Parody and mediocrity. Those are the words that immediately come to mind when I think about the Eastern Conference. If the NBA were
automobiles, the East would be a 1996 Kia while the West would be a 2018 Austin Martin. So what if the East has won the championship
twice over the past three years. The West is still the dominate conference. So without further ado, and because I have nothing else to
add, the following is preview of the Eastern conference.
15. Charlotte Bobcats As the only expansion team, until the Bobcats actually start signing free agents, they will continue to be one of the worst teams
in the league. Granted they do have a few nice pieces in place. If Emeka Okafor can show that he's still capable of playing in this
league (which is a bit questionable seeing as how Orlando's
Dwight Howard made him look like Keith Closs...yes, that Keith Closs...during
their matchup a few weeks ago), and if Adam Morrison can quickly adjust to the NBA game, the Cats might win the distinction of that
team no one wants to play on the tail end of a long road trip. Anyway, the Cats might start signing free agents next season and a guy
like, oh say, Vince Carter, could be just the guy who turns this franchise
from a laughing stock expansion team to possible playoff sleeper.
14. Atlanta Hawks Joe Johnson is still an absolute stud. Josh Smith is still a consistent jump shot away from being a really good player. And Josh
Childress still has the worst looking jumper I've ever seen. Needless to say, a lot hasn't changed in hot 'Lanta. Adding Speedy Claxton
is a huge improvement (relatively speaking) over Tyronn Lue and Royal Ivey. Aside from that, there really isn't too much to get excited
about. What was once a team I thought had made some significant steps to get back to the playoffs, I suddenly feel like this team is
quickly headed no where.
13. Philadelphia 76ers Just how far do the Sixers have to drop before someone in the organization actually takes notice and blows the whole thing up? I
love Iverson, but it's time for him to go. Not because he's done anything wrong, but because aside from he and Andre Iguodala, the
Sixers don't have any tradable assets. So even if they wanted to get better with their current nucleus, they couldn't. Chris Webber is a
dead weight, and has been for about three or four seasons now. Kyle Korver was exposed late last year as nothing more than a token
white shooter (finally joining other TWS alumni's Tim Legler,
Steve Kerr, and Jim Paxson). Billy Knight will be fired before long and hopefully
this franchise can hire someone with a vision who can breathe some life back into this franchise. The fans in Philly definitely deserve
better.
12. Milwaukee Bucks I won't spend too much time talking about this team. All I'll say is, over the past two years, when T.J. Ford played, they made the
playoffs. In the one season he didn't, they were horrible. Ford's in Toronto now. I think you can figure out how things end up in deer
country.
11. Toronto Raptors I give Brian Colangelo a lot of credit. Fresh off of his success in Phoenix, the junior Colangelo headed up north and despite early
criticism, has created a very diverse (or more ways than one) group of players, most of whom were left for dead and have a chip on their
shoulder. The Bucks gave up on Ford (for reasons unknown), the Spurs gave up on Rasho Nesterovic, and just about everyone gave up on
Anthony Parker. Add guys like Fred Jones, Mo Pete, and the number one pick
Andrea Bargnani (and oh yeah, all-star stud Chris Bosh), and the Raptors look like they could surprise a lot of people this season. I'm
a little shaky on Sam Mitchell as the head coach, but before long, we'll be talking about this team as playoff veterans.
10. New York Knicks Alright, look. I hate the Knicks. I think that's already been established. So I know you're thinking to yourself, last year you had
them in the playoffs, and this year you have them close to making the playoffs, what gives? Well, here's the thing. Last year I thought
Larry Brown could get through to this group of misfits, but then later remembered that a) Larry hates playing rookies (who were the
Knicks' best players at some points during the season), b) Isiah Thomas was the general manager and President, and c) Isiah Thomas was
the general manager and President. This season, I think the motivation of having the one person who has constantly stuck up for them
(not to mention, the man responsible for their overpaid contracts), will fuel this team to play hard. They still won't make the playoffs,
will fail to get over .500, thus meaning Zeke loses his job, forcing the new Knickerbocker era to begin, but at least those guys will
give it their all to win for their head coach (which for some, is the best and only thing they've actually tried to accomplish in their
careers).
9. Boston Celtics First let me pay respects to the greatest coach in all of sports, Arnold "Red" Auerbach. Without him, basketball would not be
anywhere near where it is today. We'll miss ya, Red!
Now, back to business. If not for the next team on this list, the Celtics would be the best young up and coming team in
basketball. I mean between Al Jefferson (who I still believe in), Sebastian Telfair (who earned my respect with that documentary), and
Gerald Green (how's that 2005 draft taste now, Magic fans?), to go along with star veteran Paul Pierce (who's finally accepted his role
as leader and mentor), the Celtics certainly are a team built for the future. Only one problem.
Doc Rivers is still the head coach. And it's for that reason that this team will
just miss out on the playoffs. With so much talent and abilities, the Celtics should be a lock for the post season, but because Rivers
is probably one of the worst game coaches ever, the Celtics won't get there. Hopefully GM Danny Ainge (who's also on thin ice) comes to
his senses and sees what almost everyone but him sees, fires Rivers, and hires a capable coach (Rick Aldeman?). Once they do that,
the Celtics should be fine. I can actually forsee a conference finals match up in about five or six years between the Celtics and...
8. Orlando Magic That's right. The Magic will once again be in the conference finals. Not this season, but soon. There has been lots of talk about
this team stemming from the strong finish last season. Some Magic fans are even foolish enough to believe that this is a 50-win
basketball team. In reality, the Magic will probably win between 42 and 44 games. That should be enough for a playoff berth.
