Here is my preview for the NBA season. It's a little late, but whatever. Here it is.(Updated November 16, 2010)
Eastern Conference Playoffs 1st Round:
1 Orlando Magic defeat 8 Indiana Pacers 4-1
2 Boston Celtics defeat 7 Charlotte Bobcats 4-2
6 Milwaukee Bucks defeat 3 Miami Heat 4-3
4 Atlanta Hawks defeat 5 Chicago Bulls 4-3
9 New Jersey Nets
10 New York Knicks
11 Detriot Pistons
12 Philadelphia 76ers
13 Cleveland Cavaliers
14 Washington Wizards
15 Toronto Raptors
Western Conference Playoffs 1st Round:
1 Los Angeles Lakers defeat 8 Portland Trail Blazers 4-3
2 Utah Jazz defeat 7 Dallas Mavericks 4-1
6 Golden State Warriors defeat 3 New Orleans Hornets 4-3
4 Oklahoma City Thunder defeat 4 San Antonio Spurs 4-2
9 Phoenix Suns
10 Minnesota Timberwolves
11 Memphis Grizzlies
12 Denver Nuggets
13 Houston Rockets
14 Sacramento Kings
15 Los Angeles Clippers
EC Semifinals:
1 Orlando Magic defeat 4 Atlanta Hawks 4-2
2 Boston Celtics defeat 6 Milwaukee Bucks 4-2
WC Semifinals:
1 Los Angeles Lakers defeat Oklahoma City Thunder 4-3
2 Utah Jazz defeat Golden State Warriors 4-2
EC Finals:
1 Orlando Magic defeat 2 Boston Celtics 4-3
WC Finals:
2 Utah Jazz defeat 1 Los Angeles Lakers 4-3
NBA Finals:
1 Orlando Magic defeat Utah Jazz 4-3
Finals MVP: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Player Awards:
Rookie of the Year: John Wall, Washington Wizards
Most Improved Player: Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers
6th Man Award: Wesley Matthews, Portland Trail Blazers
MVP: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Agree or disagree with anything? Leave a comment and tell me what you think.
Harrington, who is now entering his 13th NBA season, has never been selected to an All-Star team despite putting up some solid stats during the course of his career. He averaged 20.1 points per game during the 2008-2009 season with the Warriors and the Knicks and averaged 7 rebounds per game during the 2004-2005 season with the Hawks. Maybe he'll finally be put on an All-Star team this season if he plays well this season with the Nuggets. You never know.
Maggette, who is entering his 12th NBA season, has also never been on an All-Star team even though he has put up some All-Star caliber numbers during his career. During the 2004-2005 season, he put up career highs in points per game, rebounds per game, assists per game, and steals per game. Maggette averaged 22.2 ppg, 6 rpg, 3.4 apg, and 1.1 spg that season and yet he did not get the chance to suit up for the NBA All-Star game that season, or any other season in his career. Maggette's chances of making the Eastern Conference All-Star team this season are slim because he is in the decline of his career, but maybe the Bucks will make a championship run this season and that will more than make up for it.
Miller, who is now entering his 12th NBA season, has never been a member of an All-Star team despite putting up some spectacular stats during the course of his decorated NBA career that included tenures with the Cavs, Clippers, Nuggets, 76ers, and Blazers. He averaged 17 points per game during the 2007-2008 season with the Sixers and averaged 10.9 assists per game during the 2001-2002 season with the Cavaliers. Plus, he scored 52 points in a game with the Trail Blazers earlier this year. If all that isn't good enough to make an All-Star team then I don't know what is.
Bogut averaged a double-double the last 2 seasons and currently averages a double-double this season. Plus, the former number 1 draft pick helped lead the Bucks to the playoffs and ranked 2nd in the league in blocks per game last season. Bogut's an All-Star in my mind. Fear the Deer!!!
This Grizzlies small forward, who has scored more than 5,000 points in less than 5 seasons, has never been on an All-Star team. But this season that will likely change. Gay is in the prime of his career and currently averages 25.6 points per game this season (4th in the league) and currently leads the league in points and field goals made. Will he be a member of the 2011 NBA Western Conference All-Star Team? I think so, and I'll be upset if he isn't.
Stephen Jackson of the Charlotte Bobcats has had an very eventful NBA career that has included winning a championship with the Spurs in 2003, going into the stands and fighting Detroit fans along with Ron Artest during the infamous "Malice at the Palace," and helping lead the Bobcats to the playoffs last season. One thing that is not on his resume is being on an NBA All-Star team. I personally think he was snubbed out of it last season (He averaged 20.6 points per game and 5 rebounds per game.) Hopefully, he can finally be put on an All-Star team (where he belongs!) this season and help lead the Bobcats to a 2nd straight playoff run.
Lamar Odom has been hustlin' in the league since 1999, when he was drafted by the Clippers. Since then, he has scored more than 11,000 points. He also averaged a double-double in 2 seasons (04-05 and 07-08) and is averaging one right now (15.8 points per game, 10.8 rebounds per game in 8 games). Not only that, but he has also won 2 NBA championships with the Lakers. Am I the only one who is flabbergasted that this guy has never been selected to an All-Star team?
Al Jefferson averaged a double-double 3 seasons in a row. Enough said. Maybe this season with the Jazz, he'll get the All-Star recognition he deserves.
Josh Smith has been rockin' the NBA since he was drafted by the Hawks in 2004 out of high school. Ever since winning the Dunk Contest in 2005, he has played like an All-Star. He has played more than 450 games and has career averages of 13.7 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game, 3 assists per game, 1.2 steals per game, and 2.4 blocks per game. This season so far, in 9 games, Smith is averaging career highs in blocks per game, assists per game, rebounds per game, and 3-point percentage. I think he deserves to be an All-Star.
This 25 year-old guard for the Warriors should have been an All-Star last year, and if he isn't selected to the 2011 Western Conference All-Star Team this season, I don't know what I'm gonna do. He played a mediocre rookie season after being selected by the Warriors in the 2nd round of the 2005 NBA Draft. The next season, he came out strong and improved in nearly every stat category and was the well-deserved winner of the Most Improved Player Award.