50 (semi) Bold Predictions, revisited: 25-1

 Those of you that remember, I made a large post right before the season started with my 50 (semi) Bold Predictions. A week ago I reviewed 50-26 here (http://www.nbadraft.net/forum/50-semi-bold-predictions), thinking all 50 (with analysis, naturally) would make for too much to read at once. So here’s the rest! Man was I wrong about so much, but I also don’t really regret anything. Notice as they naturally get more and more off as I get closer to the top (which I assume is normal). Making predictions you feel strongly about is what this is all about sometimes, so here’s the last of my pre-season predictions in review.

25. A mediocre team will irrationally give up a great young talent for Melo.

Can I change to Deron Williams? Not that he isn’t worth it based on value, but I think a Favors-Lopez combo (and all the cap space they could’ve had) would’ve been amazing, and I’d say there’s about a 60% chance Deron doesn’t stick in Jersey. The Knicks move wasn’t bad, but it also wasn’t a coup.

24. The Nuggets will scrounge up a pretty great deal for Melo well before the deadline.

Denver was arguably the best team in the league after Melo was traded, with that ultra deep lineup that somehow jelled extremely quickly. If they can hold onto Chandler, it’ll still have been a great deal, and with Lawson emerging as the definite future starter, they have good trade bait in Felton. This happened right around the deadline, though.

23. JaVale McGee challenges Dwight for the blocks title, for a little while.

The erratic McGee actually topped him in an awesomely close race 2.44 to 2.38.

22. The Cavs will win one game against the Heat this year.

Sure, they lost 3 out of 4 and got thrashed in two of them, but that 12-point W in late March was great for that poor team.

21. The Bucks nab the 4 seed over Chicago; if they won 46 games last year, and nearly won a playoff series WITHOUT Bogut (and Redd for that matter) – AND THEN added Maggette and Gooden without losing anyone, they’ll be good for 50-something wins.

Any reasoning I would give for this is in the explanation up there. Hope it looked valid. Please don’t ban me from the site.

20. The Knicks’ inability to rebound prevents them from making the playoffs.

Almost. Who knew Landry Fields would turn into a double-double threat?

19. The Nets’ efficiency on the glass gets them the 8 seed.

Let it be known that coming into the ’11 campaign, Lopez was actually a decent rebounder, averaging 8.7 in ’10. I loved the Favors pick, and Humphries turned into a rabid glass monster. They still sucked, though. Rebounding won’t get a bad team into the playoffs, but I thought it might give them the edge over NY.

18. Blake Griffin takes home ROY despite Wall’s ‘Zards making the playoffs.

The first happened, the second did not.

17. Outside of Griffin and Wall, no rookie makes a real seismic impact.

The 1^st team was rounded out by Neal (9.8 ppg), Cousins (14.1), and Fields (9.7). All were impressive, but when I mean seismic, I mean Griffin (highest scoring/rebounding totals of any rookie since Shaq) and Wall (top 10 in assists and steals, superior numbers to Paul and Rose as rookies). 

16. The Bobcats will be the most disappointing ’10 playoff team; their two best (read: good) players play the same position, and since season’s end they’ve lost Chandler and Felton w/o adding anyone of note.

Whoops, forgot about Cleveland :/

15. Anthony Morrow will lead the league in threes made. By 82.

What can I say, I just love Anthony Morrow. He finished tied 8^th in % at 42.3% and didn’t shoot nearly as often as he should’ve.

14. The Magic will be pretty good, but the Heat are gonna be, like, really &$#%#&@! good.

I thought the Magic could contend again going into the year, and while this is easier to say in hindsight, I think they handled those mid-season deals horribly with the assets they had.

13. The Thunder will be as good as advertised…which is to say, as good as a team of 23-year old phenoms can be.

I’d say 55 wins is the cap on that. Now let’s see what they can do one year wiser.

12. In one of the best league-leader-in-assists races in years, Chris Paul barely nabs the crown.

In an interesting race in which Rondo threatened to average 13 times, Nash barely edged out the former 11.4-11.2 in one of the best races in years. Paul finished with 9.8.

11. Kevin Love will lead the league in boards.

Told you, mom!

10. The Raps narrowly edge out the T-Wolves for the league’s worst record.

Minny 1 (15-67), Cleveland 2 (19-63), Toronto 3 (22-60). DeRozan’s rapid post-All Star development really helped.

9. The Heat win 63 games. Not that bold, I guess.

5 off on that. Gimme a healthy Haslem and I’d say 63 again for sure.

8. Lakers, Jazz, Thunder, Blazers, Mavericks, Rockets, Spurs, Hornets

Spurs, Lakers, Mavericks, Thunder, Nuggets, Blazers, Hornets, Grizzlies.

7. Heat, Magic, Celtics Bucks, Hawks, Pacers, Wizards, Nets

Before you comment, YES, I FORGOT ABOUT THE BULLS. Just forgot about them, skipped my mind. As you can see from prediction #14, I thought they would be 5. Got a lot of hate on that lol. But, anyways:

Bulls, Heat, Celtics, Magic, Hawks, Knicks, Sixers, Pacers.

6. Tyreke Evans, whose rookie year numbers were nearly identical to LeBron’s…becomes LeBron James-lite.

I had a lot of faith in Tyreke after he wrapped up his rookie year with per-36 minute numbers identical to those posted by Bron his rookie year. Injuries slowed him, and he still needs to work on that J.

5. Finally playing with a really good PG, Danny Granger finishes 2nd in scoring behind Durant.

If you read 26-50, you know that I’m a huge Collison fan and thought that he would help Granger, who averaged 25 a couple years ago, totally break out. That, combined with the expectedly diminished point totals for Bron and Wade (and an aging Kobe) would allow Granger to sneak into 2^nd.

4. Heat over Magic.

Heat over Bulls.

3. Lakers over Jazz.

*pulls collar nervously, eyes dart around the room*

2. Lakers over Heat.

Come on, don’t lie, we were all thinking it…

2a. Dirk Nowitzki has one of the most inspiring post seasons of all-time and with the world rallying behind him against the evil south beach machine, wins Finals MVP and the first title in Mavericks’ history!

Sike.  

1. After 1,137 wins and 22 winning seasons in 23 years, Jerry Sloan wins his first Coach of the Year award.

This was real. 

*starts to cry*