It’s nothing short of a Christmas miracle that the NBA 2011-2012 calender year actually gets underway today after a treacherous past several months where players, owners, and everyone in between were strapped in a legal drama that even the likes of VH1 wouldn’t renew for another season.
It’s been over half a year since any of us has seen any real competitive basketball (Euroleague or EuroBasket does not count I’m afraid) and even those with a faint memory of what the teams looked like will finding themselves scratching their head when they witness their teams being unveiled during the holiday period. With a host of high profile players ‘amnesty claused’, others exiled in lands far away and locked into leagues they can’t get out of, and a trade deadline that goes well into the season – expect the NBA season to provide many unexpected turns and twists. It’s hard therefore to provide NBA 2011-2012 prediction given this situation and considering teams have had only 15 days to prepare and 2 preseason games to try things out. Nevertheless here are 11 predictions for the 2011-2012 NBA season:
Much of the buzz around the Staples Center is currently revolving around the Clippers – but expect that to change when Superman arrives to Laker Land
Prediction 1: Playoff Teams From Eastern Conference
Miami Heat
Chicago Bulls
Boston Celtics
Orlando Magic
New York Knicks
Atlanta Hawks
New Jersey Nets
Philadelphia 76ers
Prediction 2: Playoff Teams From Western Conference
Oklahoma City Thunder
Dallas Mavericks
LA Lakers
LA Clippers
San Antonio Spurs
Memphis Grizzlies
Utah Jazz
Portland Trailblazers
Prediction 3: MVP
Chris Paul – If anyone has been following the career of Chris Paul closely, they will know that the 6’0 floor general out of Wake Forest has taken a below average team like the New Orleans Hornets and made them playoff contenders year after year in the tough Western Conference. He probably should have been the MVP the year Kobe Bryant won it as a “Lifetime Achievement Award”, but with bigs like DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin to throw alley-oops to, Lob Angeles should be one of the best teams this year with CP3 to thank.
Prediction 4: Coach of the Year
Vinny Del Negro – See above.
Prediction 5: Sixth Man of the Year
James Harden – Between the beastliness of Kendrick, the athleticism of Russell Westbrook, and the pure skills of Kevin Durant lies a player on the Oklahoma City Thunder that packs all three abilities into one. His name is James Harden and with his team likely to feature one of the best records in the NBA, it would be no surprise to see Harden walking away as the sixth man of the year.
Prediction 6: Most Improved Player
Tyler Hansbrough – The North Carolina product took some time to get his limited physical attributes to fit in to the NBA game, but the hardworking forward showed his potential in the playoff series against the Bulls. His will and relentlessness has made Hall of Famers out of lesser players (see Dennis Rodman) and expect Hansbrough to deliver results this year both on the stats sheet and off it.
Prediction 7: Defensive Player of the Year
Dwight Howard – This award should be retired until D12 starts losing his athleticism because currently it’s not even close.
Prediction 8: Shock Trade of the Year That Will Turn The NBA Landscape On It’s Head
The STYTWTNLOTH award will no doubt involve Dwight Howard and his impending trade to LA Lakers. Not only will it make the Lakers the favorites once more out in the West, but it should also turn the Magic into a dangerous team capable of disrupting the norm out in the East.
Prediction 9: Miami Heat: All Sizzle, No Steak
27 out of the 30 ‘experts’ on ESPN have Miami Heat to win it all this year with others seeing Oklahoma as favorites out in the West. Miami’s off-season is puzzling for me as their only notable addition was Shane Battier. They didn’t exactly need a small forward with LeBron James, Mike Miller and James Posey arguably their first, fourth and fifth player best player and all playing that same position. The plan apparently is to have Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Shane Battier closing out games. That’s fine and dandy but neither of those three can really guard a quick PG or a low post scorer, which was their problem in the first place. Chris Bosh gained some weight and looked decent in preseason action guarding Dwight Howard, but he’s not the tough-nosed anchor in the middle that is going to win you a championship.
Prediction 10: Eastern Conference Winner
Chicago Bulls – The Bulls were handily beaten by the Heat last year but it was a series where LeBron James played out of his skin and a time in Derrick Rose’s career where a loss like the one he suffered is only going to make him better. With Richard Hamilton in the mix, the Bulls can stop relying so much on Rose for buckets down the stretch, which should make the team all that tougher to handle. The one thing about Richard Hamilton is that he is one of the best players in coming off picks and creating scoring opportunities that way – something that negates the athletic prowess of the Heat’s stellar perimeter defense.
Prediction 11: 2012 Champions
LA Lakers – This is a gamble, because it assumes that Dwight Howard will indeed be traded to the Lakers like many expect. Not many people are talking about the addition of Jason Kapono, but I expect him to have a great year and he’s a piece the Lakers have been missing for many years. The point guard position is still a problem, with Derek Fisher an ankle twist away from campaigning to take David Stern’s job and Shannon Brown off to Phoenix – but with Dwight Howard clogging up the middle, that deficiency should be limited somewhat. Also don’t underestimate a rested and hungry Kobe Bryant, who has in the past performed at his best with his personal life under the microscope. If Metta World Peace has a solid season and Mitch Kupchak delivers behind the curtain, then expect the Lakers to go all the way with a motivated Mike Brown guiding the way.
That wraps up our 2011 2012 NBA preview and predictions. For thoughts and reactions, sound off in the comments below.