2010-2011 NBA Southwest Division Preview, Predictions Picks & Odds | Sportsbookbuzz.com

2010-2011 NBA Southwest Division Preview, Predictions Picks & Odds

2010 NBA Southwest Division Preview Welcome to the best and most complete 2010 NBA Southwest Division Season Preview available online. The teams that make up our 2010-2011 NBA Southwest Season Preview are the are the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Hornets and San Antonio Spurs.

Probably one of the toughest divisions in the league, the winner will likely need at least 55 wins. With that being said there are only two pragmatic teams that could win that many games this year and they are the same two that are always competitive in the Southwest every year—San Antonio and Dallas. Houston will return a healthy Yao Ming from a broken foot. The Rockets were a 53-win team with a fit Yao in 2008-09, and still managed an over-.500 season without him this past season. They could be the darkhorse of the division. Without any real solid defensive additions, I can’t see Memphis making a real threat, and New Orleans should be re-energized from the return of Chris Paul, but they’ll have a lot of work to do if they want improve from last season’s 37 wins. Dallas stood a good chance of beating an ageing San Antonio last year, and I look for them to win it this year.

2010 Dallas Mavericks Season Preview

Dallas won the Southwest Division last season and earned the second seed in the Western Conference playoffs, but the Mavericks couldn’t even get through the first round, losing in six games to the hated Spurs. So, while Dallas has won 50-plus games and gone to the playoffs 10 straight seasons, they’ve advanced to the NBA Finals just once. The Mavs ranked 12th in FG shooting at 46% and led the league from the line at almost 82%. They ranked a middling 15th in FG defense at 46% and 24th in rebounding at -1.2 per game, which might mean they won some games they shouldn’t have. Dallas also went Just 36-44 ATS and an amazing 10-29 ATS at home, although 26-15 ATS on the road. Odds are that those numbers will trend back toward normality this year. The Mavs are still formidable, with Fs Dirk Nowltzk, (25 ppg/8 rpg) and Shawn Marion, Gs Jason Kidd (42.5% from 3-point land) and Jason Terry, and F Caron Butler (for a full season). However, the mileage is adding up on some of their key people and that could keep Dallas from earning a top seed in the West.

Dallas Mavericks Odds: +1500 to win the NBA Championship at BetUS

Dallas Mavericks 2010 Season Preview – Dallas Mavericks 2010 Season Schedule

2010 Houston Rockets Season Preview

With C Yao Ming out for the season with a broken foot and F Tracy McGrady sidelined with a sore knee, Houston went 42-40 last year and missed the playoffs, but the Rockets should be given credit for gutting it out. Houston ranked just 26th in FG shooting at just under 45%, 23rd in FG defense at 47.5% and 21st in rebounding in going 37-45 ATS. As Rockets games averaged 205 points, eighth-most in the league, they went 42-40 on the totals. This season, Ming is supposedly ready to go, but who knows how long he might last. For insurance, Houston brought in veteran C Brad Miller. Elsewhere, there are things to like. G Aaron Brooks (20 ppg) and F Luis Scola (16 ppg/9 rpg) are both coming off the best seasons of their young careers, and G Kevin Martin averaged 21 ppg in 24 games after coming over in a February trade. Houston also picked up G Courtney Lee in a trade, and they got 6-foot-9 F Patrick Patterson at No. 14 in the draft. If Yao can’t go, the Rockets still might be candidates to return to the playoffs; and with him, they would be dangerous.

Houston Rockets Odds: +3000 to win the NBA Championship at BetUS

Houston Rockets 2010 Season Preview – Houston Rockets 2010 Season Schedule

2010 Memphis Grizzlies Season Preview

Memphis made a l6-victory improvement last season, going 40-42, and suddenly appears to be a team on the rise. The Grizzlies started 1-8 last year, but worked their way to 38-33 before finishing on a 2-9 slide. Memphis ranked ninth in shooting at 47%, but 24th in FG defense, as they allowed opponents to shoot almost 48% from the floor. They also, though, ranked second in rebounding at +3.8 per game. The Grizz could only manage to go 39-42 ATS, and as Memphis games averaged 207 points (sixth-most in the league), they played the totals 45-36. The Grizzlies have a nice young core, led by G OJ Mayo (17.5 ppg), F Rudy Gay (20 ppg), PG Mike Conley and C Marc Gasol (15 ppg/9 rpg). Zach Randolph (21 ppg/12 rpg) was a big reason for the increase in wins. This offseason, Memphis nabbed sharpshooting G Xavier Henry at No. 12 overall in the draft and versatile F Greivis Vasquez at No. 28, but the bench remains thin. The Grizzlies are one of the youngest teams in the league and with some improvement on defense, they could compete for a playoff berth this season.

Memphis Grizzlies Odds: +6000 to win the NBA Championship at BetUS

Memphis Grizzlies 2010 Season Preview – Memphis Grizzlies 2010 Season Schedule

2010 New Orleans Hornets Season Preview

New Orleans fired coach Byron Scott nine games into last season, ended the season on a 6-17 slide and finished 37-45, missing the playoffs, Of course, it didn’t help that PG Chris Paul missed 37 games with bad wheels. While the Hornets went 23-22 with Paul, they struggled to 14-23 without him. New Orleans ranked 13th in shooting at 46%, but 28th in FG defense at a generous 48% and 26th in rebounding at -1.9 per game. That’s how a team goes 37-44 ATS. This season, the Hornets are going with a rookie head coach in Monty Williams, whose job it will be to keep Paul happy, which might be tough. F David West (19 ppg/7.5 rpg) is just fine; SG Marcus Thornton (14.5 ppg) is coming off a nice rookie campaign; and newcomer Trevor Ariza (15 ppg/6 rpg last year with Houston) provides some athleticism and intensity. Oft-injured F Peja Stojakovic has seen his production slide and C Emeka Okafor must step up his game. A healthy and motivated Paul and West give the Hornets some credibility, but the most New Orleans might hope for this year is contending for a playoff spot.

New Orleans Hornets Odds: +7500 to win the NBA Championship at BetUS

New Orleans Hornets 2010 Season Preview – New Orleans Hornets 2010 Season Schedule

2010 San Antonio Spurs Season Preview

San Antonio won at least 50 games for the 11th straight season last year and throttled better-seeded Dallas in the first round of the playoffs, only to get swept out of the conference semis by Phoenix. The Spurs ranked sixth in shooting at 47%, 12th in FG defense at 45% and third in rebounding at +3.3 per game, all of which helped them go 44-37 ATS. They also played the totals 38-43, as San Antonio games averaged 198 points, a hoop below the league median. Like Dallas, age and mileage are creeping up on some of the Spurs’ key people. PF Tim Duncan (18 ppg/10 rpg) is 34; G Manu Ginobili is 33; and G Tony Parker has missed parts of the last three seasons with injuries. San Antonio has infused a bit of youth into its rotation with G George Hill and F DeJuan Blair, and they rightly should expect a better year from F Richard Jefferson. Also, they’ll finally get a look this year at their first-round draft pick of three years ago, 6-foot-11 F Tiago Splitter, MVP of the Spanish league last year. With a healthy big three and some help, the Spurs could make another run at a conference title.