Top 5 NBA Surprises of 2008-09 Season
Written February 8, 2009 by Jason Lowry
1. Miami Heat
The Heat currently have the 6th best record in the Eastern Conference, and for a team that finished at the bottom of the conference last season with just 15 wins, there is no question that this has been the surprise of the season. The reason for the surge is Dwayne Wade is back to being the player he was when he helped carry the Heat to an NBA Championship just a couple years ago. Wade is averaging nearly 29 points a game, and is getting some great help from rookie forward Michael Beasley, who is averaging nearly 14 points and 6 rebounds a game. The Heat look like a near lock to make it in the Eastern Conference, so even though they are just 26-22 overall, this is a team few will want to play in the postseason, as Wade can put this team on his shoulders and help them beat some of the best the East has to offer.
2. Orlando Magic
Sticking to the state of Florida, we have the Orlando Magic as a big surprise so far in the 2008-09 season, as they have gone from a mediocre team that wasn’t likely to get past the first round of the playoffs to one of the best the East has to offer. The Magic are currently37-12, but they suffered a big blow when Jameer Nelson went down with a torn right shoulder, as Nelson was easily having his best season, and was headed to the All-Star game as well. There is hope that Nelson could be back by the start of the playoffs, but they have to find a guy to replace him. Dwight Howard is having another monster season, but without a good point guard this team will be back to its mediocre days.
3. Portland Trail Blazers
It was only a matter of time before this team full of young talent would be up towards the top of the Western Conference, and few thought this team would have 30 wins before they even played 50 games. The Trail Blazers currently have the fifth best record in the West, and are just 3.5 games behind the Nuggets for the lead in the Northwest division, that also includes the likes of the Utah Jazz. Greg Oden has been a pleasant addition to the starting lineup, and this guy is only going to get better the more he plays, as you can’t teach the size and athleticism that this guy possesses. Brandon Roy is having an All-Star season scoring 22.5 points a game, and his presence is a must for this team. The Trail Blazers also have a great bench that includes the likes of Travis Outlaw, Rudy Fernandez, and Jerryd Bayless. This team isn’t getting a lot of talk with the season the Lakers are having in the West, but this team has all the makings of a championship team in the years to come.
4. Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks stunned everyone when they took the Boston Celtics to 7 games last year in the playoffs, and they have kept that good play rolling into the 2008-09 season, as they are 29-20 overall, and have the 4th best record in the Eastern Conference. Joe Johnson continues to be the man for this team, but this team is loaded with players who can put the ball in the hoop, as they have 6 players averaging 10 points or more a game. The only thing that seems to be holding this team back, is getting that same kind of production on the road as they do at home, as they are 18-5 at home and 11-15 on the road. This team is also young, and just ask the Celtics how much fun this team is to play come playoff time.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
Some think the Cavaliers are the surprise of the season, but there is no way this team wasn’t going to be one of the best teams the Eastern Conference, as there just aren’t that many good teams in the East. The reason this team is considered to be a surprise this season, is just how good this team has become, as they have the best record in the Eastern Conference at 39-9, but what this team cares about is getting to the postseason and getting past the Boston Celtics, who brought the East back to the top with their NBA Championship season last year. The addition of Mo Williams has been huge for the Cavaliers, and the way LeBron is dominating everyone this season, its hard to imagine this team not making it back to the NBA Finals real soon.
Close Behind: New Jersey Nets, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks
For those of you looking to start doing some NBA betting this season, now is the perfect time to check out what our experts are saying in their NBA Picks, and make sure you have the latest NBA odds for every game at Betfirms.
If you liked this article, you may also be interested in:
- 2009 Eastern Conference Betting Odds
- 2009 Atlanta Hawks NBA Finals Betting Odds
- LeBron James 2008-09 NBA MVP Predictions
- 2009 NBA Finals Betting Odds
- Dwight Howard 2008-09 MVP Predictions
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