Each NBA Team’s Best and Worst Case Scenario for the 2010-11 Season
The 2010-11 NBA season promises to be quite predictable—if you believe the sports book in Vegas, that is.
Miami is listed as the odds on favorite to win the title at +175 and the Lakers aren’t far behind at +300.
Other than those two, no other team has better 10-to-1 odds to walk home with the Larry O’Brien trophy.
So can’t we just pretty much pencil in Miami and Los Angeles in the Finals and call it a day? Well, odds are (pun intended)…yes, we can.
But things don’t always unfold the way we think the should.
Injuries happen (see: Kevin Garnett and Manu Ginobili in 2008, Isiah Thomas in 1988…hell, even Bill Russell in 1958); Midseason trades swing conferences that are up for grabs (like Rasheed Wallace with the Pistons in 2004), or lineups that are great on papers just don’t mesh well together (something along the lines of the 2003-04 Lakers with Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Gary Payton, and Karl Malone).
Obviously, any of these factors could apply to this year’s campaign—maybe Andrew Bynum just can’t stay healthy and Pau Gasol goes down a few weeks before the playoffs and isn’t 100 percent in the postseason.
Maybe the Bulls somehow swing a deal for Carmelo Anthony while hanging onto Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer.
Or maybe, in a half-court game, the Heat just can’t generate enough offense to consistently score against teams with a significant interior presence, such as Boston, Orlando, or Los Angeles (not to say it will happen…just that it could happen).
So perhaps Miami and L.A. are destined to meet in the Finals, but the margin of error is small enough that if something disastrous happens, it opens the door for a handful of other teams.
Let’s take a look at how each team would fare in a perfect world where all their stars properly aligned and how it would turn out if all hell broke loose.
Starting in alphabetical order.
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Carlos Boozer Expecting Championship For Bulls This Season
All the attention in the NBA this off-season has gone to The Miami Heat and the defending Champion L.A. Lakers and rightfully so. Carlos Boozer though, isn’t ready to just crown the Lakers as Champs or even the Heat as Eastern Conference Champs. He believes his new Chicago Bulls squad will be competing on the [...]
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In Limbo: Five NBA Teams That Are Complete Wild Cards Next Season
This Article Courtesy Of Rip City Report
We are coming up quick on the beginning of NBA training camps across the nation.
Each team enters camp with expectations, and some are expected to do well, while others are expected to do poorly.
That is just how these things work, but sometimes, there are teams that slide into a gray area.
And that gray area is the “what the hell is this team going to do” area. You look at a teams roster and just think, they either have it or they don’t. In this case, you have teams that you cannot picture anything else but uncertainty.
That is what these teams have to offer, uncertainty.
Thank You For Reading.
This Article Courtesy Of Rip City Report
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Eight NBA Players Who Could Win Their First MVP This Season
Kobe Bryant and Lebron James have won the MVP the last three years. Pretty much it’s been between the two of them each year, though Durant finished second in the voting last year.
Other active winners are Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, and TIm Duncan. While they are all still playing well, the likelihood is that this year’s winner will be a first time winner, and it’s more wide open than it’s ever been before.
LeBron’s new surroundings make him less likely to be a winner. He no longer is the undisputed “most important man to his team.” Kobe its getting older, but that’s not why. Last year’s finals showed just how much his teammates matter.
That takes absolutely nothing away from Kobe to say, I just give appropriate tribute to the other members of what is, in my opinion, the most well-rounded team in basketball. Either Kobe or James’ could win it, but these are seven players I think could be taking home the hardware for the first time.
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2010 NBA Season: The Five Scariest Teams in the NBA and Why
These are teams who, no matter the circumstances, will not let you take a night off. Their coaches won’t allow it. Yes, the Lakers, Celts, Magic and Heat are the consensus cream of the crop; however, these teams are nipping very much at their heels —hungry, determined, ready to take the next leap.
No, they are not championship ready just yet; but, overlook them at your peril.
As Aristotle stated in his tome Metaphysica “The whole is more than the sum of its parts.” If nothing else, the emergence of these teams should serve to put the league on notice.
5. Houston Rockets – Yes, them. How is that health can determine so much? With the exception of a select few (see last year’s Nets), a healthy team is a scary team. The Rockets are a prime example.
Undermanned and overmatched for much of the last two years due to injuries plaguing their 7’6″ centerpiece Yao Ming, the Rockets have done remarkably well adjusting on the fly. Just two short years ago, they took the eventual world champs to seven games. However, this is not that team—it’s better.
Despite losing Ron Artest and the ever injured and unable to make it past the first round Tracy McGrady, Coach Adleman and GM Darryl Morey have assembled some very formidable talent.
