2010-2011 NBA East Preview and Predictions

Aug 11, 2010
Phil Partington

basketball - PointGuardFrom_Hell10

A foreshadowing of the NBA's Eastern Conference and how teams will do in the upcoming season. The Miami Heat team LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.

Even in August, it isn't too early to assess the upcoming NBA season. The Miami Heat moved back into championship contention with the signings of LeBron James and Chris Bosh, and several other teams made moves to make a push for the same goal. Here is how the 2010-2011 NBA Eastern Conference could shape out, presuming there are no unforeseen significant injuries or trades in the next couple months. In addition, don't forget to check out predictions for the Western Conference.

Eastern Conference

z = conference title

y = division title

x= clinched playoffs

Atlantic Division

y (4) - Boston Celtics 45-37
x (7) - Philadelphia 76ers 42-40
New York Knicks 36-46
New Jersey Nets 29-53
Toronto Raptors 24-58

Projected Starting Lineups and Statistics

Boston Celtics:

C Jermaine O'Neal 9.6 ppg, 6.5 rbpg
PF Kevin Garnett 13.5 ppg, 7.6 rbpg
SF Paul Pierce 18.2 ppg, 4.3 rbpg
PG Rajon Rondo 14.4 ppg, 9.3 apg, 2.2 spg
SG Ray Allen 15.7 ppg
6th Man C Shaquille O'Neal 10.6 ppg, 6.0 rbpg

New York Knicks:

C Amar'e Stoudemire 24.5 ppg, 8.3 rbpg
PF Anthony Randolph 13.9 ppg, 7.6 rbpg, 1.9 bspg
SF Danilo Gallinari 16.7 ppg, 4.5 rbpg
PG Raymond Felton 14.4 ppg, 6.2 apg
SG Bill Walker 10.5 ppg
6th Man SF Wilson Chandler 14.7 ppg, 5.1 rbpg

Philadephia 76ers:

C Elton Brand 13.5 ppg, 7.6 rbpg
PF Thaddeus Young 14.1 ppg, 5.5 rbpg
SF Andre Iguodala 17.9 ppg, 5.6 rbpg, 5.3 apg
PG Jrue Holiday 10.7 ppg, 5.1 apg
SG Evan Turner 11.6 ppg, 4.1 rbpg
6th Man FC Marreese Speights 12.7 ppg, 6.2 rbpg; and G Louis Williams 13.3 ppg, 3.5 apg

New Jersey Nets:

C Brook Lopez 19.1 ppg, 9.6 rbpg, 2.1 bspg
PF Troy Murphy 14.4 ppg, 10.7 rbpg
SF Travis Outlaw 9.1 ppg, 4.5 rbpg
PG Devin Harris 19.5 ppg, 6.7 apg
SG Terrence Williams 11.5 ppg, 5.8 rbpg
6th Man SG Anthony Morrow 10.1 ppg, Jordan Farmar 9.5 ppg

Toronto Raptors:

C Andrea Bargnani 20.8 ppg, 6.7 rbpg
PF Reggie Evans 5.8 ppg, 7.5 rbpg
SF DeMar DeRozan 13.3 ppg
PG Jose Calderon 11.4 ppg, 7.1 apg
SG Leandro Barbosa 14.6 ppg
6th Man SF Linas Kleiza 10. 7 ppg
PG Jarrett Jack 12.7 ppg

Central Division

y (3) - Chicago Bulls 49-33
x (6) - Milwaukee Bucks 43-39
x (8) - Cleveland Cavaliers 36-46
Indiana Pacers 33-49
Detroit Pistons 21-61

Projected Starting Lineups and Statistics

Chicago Bulls:

C Joakim Noah 12.2 ppg, 10.6 rbpg, 1.7 bspg
PF Carlos Boozer 18.8 ppg, 10.3 rbpg
SF Luol Deng 15.6 ppg, 6.4 rbpg
PG Derrick Rose 21.9 ppg, 6.7 apg
SG Ronnie Brewer 9.1 ppg
6th Man PF Taj Gibson 8.9 ppg, 7.3 rbpg
SF Kyle Korver 9.5 ppg

Milwaukee Bucks:

C Andrew Bogut 16.4 ppg, 10.5 rbpg, 1.9 bspg
PF Drew Gooden 11.9 ppg, 9.5 rbpg
SF Corey Maggette 16.6 ppg, 4.9 rbpg
PG Brandon Jennings 18.3 ppg, 6.0 apg, 1.5 spg
SG John Salmons 16.7 ppg
6th Man SF Ersan Ilyasova 11.1 ppg, 6.5 rbpg

