2011 NBA Power Rankings IN-DEPTH

5. The Chicago Bulls
        The Bulls brought some life back into the NBA. The young kid Derek Rose had himself a nice season that really displayed his ability to lead the team. J. Noah had a breakout season and brings energy to the floor. It became clear that this team had playoff potential but it was the same comments. "If only they had another player, a all star. The Bulls made some smart decisions and got the Utah Jazz roster (Boozer,Korver,Brewer). The Bulls made the playoffs but lost in 5 games to the Cavs [wait what team is that, I forget]. This team could make a harder push now with their offseason signings. They need to change somethings though.

[8]Bulls vs. [1]Cavs
Eastern Conference
1st Round
Game 3


Team Stat Comparison

           Cleveland  Chicago
Points.         106      108
FG Made-Attempted 36-82 (.439) 42-84 (.500)
3P Made-Attempted 14-35 (.400) 5-12 (.417)
FT Made-Attempted 20-31 (.645) 19-25 (.760)
Rebounds (Offensive-Total) 14-43 7-42
Assists 21 22
Turnovers 13 8
Steals 5 5
Blocks 7 4
Fast Break Points 15 11
Fouls (Tech/Flagrant) 24 (0/0) 22 (1/0)
Largest Lead 2 21


   1) Rose Steps Up
   -Derrick Rose was far more effective in Game 3 for Chicago than he had been in Games 1 and 2 against Cleveland.

Derrick Rose 1st-Round.   
Series vs. Cavaliers

             Games 1-2                Game 3
FG         23-52                 13-26
Points.          51                            31
Score pct.  .416                            .550
PPP           .81                           1.07

      2) Luol Deng and Joakim Noah
     - Deng and Noah are not the Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman of the Bulls but try are good enough to suffice. They played a good game and has a good season. With the addition of Boozer, Noah will continue to grow and mature.

Season Averages

Deng                                               Noah       
PPG:17.6      PPG: 10.7
REB: 7.3       REB: 11
AST: 2      AST: 2.1
FGM-A: 473-1014       FGM-A: 262-520
FG %: .466      FG%: .504


Team Roster
NO. NAME.                       Salary      
3 Omer Asik $1,721,000
5 Carlos Boozer    $14,400,000
11 Ronnie Brewer $4,750,000
9 Luol Deng        $11,345,000
22 Taj Gibson        $1,117,680
16 James Johnson        $1,713,600
26 Kyle Korver        $5,000,000
13 Joakim Noah $3,128,536
1 Derrick Rose $5,546,160
40 Kurt Thomas         $1,800,000
0 C.J. Watson $3,600,000


Bottom Line: This roster is good and young. Even though I have now clue who Omer Asik is and why he is making a million bucks, money that should be going to Tracy Mgrady, the Bulls have great team. They should win many games this season and make some noise in the playoffs

2011 NBA Power Rankings IN-DEPTH

4. The Orlando Magic

The Magic have potential to win the championship this year. They have the best center in the league Dwight Howard who dominates the other team in every game. Vince Carter knows how to take over games and when. Jameer Nelson knows how to distribute the ball to the right players. They almost beat the Lakers so they are good to go. Not really. This team has a good group of players.... to trade. Jameer Nelson is a good point guard who can be traded to get Chris Paul. Rashard Lewis can be used to pursue players such as Chris Kaman and Elton Brand.

1. The Style of Play
The Orlando Magic have taken some steps to finding their style of play during the playoff run in 2009. They fed the ball to Dwight Howard and had Hedo do some streaky shooting to get to the finals. They have turned to the 3 point game last season and now they need to become more balanced. They can trade to get Chris Paul who would better the team with a new point guard who can score and dish. Rashard Lewis can help get another big player such as Chris Kaman and Elton Brand who will not take away/relieve Dwight of the major source of post play, but will help him on Defense. Rashard Lewis will be eaten up by Pau Gasol and maybe Chris Bosh because of his height. The team needs to look into a more balanced approach to win:

PG: Chris Paul Bench: JJ Redick
SG: Micheal Petrus Bench: Chris Duhon
SF: Vince Carter
PF: Elton Brand
C: Dwight Howard

This lineup is a championship contending lineup but the bench is lacking and they need to get some good PF post players and SF. They should have pursued Josh Howard and they could try to get Rudy Fernandez.

BOTTOM LINE: This team needs to make some moves to really contend for the finals.

2011 NBA Power Rankings IN-DEPTH

3. Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics are one of those teams. They stay in games when it seems like they have no chance. They are playing games and all of a sudden they are up by 5 and then 10 and pretty soon it is a blowout. The team has been tested in the playoffs and in the finals. They took the Lakers to the last minutes without Kendrick Perkins. The Big 3 has been shoved aside by the play of Rajon Rondo, the young talented point guard on the rise. He is the franchise player who is going to lead this team. Paul Pierce has been playing the same way, slow but effective. with his fading away elbow short 17 jumper. The team looks good and could make a great far run.... even past the Heat. However, they need to polish up some areas and they will make it far.

