2010-2011 NBA Western Conference Preview, Predictions Picks & Odds
Welcome to the best and most complete 2010-2011 NBA Western Conference Season Previews & Predictions available online.
Can Kobe keep the Lakers going? The defending champs should be the team to beat in the West and are currently -125 odds for winning the conference on their way to repeating as champions. However, the entire Conference is loaded with amazing teams like the Thunder, Spurs, Nuggets and Trailblazers as well as some top-flight talent such as Tim Duncan, Carmelo Anthony, Brandon Roy, Chris Paul, and scoring champion Kevin Durant. All of who could easily crush LA’s hopes of a three-peat. So how will the West be won? You can count on LA finishing the regular season as the top seed in the West, but injuries will be a big concern down the stretch. I’m not sure the Lakers can stay healthy for the long haul of the playoffs, and that will open the door for teams like Oklahoma and Portland to stake claim as the new lords of the Western Conference.
Here’s a look at the 15 teams that make up the NBA Western Conference:
2010 NBA Pacific Season Previews
2010 Golden State Warriors Season Preview
The Golden State Warriors had one of the best offenses in basketball last season, and this year should be no different. Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry make up one of the league’s most exciting tandems at guard, and the addition of center David Lee should provide even more offense. The question is, as fun as they are to watch, will they be able to defend at all this season?
Golden State Warriors Odds: +20000 to win the NBA Championship at BetUS
Golden State Warriors 2010 Season Preview – Golden State Warriors 2010 Season Schedule
2010 Los Angeles Clippers Season Preview
After missing the entire season due to injury last year. Blake Griffin is healthy and ready to go this season. Former Chicago head coach Vinny Del Negro takes over and will have Griffin, along with Chris Kamen, Eric Gordon and Baron Davis, with whom to work. On paper. this looks to be a competitive team, but the Clippers are perennial underachievers. Will this be the year they turn it around?
Los Angeles Clippers Odds: +6000 to win the NBA Championship at BetUS
Los Angeles Clippers 2010 Season Preview – Los Angeles Clippers 2010 Season Schedule
2010 Los Angeles Lakers Season Preview
So what do the Los Angeles Lakers do in the offseason following their second straight championship? They arguably get even better. They resigned Shannon Brown and Derek Fisher and solidified the bench with Matt Barnes, Theo Ratliff and Steve Blake. As long as Kobe Bryant is still at the top of his game, with the excellent supporting cast he has around him, the Lakers will be awfully tough to beat.
Los Angeles Lakers Odds: +250 to win the NBA Championship at BetUS
Los Angeles Lakers 2010 Season Preview – Los Angeles Lakers 2010 Season Schedule
2010 Phoenix Suns Season Preview
Losing to the lakers in the conference finals stung, and the sting only got worse when free agency rolled around. Amar’e Stoudemire’s decision to leave the Phoenix Suns was a huge blow to the team. Phoenix still has its share of firepower with Steve Nash, Jason Richardson, Channing Frye and the recently acquired Hedo Turkoglu, but Stoudemire’s inside presence (and 23 points per game) will be sorely missed.
Phoenix Suns: +5000 to win the NBA Championship at BetUS
Phoenix Suns 2010 Season Preview – Phoenix Suns 2010 Season Schedule
2010 Sacramento Kings Season Preview
Despite another frustrating season, the Sacramento Kings seem content to continue building through the draft, making only a few minor moves this offseason. Fifth overall pick DeMarcus Cousins joins last year’s fourth overall pick, Tyreke Evans, who led the team in scoring with 20.1 points per game. It will likely be another frustrating season for Kings fans, but the long-term payoff will be worth it.
Sacramento Kings Odds: +20000 to win the NBA Championship at BetUS
Sacramento Kings 2010 Season Preview – Sacramento Kings 2010 Season Schedule
2010 NBA Southwest Season Previews
2010 Dallas Mavericks Season Preview
The biggest priority for Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks this offseason was to get Dirk Nowitzki re-signed, which they were able to do. They also resigned Brendan Haywood and Tim Thomas. Considering the Mavericks finished second in the West last season and have made the playoffs every year for the last 10 years, it’s understandable that they didn’t want to change much; they just need to step it up come crunch time.