The recent move of Trevor Ariza to the New Orleans Hornets for Courtney Lee results in improved wing defensive versatility and frees up considerable cap space ensuring them future flexibility. Moreover Martin, Brooks, Battier, and the return of Yao make this team scarier than it’s been in a long time.
4. Milwaukee Bucks – Two words—Scott Skiles. Equal parts taskmaster and teacher, Skiles has managed to do the seemingly impossible—make the Bucks relevant again. This pint sized, no nonsense, defensive minded coach has created an environment that is very much a reflection of his personality—one that the team is clearly buying into.
Individually, these players more than most on this list, do not inspire fear in anyone.
Skiles, however, is getting the most out of his developing players, and this team is the very definition of synergy. To be perfectly honest, everyone, including me, was surprised when the term Fear the Dear actually developed substance in the 2010 playoffs.
Despite losing their best player, a newly revived and defensive minded Andrew Bogut, to season ending injury, the Bucks created a considerable amount of noise. Spearheaded by developing phenom, Brandon Jennings, John (I play well after the initial trade) Salmons, and a cast of feisty in the mold of the coach role players, the Bucks put real fear into the heart of the Atlanta Hawks during the postseason.
A returning Bogut and much improved Jennings should bode nicely for the upcoming season. That is, if Salmons plays to his capability.
3. Portland Trailblazers – This team is young, long, and talented. Mikhail Prokhorov’s advertisement notwithstanding, they were the original blueprint. The Blazers assembled a team replete with youth, athleticism, length, shooting, and defense. It appeared there was nothing in their future short of upside…
Then the injury bug bit. No less than seven members of the team suffered major injuries, none more debilitating than the loss of their overall number one pick Greg Oden. Since his arrival to the NBA, Oden has been injured limiting the Blazers ability to truly see what they are capable of.
During the 2009-2010 season, the injury bug seemingly ran roughshod through the organization: Brandon Roy, Greg Oden, Joel Pryzbilla, Travis Outlaw, Rudy Fernandez, and Nicolas Batum were just a few players out for significant periods of time. And lest we forget, Coach Nate McMillan suffered an injury to his Achilles tendon.
Is this the year they are finally inoculated against injury and turn the corner?
If so, they are one of the most complete and deep teams in the league. Despite having hardly any of their most important parts, they gave the Phoenix Suns a considerable fight in the playoffs.
As a Sonic, Coach McMillan was a defensive minded player. He brings his grit, toughness, and attention to detail to the team. Refuse to play defense and ride the pine. Play out of the system and ride the pine. McMillan does not suffer fools lightly and many have found out the hard way (see Jerryd Bayless and the recently fined Spaniard looking to exit, Rudy Fernandez).
Additionally, the natural born leadership of Brandon Roy helped to propel this team to one of the top 10 offenses in the league last year. The recent addition of former Jazz player Wesley Matthews will only bolster this athletic and talented roster. This year, Roy returns rested along with big man Oden who has a mountain size chip on his shoulder and the desire to prove doubters wrong.
Should this be their first healthy season in years, teams are going to have their hands full.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder – If the Blazers designed the Blueprint, the Thunder perfected it. After taking the two-time champion Los Angeles Lakers to six games in the 2010 post season, I was nearly tempted to list this team as my number one. Having the youngest player to ever lead the league in scoring on your side doesn’t hurt either.
If Kevin Durant, as many have said, is the future, the future is now. At 6’11″ with a wingspan of 7’5″, a silky smooth stroke, and an unerring desire to improve, Durant, at the tender age of 21, appears poised to lead this team to great heights. Not only did he prove his commitment to the team in a small time market by re-signing to little fanfare, but Coach Krzyzewski’s appointment of Durant as Team USA’s go to guy in this summer’s FIBA tournament further serves to bolster the point.
In fact, many like TNT analyst Kenny Smith consider Durant to be the consensus number three in the NBA behind only Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
The Thunder are the youngest team in the league from top to bottom and already remarkably good. It helps that they have a solid pool of talent where each and every player knows his role and plays it well.
Point guard Russell Westbrook has emerged as a crucial component of this rapidly developing team. During the first round of the playoffs, Westbrook demonstrated his improvement as one of the league’s top guards by using his quickness to regularly carve up the Lakers defense. His inspired play, along with the hustle and commitment of his teammates, presented a number of challenges for the defending champions. The sooner he can figure out his jump shot, the sooner the team will make believers out of everyone.
The chemistry, as well as the rate of maturity, of this young team can be directly attributed to Coach Scott Brooks and the unselfish beyond his years leadership of Durant. This is an ego free environment and a team that enjoys playing together, so it should come as no surprise that this team has experienced such a meteoric ascension.
Despite being the youngest team in the NBA, the trio of Durant, Westbrook, and Jeff Green combined for over 5000 points—more than any other trio in the league. Now that’s scary.
