My Picks for the 2011 NBA Season.

This is one of the most highly anticipated seasons in NBA history. A season that could very well end with historic marks such as LeBron's first ring, or Kobe's second three-peat. All that off-season bullshit is over, it's time to ball out.


Here are my picks.

Play-off Seeding (Projected Record)

Eastern Conference                             

1. Miami (63-19)                                                 

2. Orlando (58-24)                                             

3. Boston   (56-26)                                              

4. Chicago  (53-28)                                             

5. Milwaukee (50-32)                                    

6. Atlanta (47-35)                                            

7. New York (43-39)                                             

8. Charlotte (42-40)                                           

Last one out: Philadelphia

Western Conference

1. Los Angeles (60-22)

2. Dallas (57-25)

3. Oklahoma City (56-26)

4. Portland (54-28)

5. Utah (53-29)

6. San Antonio (51-31)                        

7. Denver (50-32)

8. New Orleans (49-33)

Last one out: Golden State

Finals: Boston vs. Los Angeles

Champion: Los Angeles

Until someone knocks them off, L.A. and Boston are the two best teams in basketball. They are both deeper and more experienced than Miami, and they have dominated the league for the last three seasons. Miami will win eventually, but I don't think it will be this season. The Boston-3-Party Celtics are one of the best defensive units of all time, if not the best. The Lakers can match up well with the Heat. When you compare starting 5's the only advantage is LeBron James, and he's being defended by Ron Artest. Everyone seems to forget that L.A. has appeared in the last three Finals series and won the last two. Make no mistake, this is still Kobe's league.

Awards

Coach of the Year: Tom Thibadeau (CHI)

Runners up: Doc Rivers (BOS), Jerry Sloan (UTA)

That's right, I'm picking a rookie head coach. I expect the Bulls to be a 50 win team and if they are then C.O.Y should go to nobody else.

Rookie of the Year: John Wall (WAS)

Runners up: Blake Griffin (LAC), DeMarcus Cousins (SAC)

My gut tells me to go with Griffin, but the last  R.O.Y winners were Calapari bred point guards so I'm gonna go with that.

Most Improved: Michael Beasly (MIN)

Runners-up: Anthony Randolph (NY), Andrew Bogut (MIL)


Beasly is now playing for a team where he is probably the best player, and he was the #2 overall pick in 2008. This is his chance.

Sixth Man of the Year: Lamar Odom (LAL)

Runners up: Jason Terry (DAL), Manu Ginobili (SAS)

 

Maybe Bynum can come back strong from surgery and Odom can play this season in his regular role off the bench.

Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard (ORL)

Runners up: Josh Smith (ATL) and Gerald Wallace (CHA)

Winning this award 4-5 seasons in a row is not out of the question for Howard. As long as he rules the glass, he wins.

Most Valuable Player: Kevin Durant (OKC)

Runners up: Kobe Bryant (LAL), Dwight Howard (ORL)

I think if the Lakers have a mid-high 60 win season the award should go to Kobe. However, Durant is the heavy favorite. Dwight Howard is a dark horse candidate depending on how well Orlando does in the new Eastern Conference. Especially considering the fact that they play Miami four times.