NBA Look Ahead to 2011

As we head into 2011 I'd like to take a look at the NBA landscape. Some teams are performing just as we expected while others are playing at a different level than was anticipated - for better or worse. We have teams like San Antonio and New York that are exceeding expectations. The Spurs have remained healthy and young enough to get off to a blistering 26-4 start. While the Knicks have found a dynamic duo in newcomers to the Big Apple, Raymond Felton and Amare Stoudamire, and have also watched players like Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler mature before our eyes. The Orlando Magic went through a terrible 2-8 stretch that caused them to blow up their team and add the likes of Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson, and Hedo Turkoglu. And of course we have the 2 teams that have had all eyes on them in the Lakers and Heat. After a rough 9-8 start the Heat have hit their stride and look like they will be the force we thought they would be. The Lakers have been up and down but have just gotten the return of Andrew Bynum and promise to be right there in the end as they look for another 3-peat.

Below is a look at how I expect the final standings to look like. The projected records are a combination of the teams' current pace based off their winning percentage and my preseason predictions.

East
1. Boston 63-19
2. Miami 62-20
3. Orlando 55-27
4. Chicago 54-28
5. Atlanta 49-33
6. New York 44-38
7. Milwaukee 40-42
8. Philadelphia 33-39
9. Indiana 31-51
10. Charlotte 31-51
11. New Jersey 27-55
12. Cleveland 27-55
13. Washington 26-56
14. Detroit 24-58
15. Toronto 22-60

West
1. Dallas 61-21
2. LA Lakers 60-22
3. San Antonio 59-23
4. Oklahoma City 56-26
5. Utah 53-29
6. Portland 46-36
7. Denver 45-37
8. New Orleans 43-39       
9. Houston 41-41
10. Phoenix 41-41
11. Memphis 36-46
12. LA Clippers 31-51
13. Golden St. 29-53
14. Sacramento 21-61
15. Minnesota 19-63

East Quarters
1 Boston over 8 Philadelphia 4-0
4 Chicago over 5 Atlanta 4-1
3 Orlando over 6 New York 4-2
2 Miami over 7 Milwaukee 4-0

West Quarters
1 Dallas over 8 New Orleans 4-1
5 Utah over 4 Oklahoma City 4-3
3 San Antonio over 6 Portland 4-0
2 LA Lakers over 7 Denver 4-2

East Semis
1 Boston over 4 Chicago 4-2
3 Orlando over Miami 4-3

West Semis
1 Dallas over 5 Utah 4-2
2 LA Lakers over 3 San Antonio 4-3

East Finals
1 Boston over 3 Orlando 4-0

West Finals
1 Dallas over 2 LA Lakers 4-2

NBA Finals
1 Boston over 1 Dallas 4-2

I picked the Celtics to win the NBA title before the season began, and I have not seen anything that would make me change my mind. From top to bottom the Celtics have the best roster in the NBA. If they are able to stay relatively healthy I envision them taking home their 2nd title in 4 years. My apologies to the execs at Disney and Nike, but I don't think this is the year that we see the Lakers and Heat battle for the title.