramento.
San Antonio Spurs
27 of 302011: First seed, West (61-21)
2012 Prediction: In
They probably won't win 61 games again like last season, but they're an automatic shoo-in to make the playoffs.
The Spurs are too talented not to make it with guys like Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
Toronto Raptors
28 of 302011: Missed the playoffs, East (22-60)
2012 Prediction: Out
This might be the first season in a long time where the Toronto Maple Leafs have a better chance to make the playoffs than the Toronto Raptors—and the Leafs are pretty terrible, too.
The Raptors have a bunch of Linas Kleiza's and Amir Johnson's on their team, and Andrea Bargnani has proven he was a bust as the first overall pick.
It'll be a long season for the Raptors.
Utah Jazz
29 of 302011: Missed the playoffs, West (39-43)
2012 Prediction: Out
For the first time in a long time, the Utah Jazz will open a season without legendary coach Jerry Sloan.
With Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer long gone, the Jazz are a rebuilding team. They got a pretty good deal from the Nets in the Williams trade, but it'll take a few years for the draft picks to develop and make an impact for the team.
Washington Wizards
30 of 302011: Missed the playoffs, East (23-59)
2012 Prediction: Out
Just because they have a new logo doesn't mean they have a new team; Washington is still terrible.
The Wizards were 3-38 on the road last season, and they still have to wait a few years until John Wall develops and is able to carry the team to the playoffs.
