The Championship Teams of 2011

It's hard to imagine but 2011 is about to wrap up. But before it ends, we look back at the ultimate championship teams of 2011. 

Green Bay Packers

Super Bowl Champions - February 2011

Yes, a team solely owned by the people of Green Bay, Wisconsin won it all in 2011. The NFL's ultimate prize, the Super Bowl, was won for the fourth time by the Packers, previous winners in 1967, 1968 and 1997. They went 10-6 in the 2010 regular season, then defeated the Eagles, the Falcons, and the Bears in the NFC playoffs before beating the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. Aaron Rodgers was superb in winning the game's MVP, while Mike McCarthy joined Vince Lombardi and Mike Holmgren as the only Packers coaches to win the Super Bowl. The season that followed saw the Packers win 13 in a row before losing to the Chiefs in Week 15. They have a huge chance to repeat as Super Bowl champs by virtue of earning the top seed in the NFC playoffs at the beginning of 2012. 

Dallas Mavericks

NBA Champions - June 2011

Before the drama that was the NBA lockout, the Dallas Mavericks celebrated the team's first championship in its 31-year history by defeating the Miami Heat in six games of the NBA Finals. The Mavericks were seeded third in the West, then defeated the Trail Blazers, the Lakers and the Thunder before engaging the powerful Miami Heat in a rematch of the 2006 Finals. The Heat brought title-hungry stars LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join Dwyane Wade but their combination wasn't enough as equally-starved all-stars Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd delivered key plays to finally put Dallas on top. Nowitzki earned the NBA Finals MVP as Mark Cuban finally earned the championship he envision upon purchasing the Mavericks in 2000.

Boston Bruins

Stanley Cup Champions - June 2011

The Boston Bruins were under the radar as their fellow football, baseball and even basketball counterparts from Boston won championships in the 2000s. Worse, they haven't even won it all since 1972. But in 2011, the Bruins finally joined the party as they defeated the Canucks in seven games of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Bruins were Northeast Division champions and the third seed, and with the exception of a sweep against the Flyers, the team whom they were defeated after leading 3-0 the previous year, they were pushed to a Game 7 against the Canadiens, the Lightning and the Canucks, before pulling through. Goaltender Tim Thomas was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner for playoff MVP, and also winning the Vezina Trophy as the best netminder. Thomas's .938 SV% is an NHL record. After a slow start in October to start the 2011-12 season, the Bruins would lose only once in a shootout and twice in regulation through December 26 as they sat atop the Eastern Conference.

St. Louis Cardinals

World Series Champions - October 2011

The Cardinals were considered the underdogs heading into the NL postseason, having finished as the Wild-Card. But they managed to beat the NL East champion and 102-win Phillies in the Division Series, then defeated the NL Central champion Brewers in the Championship Series. In the World Series, they managed to earn the home field advantage by virtue of the NL's win in the All-Star game. After trailing 3-2 to the Rangers, the Cardinals won a 11-inning thriller in Game 6, then followed up with an equally entertaining Game 7 to win their 11th World Series. David Freese won both the NLCS and World Series MVPs, while Tony La Russa retired a champion. 

Congratulations to the champions of the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB in 2011. Good luck on next year's voyage. 

The Return of the NBA (Southwest Division Preview)

What will Dallas do for an encore? How will the young Miami trio finally play right to win it all? Will Derrick Rose repeat as MVP? Are the Celtics and the Lakers too old to contend? Does the Thunder have what it takes to win it all? Is Melo and Amar'e enough for a Knick renaissance? And is the Clippers the newest big thing in Hollywood? We look forward to the 2011-12 NBA season.

We finally preview the Western Conference Southwest Division.

