NBA Season 2010-2011

[Ridders]

With the pre-season done, it's time we got this baby started.

Don't think I've ever been this pumped for an upcoming NBA season. The Heat are obviously a big part of that. Seeing Lebron and Wade play together is going to be something special.

Will also be interesting to see how the Lakers and Celtics back up this season. Celtics did a pretty good job in the off-season of keeping the core together while adding some much needed size, especially with Perkins hurt. LA also did a good job of adding to the bench with some nice additions.

The West, as always, will be tough and we could again see 50 wins as the minimum to make the playoffs in the West.

The top half of the East has gotten stronger (except for Cleveland obviously).

Might as well throw out some predictions;

MVP - Chris Paul - Given the way the media has turned on Lebron, I think it's almost a lock that he won't make it 3 in a row. Durant's probably the favourite as it is, but if Paul can put together a typical Cp3 season (20 points, 10 + assists, 2 + steals and good percentages), and the Hornets can have a better than expected year, I think he can sneak in.

Scoring Title - Durant - Given the way the summer played out, it's his to lose atm. Can't see anyone seriously challenging him

Rookie of the Year - Blake Griffin - Toss up between Wall and Griffin, but since the Clippers will probably do better and have a better record than the Wizards, I think Blake get's it.

Defensive Player of the Year - Dwight Howard - Lol why not. Although voters may eventually get bored of him, can't really think of anyone to challenge him.

Most Improved - Kevin Love - Not necessarily a case of him improving, more him getting enough minutes to shine. Seems to be improving his 3-point range, which will just make him a harder matchup.

Sleeper Team - New Orleans - Tiger's comments about them in the other thread has got me re-thinking them. And since I have Cp3 as the MVP, I'm counting on a bounce-back season for the Hornets.

NBA Finals - Think we'll see (again) a Lakers vs Celtics Final. Celtics have great depth. This is their rotation atm;

Rondo
Ray Allen
Pierce
KG
J. Oneal?

Shaq
Delonte West
Nate Robinson
Big Baby
Perkins (when he comes back)
Marquis Daniels (if he can stay healthy)

That's one ridiculously deep team.

I think LA also come out of the West. I guess people are expecting the Thunder to be LA's number 1 challenger. And for good reason, given their tough series in Round 1. Lakers will come through methinks.

NBA Champions - Lakers - Phil Jackson likes to win titles in 3-peats, so why not finish the sequence. Also gets Kobe to 6 rings.

Can't wait!

 

[Goldthorpe]

MVP: Kevin Durrant
Scoring Title: Kevin Durrant, 32.1 ppg
Rookie of the Year: John Wall
Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard
Most Improved Player: Roy Hibbert
Sleeper Team: Indiana Pacers
Coach of the Year: Avery Johnson
6th Man: Lamar Odom
NBA Finals: Lakers vs. Heat
NBA Champions: Lakers 4-1

 

[Ridders]

Guess the Blazers will be hoping for another down year from New Orleans

The Portland Trail Blazers have found a trade to create some extra roster room, agreeing Saturday to deal guard Jerryd Bayless to the New Orleans Hornets for a conditional future first-round pick.


The Portland Oregonian reported that the 2011 first-round pick that the Blazers will receive from New Orleans is protected 1-to-7 in the 2011 draft and 1-to-8 in 2012, 2013 and 2014. The Blazers will thus take ownership of the pick in the June draft as long as it is No. 8 or lower.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5720436

 

[batiarmy]

Some of my rather semi bold predicitions

Heat loses to Celtics in Eastern Conference championship
Kevin Durant for MVP
Blake Griffin for ROY
Amare will average 30 ppg and lead the Knicks to playoffs
Ray Allen will hit 200 three pointers
Thunder get a top 3 seed in the west

 

[Ridders]

Amare's an interesting one. Bit conflicted on how he'll go at the Knicks. On one side, I can't imagine moving away from Nash can be good for any big man. On the flipside, he's kinda stagnated for a while and hasn't really put together a monster season, like many of us expected he would.

Maybe a change of scenery is what he needed?

 

[edabomb]

NBA Finals - Think we'll see (again) a Lakers vs Celtics Final. Celtics have great depth. This is their rotation atm;

Rondo
Ray Allen
Pierce
KG
J. Oneal?

Shaq
Delonte West
Nate Robinson
Big Baby
Perkins (when he comes back)
Marquis Daniels (if he can stay healthy)

That's one ridiculously deep team.

I think Shaq will get the start over Jermaine, Jermaine is even more shot that Shaq IMO. That team certainly destroys the Heat for depth, should be a great series if they meet in the playoffs.

I'd still take the Heat though, Rondo would need a massive series for the Celts to win IMO.

 

[batiarmy]

Amare's an interesting one. Bit conflicted on how he'll go at the Knicks. On one side, I can't imagine moving away from Nash can be good for any big man. On the flipside, he's kinda stagnated for a while and hasn't really put together a monster season, like many of us expected he would.

Maybe a change of scenery is what he needed?

I think he'll really come into his own without the shadow of Nash. But that's just my two cents..

Felton is another name in their roster who I think will have a break-out season, he'll really fit in with the Knicks and if Danilo can continue to improve they'll be a real threat.

With their current roster I think they can get in at 7th spot but if they can make some mid season trades ie. pull in Melo without too much of a loss I think they'll have potential to push for a higher spot.

 

[Ridders]

I think he'll really come into his own without the shadow of Nash. But that's just my two cents..

