Tomorrow at last the NBA 2011/2012 season is starting. What are the favorites teams for the title? This year, predictions are more difficult than ever because of the lockout: possibly there will still be major trades and the preseason was very short so it will take some time to see the teams at their best. Let’s see which teams might be the Conference semi-finalists.
Eastern Conference
Miami Heat
The team chemistry should be good because the Heat added only Shane Battier. However, now that the season is finally starting all eyes will once again be on Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and particularly LeBron James with an even greater pressure than the last season. It’s obvious that potentially they can win the title, we’ll have to see if in the playoffs LeBron James will have an impact as he didn’t in the last NBA Finals.
Chicago Bulls
In the last season, especially the rise of Derrick Rose led the team to very high levels but don’t underestimate the work of coach Tom Thibodeau. The arrival of Rip Hamilton could be the element they needed to go a step further and reach at least the NBA Finals.
Orlando Magic
The management decided not to trade Dwight Howard before the season start but it’s clear that the season for the Magic is very dependent on what’s going to happen to their starting center. I think this team can reach the conference semifinals, of course if Howard were to be traded during the season there could be a weakening, at least in the short term.
New York Knicks
It could be the last chance for the Knicks to do something good and avoid falling back into more years of mediocrity. They’ll have Carmelo Anthony from the start of the season, Baron Davis and Tyson Chandler arrived so they have all the potential to reach at least the conference semifinals.
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Western Conference
Dallas Mavericks
They won a little by surprise the NBA title 2010/2011 but they deserved it. They lost Tyson Chandler but got two veterans such as Lamar Odom and Vince Carter. Their only problem is that they’re a team with an advanced average age and this season is compressed due to the lockout. If they still have energies at the next playoffs they can even win the title again.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The team is very strong and composed of several young players, starting with their leader Kevin Durant. Therefore they may be the ones best equipped to face the fatigue of a compressed season. In the last season they already reached the conference finals, if the next spring they’ll reach the playoffs with more energies than their opponents they could reach the NBA Finals.
Los Angeles Lakers
After the disappointment of the past playoffs they tried to set up trades to get to Chris Paul and Dwight Howard. The NBA called off the trade that would’ve brought Chris Paul but there are still chances to get Dwight Howard during the season. At this point this might be a transition season but Kobe Bryant won’t play for many more years so the management must hurry to add some players who can help the team win the NBA title again.
Los Angeles Clippers
Usually the second Los Angeles team isn’t included in the group of the strongest ones but this time they added Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler to a good team. They can already reach at least the conference semifinals.