1. Chicago Jazz – Yup. The Chicago Jazz. Maybe they should swap names. Surely there has got to be more Jazz music in Chicago than in the Mormon dominated state of Utah; and, I’m willing to bet there are more bulls in Utah than in Chicago (though the ranchers of the great state of Illinois might beg to differ).
Their uniforms say Bulls, but they are not the Bulls as we knew them. They are much more than that. Shakespeare said it best,
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose. By any other name would smell as sweet;
Perhaps William Shakespeare was referring to Chicago’s number one draft pick and 2009 consensus NBA rookie of the year, Derrick Rose. If so, things are looking very sweet indeed.
Rose is a year older and a year wiser. He’s quietly improving his game and becoming increasingly more comfortable with the mantle of leadership. Moreover, with the experience he’s surely gaining as Team USA starting point guard this summer, many would argue he’s going to be better.
The fact that Rose continues to be surrounded by mainstays Luol (it appears I’m finally healthy) Deng and Jakim (my motor never stops running) Noah can only bode well for this dramatically improved team. And they still have Taj (I’m only getting better) Gibson, who will likely now come off a very deep bench.
Management deserves nothing short of a huge pat on the back for assembling what has to be considered one of the strongest and most complete teams in the league post free agency.
They literally grabbed several of the most potent pieces of the Utah Jazz while retaining the best assets of what made them the Bulls.
These are players who have defined roles and come from a system built on toughness, hustle and discipline.
Chief among them is Carlos Boozer. Boozer gives Chicago a consistent (unlike Deng) low post presence guaranteed to put up 20 and 10. While sharpshooter Kyle Korver dramatically improves the team’s ability to stretch defenses with his outside touch, slasher Ronnie Brewer ups the ante on the team’s athleticism. Chicago did exceptionally well to snatch up a trio of talent groomed under notorious workhorse Jerry Sloan.
Finally, the addition of Keith Bogans (no doubt a selection of Thibs), gives Chicago a Bowen-like defender to harass athletic wings whether or not they come from South Beach.
In truth, Chicago has acquired representatives from some of best defenses in the league having mined the Celts chief defensive architect, players from the Jazz and the Spurs.
Sure losing, Heinrich to speculative gambling was an obvious bump in the road, but far from debilitating. From top to bottom, the combination of speed, power, athleticism, defense, rebounding, shooting, youth, and savvy make this team ridiculously scary.
No they are not proven in the way the Celtics or Magic are. And no, they are not as sexy as the Heat. However, they most definitely leapfrogged the overrated and clearly one-dimensional Hawks. More importantly, they are a matchup nightmare for nearly anyone.
Chicago finished 10th in defensive efficiency last season, and that was before the improvement in personnel. While not world beaters just yet, Chicago has the makings of a team that will cause many to have sleepless nights.
If newly anointed Coach Tom Thibideau and his defensive prowess travels, this will be a very scary team that no one will be happy to face for many years to come.
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NBA 2010-11: 10 Young Players Poised For A Breakout Season
Year after year, whether it be a trade or circumstance, there are always a handful of promising young talent on the verge of breaking out.
This year is no different.
After the NBA landscape drastically changed this past summer in arguably the biggest free agent class ever, well over a dozen teams are looking to turn their fortunes around.
Instead of splashy free agent signings, most teams will turn to the young players already on their team to lead them into a new era.
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NBA Rumors: What Role Will Anthony Randolph Play on the Knicks This Season?
As training camp nears for the Knicks, the questions surrounding the team shift from debating who will be acquired to who will battling it out for minutes in the rotation.
Anthony Randolph, the Knicks’ most heralded acquisition besides Amare Stoudemire this summer, will enter training camp unsure of his role. Will he start or provide that spark off the bench?
The Knicks haven’t figured it out yet.
Assuming that Randolph is still a member of the Knicks when training camp begins (the Knicks’ desperate desire for Rudy Fernandez has dragged Randolph’s name into the rampant rumors), he will be battling Ronny Turiaf for a spot in the starting lineup.
While the question may not be who the better player is, Randolph will have to prove he is a better fit next to Stoudemire out the gate, as opposed to the defensive-minded Turiaf.
Randolph already has a lot to live up to. Many have been forecasting him as the NBA’s breakout star this season. Whether or not he can live up to his potential in front of the critical New York City media (not to mention dealing with the tremendous pressure of helping the Knicks return to the playoffs) remains to be seen.
Randolph’s lengthy figure does help him guard different body types on defense,. However, that same lengthy figure would force Amare Stoudemire to play center, a move that weakens the Knicks defensively.
Turiaf (who will immediately enter camp as one of the Knicks’ stronger defensive presences) appears to have the edge. Pairing him up with Stoudemire creates a nice balance of talent up front. It also allows Stoudemire to play power forward, his natural position.