1. Injuries
The Boston Celtics had some injury problems last session with Kevin Garnett at 50% some games. If the Celtics can have everyone at at least 95% they will be dangerous in the playoffs.

2. Ray Allen: Ray Allen is the the key to the Boston Celtic offense. Yes the other Paul Pierce, Garnett, Rondo, and Perkins can do it all by themselves but Ray Allen needs to be there every night to catch and shoot and drive.

3. Bench: The Celtics added the eroding away body of Jermaine O'neal and lost Tony Allen. This is a big loss to the bench. However, the celtics still have SCAL who is the biggest playmaker in the league!! The Celtics' bench have to really produce in order for them to be successful.

Bottom Line: The Boston Celtics will have moderate success in the regular season but will cause some damage in the playoffs. The Celtics should not be overlooked.

2011 NBA Power Rankings IN-DEPTH

2. The Miami Heat
Tri-ami
The 3 Heat will not ruin the 3 peat

"This fall I have decided to take my talents to South Beach." These words were heard all over the world as everyone either sighed a sighed of relief or cursed the world for days to come. Now the Heat have the greatest player in the league Lebron James and have the the Super Star D-Wade. Their the team to beat right?!
Not yet.

1. The Size
Chris Bosh is an undersized big man listed at 6'10 which is small compared to the Lakers two big man Pau and Bynum. Big Z {Zydrunas Ilgauskas} is Too Slow to Pau Gasol up and down the floor, and in a turn-and-face game. Even Bynum with a bad knee will give him a hard time. Dexter Pitman and Jarvis Vernado but they are unexperienced and will struggle

2. The Hype
Lebron James wants to win a championship and wants to win it right now.
The Miami Heat have brought the right players to the table to help Lebron and Wade. Eddie House and Mike Miller are two great perimeter players who can light it up from the outside. The puzzle pieces are in place but there is still one piece remaining..... and it doesn't fit. It does not fit anywhere. The piece is the hype. A five game losing streak is considered the worst thing that has happened in the NBA. A missed shot by D-Wade will be the debate topic on CNN: Lebron should have taken the shot, Bosh had the mis-match in the post. The Miami Heat are not ready to handle this hype and high expectations to win.

Bottom Line: The Miami Heat will win 65+ games and will entertain many fans every night. They will play the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals and will lose to them in 6 or 7 games.

2011 NBA Power Rankings In-DEPTH

1. Los Angeles Lakers:

The LA Lakers have won back to back rings led by superstar Kobe Bryant and the always consistent play of Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and the always-insane Ron Artest. They have added three great role players in Theo Ratliff, Steve Blake, and the best pickup Matt Barnes. I love how the Lakers always get the players who bug Kobe in Barnes and Artest. Anyway, the lakers also re-signed Derek Fischer. The Lakeshow are set and ready to go and will go back to back because of 3 reasons.

1. The Consistent Play Kobe and Pau

Kobe Bryant was Mr. Clutch as he lead the team through the playoffs and Pau shined when he came into the finals. The duo was very consistent. The team was carried on the shoulders of Kobe and Pau each one of them shining in their own games{ Pau Gasol Game 7 NBA Finals, Kobe Bryant Game 4 NBA Finals}

Kobe Bryant:

Finals Averages] PPG: 28.6, REB: 8.0, AST: 3.9, FG% 0.405

Kobe Bryant had a outstanding finals and won his 5th championship ring.... but not all by himself. Kobe had the help of his teammates, allowed the help of his teammates. He scored his points, swished his threes, and brought the Staples Center to its feet and TD Garden to their seats. He is the best teammate to have in a clutch situation.. period.

Pau Gasol:

Finals Averages] PPG: 18.6, REB: 11.6, AST: 3.7, FG% 0.478

Pau Gasol had a better NBA Finals series than Kobe. He completely dominated the Celtics big untamed animals and proved that he is the most skilled bigman in the league. His jumper is smooth and he can 'bound the ball like a beast. He can take you off the dribble and post you up. He will always be viewed as the sidekick of Kobe but hey, he makes one hell of a Robin.

2. The Talented Bench

Key Additions:

Theo Ratliff

Matt Barnes

Steve Blake

Key Departures:

Dj Mbanga

Josh Powell

Jordan Farmar

Luke Walton {hopefully he retires}

The Los Angeles Lakers picked up three very talented players who will be able to glue that bench solid. Steve Blake is a very smart veteran point guard who can make better plays with his knowledge than Jordan Farmer could. Theo Ratliff is a great defender who can still guard players such as Chris Bosh and Kevin Garnett.

3. 2+10 for the Zen

The Greatest NBA coach of all time, Phil Jackson is probably entering his last season as an NBA coach and the Lakers will do everything to get him that 12th ring. What a script it would be if the Lakers win in a Game 7 in Miami. That would end Phil Jackson's career with a bang.

Bottom Line: The Los Angeles Lakers will have another great season and will achieve their 3peat. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol will prove themselves in the NBA Finals against the Heat as the best one-two-punch in the league.

2011 NBA Power Rankings

1.Los Angeles Lakers
2.Miami Heat
3.Boston Celtics
4.Orlando Magic
5.Chicago Bulls