NBA Atlantic Division Predictions + Season Preview – Cappers Picks Blog

2010-2011 NBA Atlantic Division Predictions + Season Futures

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With regular season NBA odds just around the corner, it’s time to start handicapping the division races.

The Southwest Division boasts two legitimate contenders—Dallas and San Antonio—who may be watching their windows of opportunity close.

Boston Celtics

Last season: 50-32, first in the Atlantic
BetED.com odds
NBA championship odds: +700
Regular season wins: Over 54.5 (-110), under 54.5 (-120)
Player additions: Jermaine O’Neal, Shaquille O’Neal, Delonte West,
Player losses: Tony Allen

Boston went big in the offseason, adding the O’Neals at center—Shaquille and Jermaine. Neither is the dominant force of his younger years but, combined, Jermaine and Shaq should be a pretty respectable tandem in the middle, especially since neither will be relied upon for a ton of scoring.

Which could be a problem this year. The Celtics were 19^th in scoring last year, and the main core returns intact. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett are all clearly in decline, so even more weight will be placed on Rajon Rondo’s shoulders this year. That’s just fine, as Rondo is one of the league’s most dynamic players. Boston is headed back to the playoffs, and there’s nobody in the Atlantic to even challenge for the division title.

New York Knicks

Last season: 29-53, third in the Atlantic
BetEd.com odds
NBA championship odds: +4500
Regular season wins: Over 35.5 (-120), under 35.5 (-110)
Player additions: Amare Stoudemire, Raymond Felton, Roger Mason, Jr., Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf
Player losses: Al Harrington, David Lee, Tracy McGrady

Don’t look now, but there’s actually some hope in New York. Not NBA Championship hope, but playoff hope, anyway. New York’s plan to sign LeBron James failed, but Amare Stoudemire is a solid consolation prize. He’ll reunite with former Suns coach Mike D’Antoni.

Felton and Randolph are also intriguing additions. Felton has been rock solid for the past half-decade with Charlotte, averaging 13.3 points and 6.5 assists per game. Randolph averaged 11.6 points per game in limited action with Golden State last season and could be poised for a breakout.

Expect D’Atoni’s club to score lots of points—New York already ranked ninth in scoring last season and should be even better this year—and make a very strong push for a low playoff spot.

Philadelphia 76ers

Last season: 27-55, fourth in the Atlantic
BetED.com odds
NBA championship odds: +10000
Regular season wins: Over 34.5 (-140), under 34.5 (-110)
Player additions: Evan Turner, Andres Nocioni
Player losses: Sam Dalembert, Willie Green

With most of last year’s team carrying over, Sixers fans are hoping for a boost from second-overall pick Evan Turner. Unfortunately, there are already rumblings that Turner could be headed for bust territory—never a good sign when your guy hasn’t even played a single regular-season game.

If Philadelphia really wants to turn things around, it needs to look in-house. Elton Brand was much-celebrated when he was signed as a free agent a few years ago, but he’s been brutal. Brand is averaging just 13.3 points per game since joining the City of Brotherly Love, well off his career mark of 19.3.

New Jersey Nets

Last season: 12-70, fifth in the Atlantic
BetEd.com odds
NBA championship odds: +12500
Regular season wins: Over 24.5 (-120), under 24.5 (-110)
Player additions: Troy Murphy, Jordan Farmar, Sean May, Travis Outlaw, Derrick Favors, Damion Jones
Player losses: Yi Jianlian, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Tony Battie

The Nets’ season went from horrendous to apocalyptic when they lost the lottery and a shot at John Wall. Instead, New Jersey slipped to third in the draft and settled for power forward Derrick Favors. Favors is nowhere near ready now but, someday, he could form a nice duo with Brook Lopez—but his ceiling isn’t near Wall’s.

Speaking of Lopez, he was one of New Jersey’s few bright spots last year, averaging 18.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in his second year in the league. He can’t carry this team alone, though, so it’ll be another long year in Jersey.

Toronto Raptors

Last season: 40-42, second in the Atlantic
BetED.com odds
NBA championship odds: +10000
Regular season wins: Over 26.5 (-115), under 26.5 (-115)
Player additions: Amir Johnson, Linas Kleiza, Leandro Barbosa
Player losses: Chris Bosh, Marco Belinelli

Calling Toronto a train wreck is offensive to train wrecks everywhere. The team’s franchise player, Chris Bosh, fled for Miami, leaving the Raptors with basically empty cupboards. This year’s starting five will probably be Jose Calderon, Amir Johnson, DeMar DeRozan, Linas Kleiza and Andrea Bargnani. That doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, does it?

The Raptors will be hard-pressed to win much more than 20 games this season, especially with the fan base rather cantankerous after Bosh was allowed to slip away for nothing. To be honest, the team’s best case scenario is to crash and burn so it has a chance at the first-overall pick in 2011.