NBA Pacific Division Predictions + Season Preview – Cappers Picks Blog

2010-2011 NBA Pacific 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 Pacific Division featured two playoff teams last year—including the NBA Champion Lakers—and it should be more of the same in 2010-11.

Below is a breakdown of each team in order of projected finish.

Los Angeles Lakers

Last season: 57-25, first in the Pacific
betED.com odds
Northwest Division odds: N/A
NBA championship odds: +250
Regular season wins: Over 56½ (-115)
Player additions: C Theo Ratliff, F Matt Barnes, G Steve Blake
Player losses: G Jordan Farmar

Coming off an NBA Championship, the Lakers kept their starting five together and made some subtle tweaks to the bench. Don’t be surprised to see a slow start, however. Andrew Bynum could be out until mid-November with knee surgery, while Kobe Bryant is also nursing a wonky knee.

It won’t matter in the long run. Like last year, Los Angeles will coast until the games start to matter, then crank it up come playoff time. The Lakers are becoming another (more exciting) version of the Poppovich Spurs that just reload annually and wait for the right time to strike.

Phoenix Suns

Last season: 54-28, second in the Pacific
betED.com odds
Northwest Division odds: N/A
NBA championship odds: +3000
Regular season wins: Over 41½ (-130)
Player additions: F/G Josh Childress, F Hedo Turkoglu
Player losses: F Amare Stoudemire

The window may have closed in Phoenix. After years of trade rumors, Stoudemire is gone, leaving a massive hole in the lineup; certainly, the Suns can’t be expecting Robin Lopez to do the things Stoudemire did.

Turkoglu is a big name, and that’s about it. He was a tremendous bust in Toronto last year and appears to have nothing left in the tank. If Steve Nash can’t save his career, nobody can. Getting Childress from overseas is nice, but he isn’t a difference maker.

Nash will put this team on his back, but his body is starting to fail him. Expecting 82 games out of the veteran point guard is a stretch, and without him this team will probably fold. It’s looking increasingly likely Nash will never get the championship he deserves.

Golden State Warriors

Last season: 26-56, fourth in the Pacific
betED.com odds
Northwest Division odds: N/A
NBA championship odds: +20000
Regular season wins: Over 30½ (-115)
Player additions: C David Lee, G Charlie Bell, F Dorell Wright
Player losses: F Corey Magette, F Anthony Randolph, C Ronny Turiaf, G Anthony Morrow

A new ear begins for the Warriors as Keith Smart takes over as head coach. The team is beginning a complete makeover, as run and gunners like Magette and Morrow were jettisoned for banging rebounders and defenders like Lee and Wright.

The moves could pay immediate dividends; just not big ones. Golden State still has some solid scoring options in Stephen Curry, Monta Ellis and Lee. Throw in an improved defense—Golden State was last in points allowed last year—and the Warriors just might show some solid improvement in 2010-11.

Los Angeles Clippers

Last season: 29-53, third in the Northwest
betED.com odds
Northwest Division odds: N/A
NBA championship odds: +6000
Regular season wins: Over 38½ (+125)
Player additions: F Ryan Gomes, G Randy Foye
Player losses: G Steve Blake, F Drew Gooden, F Travis Outlaw

Let’s be honest: the Clippers are cursed. The season has yet to begin and already the team is ailing. Blake Griffin, last year’s No. 1 overall pick, is being brought back slowly after missing last year with knee injuries. Craig Smith and Foye are also recovering from knee surgery and their status is questionable. Throw in a crazy offseason schedule for Eric Gordon, who participated in the World Championships, and half the Clippers team is already exhausted or injured—and they were pretty overmatched to begin with.

At least Los Angeles will be competing for another top draft pick.

Sacramento Kings

Last season: 25-67, fifth in the Northwest
betED.com odds
Northwest Division odds: N/A
NBA championship odds: +20000
Regular season wins: Over 25½ (-135)
Player additions: F DeMarcus Cousins (rookie), F Antoine Wright
Player losses: F/C Spencer Hawes, G/F Andres Nocioni

The biggest bright spot in last year’s brutal season was Tyreke Evans, who become just the fourth rookie in NBA history to average 20 points, five rebounds and five assists per game (he joined Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan and LeBron James). Evans won Rookie of the Year honors and is Sacramento’s main building block moving forward.

Unfortunately, the Kings will need an equally impressive performance from rookie DeMarcus Cousins if they’re going to improve in 2010-11. Stranger things have happened, but I wouldn’t bank on it.