Cleveland Cavaliers:

C Anderson Varejao 10.1 ppg, 8.3 rbpg
PF J.J. Hickson 13.7 ppg, 7.3 rbpg
SF Antawn Jamison 21.3 ppg, 8.4 rbpg
PG Mo Williams 17.4 ppg, 6.5 apg
SG Anthony Parker 10.8 ppg
6th Man PG Ramon Sessions 8.4 ppg

Indiana Pacers:

C Roy Hibbert 12.4 ppg, 6.5 rbpg, 1.8 bspg
PF Tyler Hansbrough 10.3 ppg, 6.8 rbpg
SF Danny Granger 23.7 ppg, 5.6 rbpg
PG Darren Collison 13.6 ppg, 7.3 apg
SG Brandon Rush 10.2 ppg
6th Man F Dahntay Jones 10.6 ppg
FG Paul George 8.7 ppg

Detroit Pistons:

C Ben Wallace 4.6 ppg, 7.9 rbpg
PF Charlie Villanueva 11.3 ppg, 5.9 rbpg
SF Tayshawn Prince 13.3 ppg, 4.8 rbpg
PG Rodney Stuckey 15.6 ppg, 4.1 rbpg, 5.2 apg
SG Richard Hamilton 18.0 ppg, 4.3 rbpg
6th Man SG Ben Gordon 14.1 ppg
FG Tracy McGrady 8.8 ppg

Southeast Division

z (1) - Miami Heat 64-18
x (3) - Orlando Magic 58-24
x (5) - Atlanta Hawks 49-33
Charlotte Bobcats 36-48
Washington Wizards 28-54

Projected Starting Lineups and Statistics

Miami Heat:

C Zydrunas Ilguaskas 8.9 ppg, 7.4 rbpg
PF Chris Bosh 15.9 ppg, 10.5 rbpg
SF LeBron James 22.8 ppg, 7.7 rbpg, 8.9 apg
PG Mario Chalmers 8.8 ppg
SG Dwayne Wade 24.1 ppg, 5.5 rbpg, 4.1 apg
6th Man FG Mike Miller 10.4 ppg, 4.4 rbpg

Orlando Magic:

C Dwight Howard 20.2 ppg, 12.9 rbpg, 2.6 bspg
PF Rashard Lewis 14.8 ppg, 4.7 rbpg
SF Mickael Pietrus 8.3 ppg
PG Jameer Nelson 14.1 ppg, 5.8 apg
SG Vince Carter 17.5 ppg, 4.2 rbpg
6th Man FG Quentin Richardson 9.3 ppg

Atlanta Hawks:

C Al Horford 14.5 ppg, 10.3 rbpg
PF Marvin Williams 10.6 ppg, 5.2 rbpg
SF Josh Smith 18.5 ppg, 8.4 rbpg, 3.9 apg, 2.4 bspg
PG Mike Bibby 8.8 ppg, 4.0 apg
SG Joe Johnson 20.6 ppg, 4.4 rbpg, 4.6 apg
6th Man G Jamal Crawford 17.4 ppg, 3.1 apg

Washington Wizards:

C JaVale McGee 11.6 ppg, 7.4 rbpg, 1.8 bspg
PF Andray Blatche 17.3 ppg, 7.1 rbpg
SF Al Thornton 10.2 ppg, 4.7 rbpg
PG John Wall 13.4 ppg, 6.9 apg
SG Gilbert Arenas 21.0 ppg, 4.9 apg
6th Man F Josh Howard 11.4 ppg
G Kirk Hinrich 8.8 ppg
F Yi Jianlian 7.8 ppg

Charlotte Bobcats:

C Erick Dampier 8.1 ppg, 7.9 rbpg
PF Boris Diaw 13.5, 4.6 rbpg
SF Gerald Wallace 17.4 ppg, 9.1 rbpg, 1.6 spg
PG D.J. Augustin 11.1 ppg, 4.7 apg
SG Stephen Jackson 20.2 ppg, 4.7 rbpg, 1.6 spg
6th Man PF Tyrus Thomas 11.9 ppg, 6.8 rbpg, 1.9 bspg

Phil Partington - Phil Partington is a writing enthusiast of many years and has been published in national magazines, web publications and other media ...