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NBA Southeast Division Predictions + Season Preview

Betting on the 2010-2011 NBA regular season gets underway soon, with all the NBA Odds pretty much online in the nba sportsbooks, up next we are handicapping the NBA’s Southeast division…with 2010 season nba gambling predictions…

2010-2011 NBA Southeast 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 Southeast Division looks loaded this season.

It already featured three playoff teams from a year ago; one of those teams is now the NBA Championship favorite, as the Miami Heat added LeBron James and Chris Bosh over the summer.

Miami Heat

Last season: 47-35, third in the Southeast
BetEd.com odds
NBA championship odds: +125
Regular season wins: Over 65 (-105), under 65 (-125)
Player additions: LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Mike Miller, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Eddie House
Player losses: Jermaine O’Neal, Dorrell Wright, Michael Beasley, Daequan Cook

Usually when a team completely overhauls its roster, the impact takes a year or two. That won’t be the case in Miami, where the Heat have completed one of the most impressive and shocking overhauls in NBA history. LeBron James and Chris Bosh join Dwyane Wade to form a trio that many believe will carry Miami to a record-setting season.

Signing those three superstars yielded an unexpected benefit for Miami; players started taking discounts because they wanted to play with James and Co. Many figured the Heat couldn’t fill out the bottom of its roster with so much money tied up in James, Wade and Bosh, but role players jumped at the opportunity to be a part of history and left money on the table to sign with Miami.

Some NBA fans are already sick of this team, but it is no doubt the most intriguing club of 2010-11. Will the trio function harmoniously and shatter the Bulls’ regular-season record for wins? Or will they squabble for opportunities and derail a potential championship? It’s certainly looking like the former is a legit possibility.

Orlando Magic

Last season: 59-23, first in the Southeast
BetED.com odds
NBA championship odds: +900
Regular season wins: Over 54.5 (-125), under 54.5 (-105)
Player additions: Quentin Richardson, Chris Duhon
Player losses: Matt Barnes

The Magic have flirted with greatness over the past few seasons, yet they’ve been unable to cap off a year with a championship. Last year’s roster has been left in place, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing after winning 59 games—but a little risky considering the upgrades made by division rival Miami.

Orlando is expecting more from Vince Carter last season, but expecting anything from the moody swingman is probably a death sentence. Carter struggled in his first season with the Magic, particularly against Boston in the Eastern final.

Dwight Howard could be in line for a big improvement. Howard has always been a good, but not great, offensive threat. He spent extra time a camps during the offseason, however, working on his low-post game. Should Howard suddenly develop a new offensive flair, the Magic would be infinitely more dangerous.

Atlanta Hawks

Last season: 53-29, second in the Southeast
BetEd.com odds
NBA championship odds: +4500
Regular season wins: Over 47 (-115), under 47 (-115)
Player additions: Josh Powell
Player losses: None

Atlanta is good, but there’s certainly nothing in-house that indicates the team could be great—and good isn’t going to cut it in the much-improved Eastern Conference. That makes it all the more puzzling that the Hawks retained the core that has won 100 games over the past two years (good) but failed to advance past the conference semifinals (not great).

The team made one notable change, however—at head coach. Mike Woodson is gone, replaced by long-time assistant Larry Drew. Can he simply shuffle the deck and produce a legitimate title contender?

What the Hawks lack in pure star power, they make up for in depth. Joe Johnson led the team in scoring (21.3 points per game), but he got plenty of help from Jamal Crawford (18.0), Josh Smith (15.7) and Al Horford (14.2).

Washington Wizards

Last season: 26-56, fifth in the Southeast
BetED.com odds
NBA championship odds: +10000
Regular season wins: Over 33.5 (-105), under 33.5 (-125)
Player additions: John Wall, Yi Jianlian, Kirk Hinrich, Josh Howard
Player losses: Randy Foye, Mike Miller, Earl Boykins

The Wizards made the playoffs in four years straight from 2004 to 2007, but they’ve completely capitulated over the last two seasons. Most of the core has been jettisoned—Antwan Jamison and Caron Butler were dealt last season—and Gilbert Arenas surely would have followed had he not been injured/carrying an albatross of a contract.

So now the rebuilding project officially begins. John Wall is one of the most exciting rookies to enter the league in awhile. His athleticism is jaw-dropping and he’s the shot in the arm Washington needed to start over. Wall hasn’t been particularly impressive in preseason, but it will come with time.

Don’t be surprised to see Arenas shipped this season—if Washington can find someone to take him. The Wizards are hoping Arenas can get healthy enough to score a few buckets and entice a contender to gamble on him.

Charlotte Bobcats

Last season: 44-38, fourth in the Southeast
BetED.com odds
NBA championship odds: +7500
Regular season wins: Over 38.5 (-115), under 38.5 (-115)
Player additions: Tyrus Thomas, Shaun Livingston
Player losses: Raymond Felton, Theo Ratliff, Tyson Chandler, Erick Dampier

The Bobcats may very well be the most boring team in the NBA. Hey, at least they’re first in something.

Charlotte was actually a defense stalwart last season, finishing first in fewest points allowed. Unfortunately, the Bobcats were horrific with the ball in their hands, ranking 28th in scoring. Nothing has been done to alleviate the problem and, if anything, the Bobcats could be headed for a regression. Point guard Raymond Felton was allowed to walk during free agency; he took 12.1 points and 5.6 assists per game with him.

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By Ian Van Den Hurk

Ian Van Den Hurk has covered amateur and pro sports for years, including a successful run handicapping anything from football to mixed martial arts. Looking for more sports betting tips and expert sports handicapping articles from Ian V? We've got your back...