In one year the Atlantic Divison has gone from by far the worst division in the NBA to arguably the best division. There have been solid addtions to teams (Zach Randolph to New York), great additions (Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to Boston), and players returning from injuries (Richard Jefferson and Nenad Kristic in New Jersey). The competiton will be fierce in the battle for the crown and here's a look at how I think everything will finally come to an end:
5.Philadelphia
Overview:
The 76ers are a very young team headed by one of the top up and coming acts in Andre Iguodala. However, I see them built more like the Celtics of the past few seasons, young and exciting, than a team ready to go anywhere within the next few years. Andre Miller and Samuel Dalembert will contribute, but with this supporting cast I don’t see much more than a 30-32 win season.
Potential Sleeper: Jason Smith
Smith is one of the 76ers first round draft picks this year (along with Thaddeus Young) and stands 7-0 feet tall and is capable of playing either forward position. He is a very versatile player and may be able to crack the short list of big men on the team. Look for Smith to steadily gain minutes as the season progresses and even be a top 5 candidate for Rookie of the Year.
Theme: We talkin’ ‘bout practice
There is a new AI era in Philadelphia, but the 6ers will need a lot of this to move up from the cellar in the Atlantic. Well I shouldn’t even go as far as to say a new era has begun since the 76ers still haven’t signed Iguodala to a contract extension…
Prediction: 29-53
4. New York
Overview:
The New York Knicks are an offensive-minded team. They are bulky; they have versatile players; they have shooters; what they do not have however is a formula for success. People are questioning how the Celtics are going to work together. What about the rivals from New York? You have Marbury, Randolph, Curry, Crawford, and Robinson all fighting for shots (what I’m wondering is how poor David Lee got caught up in this mess), all of whom have fiery personalities and I can just see within 10 games all hell breaking loose in the locker room.
Potential Sleeper:
With so many scorers on the team I don’t know who is going to stand out as the star never mind a sleeper on the team. Having said that I’m going to have to go ahead and call David Lee the potential sleeper out of this group. Averaging a double-double last year, and an all out all the time player, there’s no way Isiah can keep him on the bench. He is a very smart player who knows how to score and rebound, and he will pick up any minutes that any of the “higher profile” aka higher tempered players want to give him. He may even up his averages from last year somewhat.
Theme: Animal House
There’s no doubt that the talent is there but this is going to be one crazy locker room. If Zach Randolph can’t stay out of trouble out in Portland, how do you think he is going to manage himself off the court in the Big Apple? When things aren’t going well do you think Isiah Thomas is going to be able to play peacemaker with between Zach and Eddy, and Stephan and Crawford? If you said yes to the previous questions, either you are an over optimistic Knicks fan or you can’t read.
Predicition: 40-42
3. Toronto
Overview:
When your best and another one of your important players enter the year with injury concerns, you could be in for a wild season. Despite this the Raptors have a very solid team with good players at all positions. Their only top 15 player is Chris Bosh who is surrounded by 5 or 6 good players. It doesn’t help that Toronto is playing in the same division as the Nets and the Celts, the two teams I have ranked ahead of them.
Potential Sleeper:
If Andrea Bargnani can step up his game to another level this year then I believe the Raptors have a good chance to supplant the Nets for 2nd in the Atlantic and have a slight chance with a little luck to win the division. If you are unfamiliar with the NBA (which I assume you’re not if you are reading this post) Bargnani has been tagged as the next Dirk Nowitski and last year he showed why. I think his numbers may jump quite a bit this year possibly to even somewhere around 18 points, 5 rebounds, and a block per game, while shooting 40% from beyond the arc and 85% from the charity stripe.
Theme: Euroball
The Raptors are a European style basketball team. They are one of the best shooting teams in the NBA, and are comprised of mostly big man snipers. With starters of 6’10, 6’10, 6’9, and 6’6, Toronto will continue to take any open jumper they get and if they can hit with consistency over the year barring any injuries I don’t see too much of a drop off from last years numbers.
Predicition: 45-37
2. New Jersey
Overview:
The Nets are yet again an intriguing team this year. Last year they finished only at .500, but they were without Nenad Kristic and Richard Jefferson for a bulk of the season. When healthy, the Nets are be one of the best teams in the league. Vince Carter is playing some of the best ball of his career, Jason Kidd played flawlessly with Team USA, Kristic and Jefferson can both light up the scoreboard, Marcus Williams will come in as the backup point guard and not allow any drop off in production. They are a very good team and will give Boston all they can handle in challenging for the division.
Potential Sleeper:
It’s a long shot, but troubled ex-BC star Sean Williams may contribute to the Nets run this year. One of the best shot blockers of recent memory, the only thing that held Williams back from being a top 10 pick was his off court issues. If you can’t stay out of trouble and were dismissed from your college basketball team midway through the season and were still the #17 pick in the NBA draft you must have unlimited potential. If someone can help get this kid’s head on straight (which will be no easy task by any stretch of the imagination), at the very least Williams will be a defense force this year.
Theme: Injuries, Injuries, Injuries
Everything I said about giving Boston a run for the division is premised on the fact that the Nets will be able to avoid injuries this year. I am not saying that everyone has to play 82 games, but Vince needs to stay healthy, Jefferson needs to play somewhere around 70 games, and Kristic has to play closer to the 80 and 75 games he contributed in during his first 2 seasons in the league.
Prediction: 50-32
1. Boston
Overview
The Celtics are finally again the majority choice for team to beat in the Atlantic and one of the few in the discussions for East champions. Yes they have weaknesses, the most glaring one is the depth on the bench, but KG, Paul, and Ray will more than make up for this. No team in the NBA has more firepower than the Green but I think it will be their defense that will get them near the top. With one of the best and most intense inside defenders in Garnett, along with Perks shot blocking ability, and Rondo’s ballhawking skills, teams will have an equally difficult time scoring as they will defending… well maybe not as hard of a time, but a hard enough time.
Potential Sleeper:
Perk. The addition of The Big Ticket will benefit Perk more than anyone else hands down. Between the help down low so Kendrick can avoid the foul trouble that kept him out of many games, to the constant instruction and that extra push to excel, Garnett will have an extraordinary effect on his counterpart in the paint. On the offensive end to go along with his improved hook shot, Perkins will be dunking the ball left and right because of Garnett’s passing ability. I think this year will be Perkin’s best year by far. 8.5 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks per game. Most importantly I think he will average 30 minutes which he has never come close to doing before.
Theme: It’s good to be Green again
The Celtics are finally relevant again and impose a threat to any team in the NBA. For years the C’s have failed to put that fear in their opponent’s heart but now the Spurs, Mavericks, Pistons, and Suns will be joined by the team from Boston as the elite class of the NBA.
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