PREDICTIONS (PART ONE)

The 2010-11 NBA season is only two days away from blast off. A new season, new heroes, new champions (hopefully). Hoop fans worldwide come together to follow every game of the greatest show on earth. All 30 teams are ready for war. This time, I try to deviate from the usual predictions from the various leading NBA annual magazines and instead, ask several friends of mine, who shares the same deep passion and love of NBA basketball, of three simple but interesting questions of how the new season will eventually wind-up.

1.       Who do you think will win the 2010-11 NBA championship and why?

2.      Who do you think will win the 2010-11 NBA MVP award and why?

3.      Who do you think will win the 2010-11 NBA ROY award and why?

I’ve got three early replies and all of them picked the Boston Celtics to reclaim the NBA championship and with justified reasons to back them up. Herewith are the predictions from the first wave:

Bert Ramirez (One of the original NBA authorities in the country, Editorial Consultant of Tower Sports NBA Magazine and also one of the founders of the popular e-group Celtics Philippines):

“1. I may be biased here, of course, but I think the Boston Celtics will win the 2010-11 NBA title for the simple reason that they have all the elements of a championship team: experience, depth, defense, balance and desire. The presence this year of such frontcourt studs as Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal gives Boston the length and size as well as the post game that they lacked last year. Only the injury to Kendrick Perkins separated them from an 18th banner last season, and I believe, quite strongly, that only injury can separate them again from that coveted prize. The question is, does lightning strike twice in the same place? The odds are it won't, and as long as coach Doc Rivers is able to manage the veterans' minutes as he was last year, the Celtics will be alright.

“2. Kevin Durant will win it if the Oklahoma Thunder again have a good season. This is simply because the Thunder's offense is centered around Durant, and more than reigning MVP LeBron James, Durant's role with the Thunder will be crucial to Oklahoma's success than James' will be to the Heat, with whom he has to share centerstage with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. A second straight scoring title and playoff berth will give Durant the league MVP trophy in just his third year in the league.

“3. John Wall will be Rookie for the Year, again simply because the Washington Wizards will showcase Wall as their new floor leader, thus affording him the role of a centerpiece player his fellow rookies may not get at this point. If Wall lives up to expectations, it won't be difficult for him to nail this once-in-a-lifetime distinction, although college teammate DeMarcus Cousins and LA Clipper Blake Griffin also have a shot at it.”

Ollie Olivenza (A member of Celtics Philippines and an avid sports fan from  Boston, Massachusetts):

“1. I believe in history repeating itself. For this belief I will refer my answer to a post by our Celtics Bro, Tom Ong, on his Yahoo Group posted on 10/17/2010. Pareng Tom indicated the similarity between the 1959 Celtics and our current roster. The prior year, 1958, we lost the championship to the St. Louis Hawks due to Bill Russel being injured. Just like last year we lost to LA because Perkins was injured. But in 1959, players like Hondo, Siggy, Embry and Tom Sanders had arrived. That year was the start of winning 8 consecutive years of championship titles. I believe that this year arrival of the 2 O'neals, Luke, Bradley, Semih, and Dwest is the start of something special. Maybe the start of another 8 years of winning titles just like 1959.

“2. With both LeBron and Wade canceling each other out down in Southbeach, it will be between Kobe and Durant to battle each other out. My feelings are that the voters will give it to the more humble player Durant, rather than the selfish and self-centered Kobe.

“3. The majority of the voters, I think will give it to John Wall, and I am a member of that majority. The kid just have that sky-is-the limit potential.”

Jommel De Guzman (An avid sports fan from Virginia Beach):

“1. Celtics - nuff said

2. Kevin Durant - only loss by 2 points from Kobe Bryant last season and should be the NBA MVP.

3. John Wall - has a lot of leadership for the coach of Washington Wizards to depend on.”