Randolph would add more firepower to Coach D’Antoni’s offensive punch, but with Stoudemire already starting next to the likes of Raymond Felton and Danilo Gallinari, that added firepower may be better suited leading the second unit off the bench.
Although Randolph’s offense would undoubtedly be a boost off the bench, so would Turiaf’s intense defense. As Turiaf stands to receive anywhere from 20-30 minutes per game regardless, the Knicks may be better off firing from all cylinders on offense (with Randolph starting) to begin the game in order to get ahead quickly.
Turiaf could always come in during clutch moments over the course of the game as a defensive stopper, leaving way for Randolph to start.
Nevertheless, D’Antoni proved time and time again last season that he will simply give the most minutes to whoever plays well. While carrying out that standard ruffled the feathers of multiple veterans last season, it also seems to be the most sensible thing to do.
If Randolph can find his niche and elevates his game like expected under D’Antoni, the minutes (and perhaps a starting spot) will certainly come his way.
For Keith’s Knicks coverage and much more, visit Knicks Journal.
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What Role Will Anthony Randolph Play on the Knicks This Season?
As training camp nears for the Knicks, the questions surrounding the team shift from debating whom will be acquired to who will battling it out for minutes in the rotation. Anthony Randolph, the Knicks most heralded acquisition besides Amare Stoudemire this summer, will enter training camp unsure of his role. Will he start or provide that spark off the bench? The Knicks haven’t figured it out yet. Assuming that Randolph is still a Knick when training camp begins (the Knicks’ desperate desire for Rudy Fernandez have dragged Randolph’s name into the ramped rumors), he will be battling Ronny Turiaf for a spot in the starting lineup. While the question may not be whom the better player is, Randolph will have to prove he is a better fit next to Stoudemire out the gate, as opposed to the defensive-minded Turiaf. He already has a lot to live up to. Many have been forecasting Randolph as the NBA’s breakout star this season. Whether or not he can live up to his potential in …
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NBA 2010-11: The 100 Biggest Questions Facing the NBA This Season
Now that we’ve entered September, it’s time to finally put NBA free agency in the rear view mirror. As much fun as it was watching LeBron light a torch to his reputation, we’ll put the “take my talents to South Beach” line in our pockets and move on towards next season.
We’ve got a new team of Super Friends down in Miami looking to dethrone the Lakers from NBA supremacy, a blossoming young team in Oklahoma City led by the youngest scoring champion in NBA history and 27 other NBA teams who will enter the preseason this year dreaming of winning an NBA title.
With all the free agent activity this summer, more uncertainty than ever seems to be floating around the NBA. Beyond the questions about a lockout next season, we’ve now got teams like the Knicks and the Heat who’ve redone their starting lineups to the point of being unrecognizable, and teams like the Spurs and the Celtics hoping their aging lineups can hold together for one more championship run.
For the past few weeks, I’ve been sitting down and pondering 100 questions facing the NBA in the 2010-11 season. From rookies to a 38-year-old Shaquille O’Neal, to 12-win teams to a team challenging the all-time single season wins record, the NBA promises to hit its fans with a captivating storyline on a nightly basis this season.
Without further adieu, here are the Top 100 questions for the 2010-11 NBA season, starting with No. 100.
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2010-2011 NBA Season: 10 Wild Cards Whose Play Could Alter the Playoff Landscape
It’s only September, yet almost everyone is ready to name the Miami Heat or the Los Angeles Lakers NBA Champions already.
It’s certainly a possibility that one of these two teams will take home the championship this season, especially if you look at the off-seasons that the two have had.
The Lakers, the reigning NBA Champions, only strengthened their core by adding veteran guard Steve Blake, swing-man Matt Barnes, and forward Theo Ratliff, while only losing Jordan Farmar.
And as for the Miami Heat, well they decided to blow up their entire roster and go out and add a couple guys you may have heard of: LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Mike Miller, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Juwan Howard, Eddie House, and Jamaal Magloire.
Adding those guys to Dwyane Wade, Udonis Haslem, Mario Chalmers, and a plethora of other guys makes the Miami Heat the sure-fire favorite in the Eastern Conference.
While those two teams have certainly re-tooled very nicely this off-season, I hate to just give them the championship because of how they look on paper.
So as Lee Corso says “Not So Fast My Friend”!
The rest of the NBA has been making acquisitions, changing their style of play, and preparing for these two NBA super-powers.
And while they have been making all of these moves, there have been a few people (like myself) who have taken notice of players that could change the new power structure in each of the two conferences.
After racking my brain, looking at the current power structure in each conference, and making a list: I have come up with the 10 players that I think could change things drastically in each conference.
So as always….sit back, relax, and feel free to comment with players that you think could change things up as well!
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