Dwight Howard is an all-star and
Jameer Nelson is a natural leader. Number 33 (I refuse to mention him by name
at this point) will provide something until his inevitable injury. The key to this team's success will be just how good Darko really is.
If he's as good as Magic fans and officials say he is, then the Magic will have no problems achieving a playoff berth. If he's just
slightly better than what we saw in 20 games late last season, then the Magic will struggle to hang on to this final spot. Either way,
I think they get in. I could write more, but Philip Rossman-Reich has already given a wonderful team preview. Plus, I'm trying to
conserve space.
7. Indiana Pacers Analysts say that chemistry is everything. A team must come together both on and off the court in order to be success. Well, look no
further than the Indiana Pacers as an example of a team that's been through rough patches
over the past three years. From the Artest debacle (the brawl and his pouting to get out of town), to Reggie's retirement, to all of
the injuries to key players, and the latest where Stephen Jackson is shooting up strip clubs during training camp. No other team has
had to fight through more adversity -directly or indirectly - than the Pacers. Give head coach Rick Carlisle a lot of credit. He's kept
this team together and despite all of the injuries and off court issues, he has kept this team in the playoffs. From a basketball
standpoint, adding Marquis Daniels and Al Harrington will do nothing but keep them ahead of the curve. While I think they'll struggle
through another injury riddled season, I still think they have the tenacity to get back to the playoffs. Jermaine O'Neal won't allow
anything less.
6. Washington Wizards For a team that seemingly has one of the best big three's in the league (Arenas, Jamison, and Butler), everyone seems to be
counting out the Wizards. If it wasn't for a couple of no-calls by the refs against
Lebron James, it would have been the Wizards and not the Cavs playing
against the Pistons in last seasons playoffs. With Butler finally healthy, the Wizards are ready for another playoff run. If they hope
to take the next step, however, someone other than DeShawn Stevenson has to be willing to play defense.
5. New Jersey Nets Speaking of big three's, the Nets have a pretty solid nucleus. Not only did they add Marcus Williams to the fold as the teams
future point guard; not only is Nenad Krstic finally turning into a solid NBA player. The biggest factor heading into this season for
New Jersey is Vince Carter's pending free agency. Nearing the dog days of
his NBA career, you just know Carter is going to put himself in a great position for one last large contract. Orlando and Charlotte
will try their hand at landing the former half man half amazing player, but don't count out Jersey. With their pending move, the
Nets might just keep Carter around for the "wow" factor. Not to mention that he could still be a valuable player should the Nets
become title contenders again. Assuming the new rules that state that each conference is broken down not on division winners but on
team records, the Nets will probably finish here.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers Not much to say about the Cavs, actually.
LeBron James is a superstar. Having Larry Hughes for a full season will
help ease some of James' load. The Big Z is still a serviceable center (even though he doesn't fit the team's run and gun style of
play). Last season King James got a big taste of the playoffs; this season he'll be looking for a full meal.
(Now I'm starving!)
3. Chicago Bulls No team has gone from being so underrated to so overrated over a shorter period of time. Last season the Bulls were the underdog
that gave the eventual champs fits on both sides of the ball. Then they went and added
Ben Wallace and P.J. Brown (not to mention rookie Tyrus Thomas) to go along
with their core nucleus of Gordon, Hinrich, and Nocioni. While I love what the Bulls have done, expectations are as high as they've
ever been, and I just can't see the Bulls living up to them. A lot of people are picking them over the Pistons, but unlike Detroit,
the Bulls still lack a significant offensive force in the middle. For all of Big Ben's brilliance, he couldn't score 30 points over
10 games. For now, they have to settle for a third seed and a wonderful matchup against the Wizards.
2. Detroit Pistons The window is no where near closed for the
Detroit Pistons. If anything, aside from a slip late in the season on the defensive end,
I think the Pistons are as strong as they've ever been. Out is Big Ben, who almost derailed the team's chances of a repeat by clashing
with new coach Flip Saunders. He let his disdain for a more offensive mindset affect his play. Now there is Nazr Mohammad in the middle,
and while he might not light the league on fire, if his time in San Antonio is any indication, he is a perfect compliment to very
versatile forwards (namely Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince). Chauncey Billups is still the engine of this team and the Pistons will
go only as far as he takes them. To me, this years Pistons bench is as strong as the one that one the title two seasons ago. Jason
Maxiell will definitely show a lot of promise if he gets the minutes. Flip Murray was a strong pickup, and this is a make or break year
for Carlos Delfino. Antonio McDyess will be a sixth man of the year candidate, and I think with a full year with coach Saunders behind
them and expectations a little lower than last season, the Pistons will show their dominance again and could possibly get back to the
finals. To that, however, they'll have to inevitably get past...
1. Miami Heat In the infamous words of Rudy T, "Don't EVER underestimate the heart of a champion!" When the Houston Rockets won their first NBA
title in '94, everyone counted them out for a possible repeat. They said they were too old and would become complacent after winning
the championship. Well, analysts are saying the same thing about this Heat team. They're too old and won't have that fire to chase their
first title. They say Shaq is getting too old to become a factor anymore (much like they were saying about Hakeem). The truth is,
baring injuries, the Heat are just as strong as ever. When they finally got healthy late in the season going into the playoffs, they
hit their stride and were really hitting on all cylinders (just watch the Nets and Pistons series). The key, however, will be just how
much Dwayne Wade has left after playing all of those games last season and the minutes he played during the World games. He's already
complaining of fatigue and the season hasn't even started. Nevertheless, I believe that once the lights turn on for real (starting
tonight), Wade will be ready for the season, and the Heat will be all set for another championship run. Will they repeat like that old
Rockets team? Never say never.
Whew, I'm exhausted. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some NBA games to watch!