Dallas Mavericks

57-25 (3rd in West, NBA Champions)

The Mavericks climbed the NBA mountain in 2011. But now the pressure to repeat is even higher, having lost Caron Butler, Tyson Chandler and J.J. Barea. They were fortunate to add Lamar Odom and Vince Carter, but losing their best defensive center will be a big blow to the team. Brendan Haywood is too slow defensively, so let's hope Sean Williams provide the D off the bench. The keys to the Dallas repeat will be on Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and Shawn Marion, and if Roddy Beaubois rediscovers his 2010 form, he'll provide a terrific backup to Kidd and Terry. Delonte West is a slower upgrade from Barea, but is a terrific offensive player. For this Dallas team, they need to mesh fast if they were to repeat as champions. 

Houston Rockets

43-39 (9th in West, missed playoffs)

The Rockets were the only Southwest team to miss the playoffs, yet still finished with a winning record. With Yao Ming retired, the Rockets now have to rely on Jordan Hill, Hasheem Thabeet and newly-acquired Samuel Dalembert to fill Yao's shoes. Luis Scola is an All-Star in the making, while Kyle Lowry broke out after Aaron Brooks was traded. Lowry will be backed up by Goran Dragic and Jonny Flynn, who need to be more assertive in passing the ball. Kevin Martin remains the leading scorer, and should continue so. Chase Budinger and Courtney Lee provide the outside touch, and Patrick Patterson an able backup to Scola. For Kevin McHale, this will be a tough job for him sustaining Houston's momentum, so good luck. 

Memphis Grizzlies

46-36 (8th in West, lost to Thunder in 2nd round 4-3)

The Grizzlies surprised the NBA by upsetting the top-seeded Spurs in Round 1, then pushed the Thunder to the limit before folding, an impressive playoff run for this group. Zach Randolph should remain consistent, while Marc Gasol needs to translate a contract renegotiation to an improved All-Star type of performance. Darrell Arthur, however, is lost for the season, so a lot will be expected on Randolph and Gasol, unless Dante Cunningham proves himself. A healthy Rudy Gay is needed to put the Grizzlies to a better position to contend. OJ Mayo is better suited as a sixth man, while Sam Young would work well as a starter. Tony Allen changed the defensive intensity of the Grizzlies, and he should continue providing the same this season. This should be a breakout year for Memphis, or else. 

New Orleans Hornets

46-36 (7th in West, lost to Lakers in 1st round 4-2)

Label this as a rebuilding season. Losing Chris Paul would hurt the Hornets, but now they look to start over. Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and Eric Gordon have to adjust quickly to the Big Easy. Emeka Okafor will remain the starting center, but now has to move on from receiving most of Paul's passes, which will now be done by Jarrett Jack, Gordon and Quincy Pondexter. Marco Bellinelli and Trevor Ariza need to get open outside, and Carl Landry to assert himself inside. The Hornets will start over, no matter what.

San Antonio Spurs

61-21 (1st in West, lost to Grizzlies in 1st round 4-2)

The Spurs are too old, and it showed in the first-round upset by the Grizzlies. Unless RC Buford is willing to rebuild the team, the Spurs will not be in the conversation for an NBA championship. Tim Duncan is 35, and no longer possessing the instinct to play inside. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili is showing wear and tear at season's end, and they need help. They lost George Hill, and they need Gary Neal to be pass-first and shoot-second. If your name is T.J. Ford, he may not be a terrific passer; Corey Joseph should learn more about passing. Richard Jefferson loaded up for one more year, but he needs help from Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard and James Anderson. As for Duncan, better use Tiago Splitter, DeJuan Blair and Matt Bonner even more, the latter needs to crash the boards more often, to give Duncan rest. Either a short playoff stint or nothing at all will be the Spurs' fate at season's end. 

The NBA season gets underway on Christmas Day, with a five-game slate to begin the season:

12 nn ET: Boston @ New York

2:30 ET: Miami @ Dallas

5:00 ET: Chicago @ L.A. Lakers

8:00 ET: Orlando @ Oklahoma City

10:30 ET: L.A. Clippers @ Golden State

So good luck to the 30 NBA teams in the 2011-12 NBA season.