The (Other) Championship Teams of 2011

On the flip side, there were teams that underachieved the most in 2011. We look back at the 'other' champions in 2011.

Carolina Panthers

2-14 (.125)

Before drafting Cam Newton in the spring, the Panthers won only twice in the 2010 season (ended Jan. 2, 2011, thus part of our 2011 in review). Bad offense, as well as an equally mediocre defense, were trouble spots in the Panthers' season. Their most impressive win was a 19-12 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Week 15, but their most depressing defeat was a 34-3 loss to the then-defending champion Saints on Week 9. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

17-65 (.207)

For all of Kevin Love's double-double streaks and All-Star appearances, the Timberwolves looked atrocious in 2011. Kurt Rambis's modified triangle proved to be a bad fit from the start. The defense was atrocious, even if their offense was decently good. Their most  impressive win was a 129-95 shellacking of the equally mediocre Cavaliers post-LeBron James, while their most depressing defeat was a 128-86 thumping by the Magic, which set the franchise's worst defeat. The Wolves need to put this season behind them after hiring Rick Adelman as their coach and convincing Spanish phenom Ricky Rubio to come to Minnesota. 

Edmonton Oilers

25-45-12 (62 pts., .378)

They hope that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and the return to the Gretzky-era blue and orange will bring the Oilers back to respectability and eventually glory. But before that, the Oilers had the least points of any NHL team that season. They are 28th in both goals scored and goals allowed, as well as the fourth-worst power-play and second-worst penalty kill unit in 2011. Their most impressive win was a 5-0 shutout of the Maple Leafs, while their most depressing defeats were a 2-8 loss to the Rangers and a 1-7 loss to the Hurricanes. 

Houston Astros

56-106 (.346)

Houston, we have a problem! The Astros' 2011 season saw them lose 100 games for the first time in their 49-year history. They traded the bat of Hunter Pence to the league-leading Phillies and the speedy cleats of Michael Bourn to the Braves in midseason, obviously looking to rebuild the team. An ownership situation that wasn't solved until after the end of the season as well as the rumors of moving to the American League were distraction points for the disgruntled fan base. Offensively they had the fifth-fewest runs, the fifth-lowest runs per game, and the second-fewest home runs, while defensively they had the third-highest ERA, the third-highest runs allowed per game, the third-highest runs allowed, and the second-highest home runs allowed. The only positive was that they're 10th in batting average, with Minute Maid Park being a 'hitter's park'. Their most impressive wins were a pair of 11-2 wins over the Cubs and Rockies, while their most depressing loss was a 3-19 defeat to the Rockies. After the season it was announced that Jim Crane purchased the Astros from Drayton McLane, and agreed to move the team from the National League Central to the American League West in 2013. Hope the transition to a DH game where pitchers don't need to bat will be helpful for the Astros in 2013. 

What these teams need to do is to improve in 2012. Hope the lucky ball will bounce your way.