2010-2011 NBA Atlantic Divison Preview, Predictions Picks & Odds | Sportsbookbuzz.com

2010-2011 NBA Atlantic Divison Preview, Predictions Picks & Odds

2010 NBA Atlantic Division Preview Welcome to the best and most complete 2010 NBA Atlantic Division Season Preview available online. The teams that make up our 2010-2011 NBA Atlantic Season Preview are the Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors.

The Boston Celtics are overloaded with talented veterans primed to make a deep playoff run. Their 50 wins from last season was 10 games better than the next best team in the Atlantic division, Toronto Raptors. But will age catch up with the Celts down the stretch? They could be challenged by Amar’e Stoudemire and a revamped New York Knicks team that could give them a run for their money this season as division winners. Both Philadelphia and New Jersey should still struggle this year and really don’t factor into the race much. For the Sixers it all depends on superstar wing Andre Iguodala and his versatility as well as Elton Brand’s ability to engineer a career resurgence this season. The Nets however, will just be happy to recover from being only the fifth team in NBA history to lose 70 games.

2010 Boston Celtics Season Preview

Boston started 23-5 last year but then began to look old and even disinterested at times and went 27-27 after that. It turned out the Celtics were just laying low. The three-time defending Atlantic Division champs beat Miami in the first round of the playoffs; top-seeded Cleveland in the conference semis; then beat Orlando to win the East. They led the NBA Finals 3-2 over the Lakers, only to lose the last two games. The Celts ranked fourth in shooting at 48% and ninth in FG defense at 45%, but only 25th in rebounding with -1.5 RPG. They went just 33-48 ATS and a dismal 12-28 ATS at home. For the big three of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, the window of championship opportunity is closing. As if Boston wasn’t old enough, they signed C Shaquille O’Neal. PG Rajon Rondo (9.8 apg, 3.2 a/to) is now one of the best at his position, although he needs to work on his FT shooting. The Celts added F Jermaine O’Neal to replace retired Rasheed Wallace. Boston is one of the oldest teams in the league, but they’re also still one of the top three teams in the East.

Boston Celtics +900 to win the NBA championship at BetUS

Boston Celtics 2010 Season Preview – Boston Celtics 2010 Season Schedule

2010 New Jersey Nets Season Preview

New Jersey made a run at history (and not the good kind) last season, losing its first 18 games and threatening to set a new record for futility. But the Nets avoided eternal shame when they won five of their last 12 games to finish 12-70. New Jersey ranked last in shooting at just under 43%, 27th in FG defense at 48% and 27th in rebounding at -4.5 per game, all in going 32-48 ATS. The Nets also played the totals 36-44, as their games averaged 194 points, sixth-fewest in the league. But it’s a new era in Jersey, even if the team will only be there a couple more years. New coach Avery Johnson knows how to win and he takes over a team that’s got some young talent. C Brook Lopez (18 ppg/8 rpg) and G Devin Harris (17 ppg) form the core of the team; the additions of F Troy Murphy and G Jordan Farmar should help; and New Jersey grabbed F Derrick Favors with the third pick in the draft and G/F Damion James at No. 24. The Nets won’t start 0-18 this year, and they’ll win more than 12 games, but they’re still two or three seasons from contending for the playoffs.

New Jersey Nets Odds: +10000 to win the NBA Championship at BetUS

New Jersey Nets 2010 Season Preview – New Jersey Nets 2010 Season Schedule

2010 New York Knicks Season Preview

New York Knicks Season Preview In its second season under Coach D’Antoni last year. New York started 3-14, played .500 for a couple of months, then lost 21 of its last 31 games to finish 29-53 and miss the playoffs for the sixth season in a row. The Knicks ranked 21st in shooting at 45.5% and dead last in the league in FG defense, allowing opponents to shoot almost 49%. They also got beat up on the boards, ranking 28th in rebounding at -4.5 per game. NY went 38-43 ATS and 42-40 on the totals, as Knicks games averaged 208 points, fifth-most in the league. This offseason, the Knicks parted ways with Forwards David Lee and Al Harrington, last year’s top two scorers, and traded for F Amar’e Stoudemire (23 ppg/9 rpg for Phoenix last season). New York also brought in a half-dozen other new faces, and more moves were possible as September approached, with a couple of big names being mentioned. Even though he’s only been in New York a short time, D’Antoni might need a playoff berth to keep his job. While the Knicks might have a star to build around, his name isn’t LeBron, and his supporting cast looks iffy.

New York Knicks Odds: +8000 to win the NBA Championship at BetUS

New York Knicks 2010 Season Preview – New York Knicks 2010 Season Schedule

2010 Philadelphia 76ers Season Preview

After making back-to-back trips to the playoffs the previous two seasons. Philadelphia fully expected to make the postseason again last year, and maybe even pick up its first playoff series victory since 2003. Instead, the Sixers tanked. Starting with an early-season 12-game losing streak and ending on a 5-21 dive to finish 27-55. which led to another head coaching change. Philly ranked 16th in the league in FG shooting at 46%, 22nd in FG defense at 47% and 18th in rebounding with a zero differential, all in going 34-48 ATS and just 12-29 ATS at home. For its new coach, Philly reached over to the broadcasters table and plucked Doug Collins from his seat; and he inherits some talent with the Sixers. F Andre Iguodala (17 p, 6.5 rpg) is emerging as a solid player on both ends of the court; F Elton Brand can be a force when healthy; and Philly nabbed G Evan Turner with the second overall pick in the draft. With some added enthusiasm from Collins, the Sixers should be considered candidates to improve this season and maybe even get back to the playoffs in a top-heavy Eastern Conference.

Philadelphia 76ers Odds: +10000 to win the NBA Championship at BetUS

Philadelphia 76ers 2010 Season Preview – Philadelphia 76ers 2010 Season Schedule

2010 Toronto Raptors Season Preview

Toronto Raptors Season Preview Toronto sat seven games above .500 in mid-February last season and only trailed Boston by five games in the Atlantic Division, but the Raptors suffered a couple of key injuries, faded to a 9-18 finish and missed the playoffs for the second straight season. Toronto ranked fifth in FG shooting at 48% but 19th in FG defense at 47%, and 22nd in rebounding at -0.9 per game, all in going 39-43 ATS. The Raptors also went 45-35 on the totals, as their games averaged 210 points, third-most in the league. This offseason, the franchise took a hit when F Chris Bosh left to join LeBron and D-Wade down in Miami. Toronto also traded F Hedo Turkoglu and G Marco Belinelli, so seven-foot C Andrea Bargnani (17 ppg/6 rpg) now becomes the main option on offense. PGs Jose Calderon and Jarrett Jack combined to average 22 points and 10 assists last season, and G Leandro Barbosa was brought in with the hope he’ll find his form of three/four seasons ago. The Raptors also added 6-foot-10 F Ed Davis with the 13th pick in the draft. While Toronto won’t be the team it was with Bosh, they still might contend for a playoff spot.