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
The biggest story of the offseason for the Houston Rockets was their decision to trade Trevor Ariza, just one year into the five-year contract they signed him to, for Courtney Lee. Brad Miller was signed as an insurance policy in case Yao Ming isn’t 100%, but Houston hopes to have the big man ready for action. Ming and Kevin Martin could be a lethal duo for opposing defenses.
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
After three straight seasons of winning 24 games or less, Memphis was substantially better last season, hitting the 40-win mark. Re-signing Rudy Gay was the only major move the Grizzlies made this offseason, which makes sense; with Zach Randolf, O.J. Mayo, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, the Grizzlies have an extremely talented young team. The sky is the limit as these guys continue to gel.
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
The New Orleans Hornets added a ton of young talent through trades this offseason, trading for three first-round picks in Craig Brackins, Quincey Pondexter and Marco Belinelli. They also traded Darren Collison (who was backing up Chris Paul) for Trevor Ariza. David West and Chris Paul will once again lead the offense and, while the learning curve may be steep under new coach Monty Williams, the future looks bright for the Hornets.
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
With the exception of the Lakers, no team has been as successful over the past decade as the Spurs. Since Tim Duncan’s rookie season in 1997, the Spurs haven’t missed the playoffs and have won four championships. With Duncan still at the helm and a supporting cast that includes Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Richard Jefferson, the veteran Spurs will be right in the thick of things.
San Antonio Spurs Odds: +2500 to win the NBA Championship at BetUS
San Antonio Spurs 2010 Season Preview – San Antonio Spurs 2010 Season Schedule
2010 NBA Northwest Season Previews
2010 Denver Nuggets Season Preview
In signing former New York Knick power forward Al Harrington, the Denver Nuggets added to their already-stacked offense. While fans have plenty of reason to be excited about the upcoming season, the fact that Denver has not been able to sign Carmelo Anthony to an extension past this season is a major concern. The saga could be a huge distraction all season if it isn’t resolved.
Denver Nuggets Odds: +3000 to win the NBA Championship at BetUS
Denver Nuggets 2010 Season Preview – Denver Nuggets 2010 Season Schedule
2010 Minnesota Timberwolves Season Preview
Only the New Jersey Nets had fewer wins than the Minnesota Timberwolves last season. Minnesota drafted fourth overall and took talented small forward Wesley Johnson, who should see plenty of playing time. Thanks to Miami’s spending spree, top prospect Michael Beasley was made available via trade and the Timberwolves made the deal. With Kevin Love and Wesley Johnson, Beasley makes the third top-5 overall pick on Minnesota’s roster.
Minnesota Timberwolves Odds: +20000 to win the NBA Championship at BetUS
Minnesota Timberwolves 2010 Season Preview – Minnesota Timberwolves 2010 Season Schedule
2010 Oklahoma City Thunder Season Preview
Oklahoma City didn’t make many moves this offseason, and they didn’t have to. They made the most important one in re-signing Kevin Durant to a five-year deal. Durant, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green and James Harden off the bench will once again lead the way for the Thunder. Remarkably, all four are younger than 24 years old. Last year’s playoff berth looks to be the first of many.
Oklahoma City Thunder Odds: +1200 to win the NBA Championship at BetUS
Oklahoma City Thunder 2010 Season Preview – Oklahoma City Thunder 2010 Season Schedule
2010 Portland Trail Blazers Season Preview
For the second straight season, the Portland Trail Blazers made the playoffs but were bounced in the first round. With the exception of signing their draft picks and Utah Jazz shooting guard Wesley Matthews, the Trail Blazers stayed pat this offseason. Brandon Roy and LeMarcus Aldridge will once again lead the way, and Portland hopes that Greg Oden can finally put together a healthy season.
Portland Trail Blazers Odds: +2500 to win the NBA Championship at BetUS
Portland Trail Blazers 2010 Season Preview – Portland Trail Blazers 2010 Season Schedule
2010 Utah Jazz Season Preview
The Utah Jazz had an impressive series win over Denver in the playoffs but then ran into the red-hot Lakers. This offseason, leading scorer Carlos Boozer left to sign with the Chicago Bulls. Utah acted quickly to patch up the hole, trading Kosta Koufos and two future first-round picks for Al Jefferson. Jefferson and free-agent signing Raja Bell could help lead Utah back to the postseason.
Utah Jazz Odds: +3000 to win the NBA Championship at BetUS
Utah Jazz 2010 Season Preview – Utah Jazz 2010 Season Schedule
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