Felton is another name in their roster who I think will have a break-out season, he'll really fit in with the Knicks and if Danilo can continue to improve they'll be a real threat.

With their current roster I think they can get in at 7th spot but if they can make some mid season trades ie. pull in Melo without too much of a loss I think they'll have potential to push for a higher spot.

That's certainly possible. From what I've read over the years, Amare's always wanted to be the leader of a team. Certainly wasn't the case in Phoenix with Nash there. For the time being, he is the unquestioned leader of the Knicks. Could cause him to raise his game.

The lower seeds in the East are generally mediocre so I could see the Knicks making the playoffs.

Atm the top 6 would look something like;

Miami
Boston
Orlando
Atlanta
Chicago
Milkwaukee

...after which there is a significant drop off.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

That's an interesting trade for the Hornets - just at the time they need to be stashing picks and expiring contracts, they go and pick up a mediocre player and trade away their next first round pick. I don't mind Bayless but they've already got Pargo & Thornton as the scoring combo guards off the bench, they desparately need some size or some shooting on the wings and they pick up a slashing guard? Strange.

Anyway, onto predictions:

MVP: A few to choose from, but I'll go with LeBron. He's a lock to average something like a 28-8-7 and if the Heat win 55 or more, that would be enough.

MIP: Felton. In D'Antoni's offence, he should go for something like a 15-9 or better.

ROTY: Griffin. It's only pre-season footage but check out the highlights. He's going for a double-double every night and could seriously threaten a 20-10 season.

DPOTY: Howard. There's no elite perimeter stopper that I think could challenge him and he's the best defensive big man by a long way.

Sleeper: It's either the Hornets or the Clippers. Hornets have a tremendous starting 5 but no depth, Clippers have tremendous bigs, guards and depth but no wings. Both should improve on last year and should go close to topping 50 wins.

Bizarro Sleeper: Thunder. Don't see them winning 50 which will cost Durant MVP.

Finals: Magic & Spurs. Bucking the trend here but the Heat won't be there this year and I think they Magic will be primed for another shot at the Celtics, who will miss Tony Allen and his defence in the big games more than people realise. I'm expecting Kobe to continue his decline and now that he's got a ring I'm expecting Artest to implode. Memorably. I also think Bobby Simmons is going to surprise people this year, not in a "my God he's fantastic" way but in a "he really complements the Spurs and provides exactly what they need - defence and corner 3s" way. They're also scary deep. Jefferson to improve on last year and Duncan's last hurrah as well. Spurs in 7.

 

[Special K]

I really like the trade for the Hornets after they gave away their back up PG. Bayless wil be able to fill that spot and provide help for them behind CP3... They give up a pick but they get more in return then what they did for their 11th this year (Pondexter and Green from the sixers it worked out to be).

MVP - Durant. The lovefest has just started!

Scoring Title - Durant - Pretty easy to guess now LBJ has to share points with Wade and Bosh

Rookie of the Year - John Wall - More flashy than Griffin and he will have good stats

Defensive Player of the Year - Dwight Howard - It is Dwight....

Most Improved - Michael Beasley - Would be nice for the Wolves if this happened.

Sleeper Team - New Orleans in the west and if healthy the Pacers in the east could grab 7th or 8th.

NBA Finals - Lakers vs Heat - Heat make it through the east but don't have the depth to get through the Lakers. All depends on the records and the match ups in the east as to who makes it out of the East. Boston finished with what the 4th record last year? That could throw a spanner in the works again if they finish 4th or below (or if the heat and magic don't finish 1,2 etc)

NBA Champions - Lakers

 

[nibbs]

lebron james is a lackey of holc proportions

 

[Ridders]

Would be nice to see Duncan make one final serious title challenge.

Has been a bit quite playoff-wise in the last couple of years.

 

[batiarmy]

Tips for the season opener?

Bias aside I think my Celtics can get up against the Heat.. simply based on the fact that the Big 3 haven't had much to gel together (I think they'll be a real force around January/February) and I highly doubt they'll come and blow away one of the best gelled outfits in the NBA.

Tip: Boston by 6

Bring on the NBA season

 

[Ridders]

Yeah Miami haven't had an ideal lead-up to the season. The Big 3 only playing a total of 3 minutes together in pre-season (before Wade got hurt), plus Miller getting hurt.

Despite that, imo they'll come through and beat the Celtics. Just think the buzz and excitement off playing together will get them through.

 

[Fast Eddie]

MVP: Lebron James
Scoring Title: Go a little left field and go Stoudamire
Rookie of the Year: John Wall
Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard
Most Improved Player: Collison or Love
Sleeper Team: Clippers
6th Man: Crawford
NBA Champions: Heat

 

[applesauce]

11hours till the Heat v Celtics!!!

 

[ByRd]

MVP: Kevin Durant
Scoring Title: Kevin Durant
Rookie of the Year: Blake Griffin
Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard
Most Improved Player: Darren Collison
Sleeper Team: Pacers (i think they will get the #8 seed in East)
6th Man: Not really sure, Ginobli
NBA Champions: Lakers to beat Celtics in a rematch

 

[Tiger Hawk]

I think the Celtics will win tomorrow as well. Pierce guards LeBron as well as most, Shaq is only two years removed from dropping 45 on a Chris Bosh-led Raptors, Wade won't be at full strength & with no Miller the Heat are looking very thin.

 

[ByRd]

Celtics and Lakers to get up tomorrow

 

[Ridders]

Not too sure how LA will start. Hasn't been a great pre-season (understandable). Could see Houston pipping this one.