NBA : Eastern Conference Preview

2010-2011 Eastern Conference Preview

The Heat seem to be the front runners but not so fast. There has been a lot of commotion in the east this summer. Lets Take a look at whats been done on a conference wide scale.

Top 8

1. Orlando Magic

Am I an Orlando Magic fan? Yes. But hear me out. VC & Jameer had their individual struggles last year but if this preseason is any indication, its far behind them. Dwight worked on offensive moves with one of the greatest big men of all time over the summer, Hakeem the Dream.Q Rich & Chris Duhon are perfect pieces for this team. Duhon will bring scrappy defense off the bench & , at this point, Q is just as potent as Rashard as far as scoring goes. JJ Reddick was huge for this team last year & bringing him back shows how important he is to this teams overall success. With Brandon Bass finally getting some burn this team is as solid as there is in the NBA , if not the most complete. You would be hard pressed to find a team that is 1-10 as good as the Magic.

PG Nelson/Duhon/Williams

SG Carter/Reddick

SF Lewis/Petrius/Richardson

PF Bass/Anderson

C Howard/Gortat

Prediction : 62+ Wins

2. Miami Heat

The Big 3! Ok now none of us ever thought this was possible in Miami. I thought that NY was the only team with the money to bring in all three of these guys but I was wrong. Lebron is a nightmare for any team. But him along with Dwayne Wade & Chris Bosh could possibly be one of the most nerve racking team to plan for. Who do you pin point? Can you pin point on anyone? But after the big 3, who does Miami really have? Mike Miller is already banged up but he is their only viable option off the bench. Their big men are old. Big Z & Juwan Howard cant shoulder the load against the Eastern Conference centers. Chalmers & Arroyo will have to play big if they want to keep the super stars healthy. As we have already seen , this team is pushing itself to greatness. Lets just hope they dont buckle under the pressure. Also, keep an eye out for the tension that is sure to develop once the question “Who's team is this?” arises.

PG Chalmers/Arroyo/Beverly

SG Wade/House

SF James/Miller/Jones

PF Bosh/Haslem

C Anthony/Illgaskas/Howard

Prediction : 62+ Wins

3. Chicago Bulls
   
   
   Even though Carlos Boozer is out for the first month of the season I still think the Bulls are a legit contender in the east. Noah has made a metamorphosis in the last 2 seasons. He is now a mid level center in the NBA. His energy is what makes him so valuable. Korver gives them a legit outside threat & Brewer is the lock down defender they need to guard most wings in the NBA. C.J. Watson will give them quality guard play off the bench as well. Then there is Derrick Rose. He , much like Rondo, is a jumpshot away from being unstoppable. Did I mention Luol Deng? He if he can play & stay involved this team will be a juggernaut in the East.

PG Rose/Watson

SG Brewer/Korver

SF Deng/Johnson

PF Boozer/Gibson

C Noah/Thomas

Prediction : 55+ Wins

4. Boston Celtics

The Celtics were left for dead last year. Then they made an amazing push to the Finals. Rondo emerged as a top 5 PG . But Can the ageless wonders do it again? Theyve added some spark with Delonte West , who has proven that , he can score with the best of them. Nate will have a bigger role this year as his import was seen on their way to the Finals last season. Add in two O'Neals & you have yourself a very interesting team. If they can stay healthy they may find themsleves is great position come playoff time.

PG Rondo/West

SG Allen/Robinson/Wafer

SF Peirce/Daniels

PF Garnett/Davis/Harangody

C J. O'Neal/S. O'Neal/Perkins

Prediction : 50+ Wins

5. Milwaukee Bucks

This team was a huge surprise last year. Without their most potent offensive player on the court too. They have brought in some more fire power too. CDR is finally coming into his own in the NBA. John Salmons has shown that he is a threat to go off any given night. Couple that with the additions of Gooden ,Maggs & Dooling and you have yourself an exciting team. Oh, and lets not forget Brandon Jennings. The kid can BALL. The Bucks will definitely make some noise this coming year.

PG Jennings/Dooling

SG Salmons/Douglas-Roberts/Redd

SF Maggette/Delfino

PF Gooden/Mbah a Moute/Ilyasova

C Bogut/Skinner

Prediction : 40-46 Wins

6. New York Knicks

No im not crazy. So they didnt get Lebron. So what? Amare is huge for this team but not for the ame reasons many think. Amare will make the defense respect him. That is something this squad has been missing for quite sometime. A big man that has to be checked at all times. He can Easily torch a front-court for 30 & 12. They made a lot of quality additions besides Amare this off season. Raymond Felton is a PG that will thrive in D'Antoni's system. Azibuke & Roger Mason are up grades at the SG spot. Anthony Randolph will give teams fits off the bench, especially behind Amare. Turiaf isnt the biggest center but he plays like it. That tenacity will be the edge this team needscompete.Dont sleep on the freakish Mozgov either. This team will be one of the most exciting teams to watch this season.

PG Felton/Douglas

SG Azibuke/Mason/Rautins

SF Gallinari/Chandler/Walker

PF Stoudamire/Randolph

C Turiaf/Mozgov

Prediction : 40+ Wins

7. Washington Wizards

Lottery to the playoffs? Yes I think so. This is not a bad team. Sure Josh Howard is out for a few months but this is the East. Teams can overcome that. John Wall is touted as the next great one. Right fully so. He has all the tools. Agent Zero is back. But the big story in D.C. Is their big men. Andray Blatche & Javale McGee showed that they can ball with the big boys last year. Their development over this season will either sink this team or keep them in playoff contention.

PG Wall/Hinrich

SG Arenas/Young

SF Howard/Thorton

PF Blatche/Jianlian/Booker/Seraphin

C McGee/Armstrong

8. Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta made no movement this off season. Nothing. I was actually considering leaving them out of the top 8. This team regressed this off season in my opinion. They didnt bring in much new talent. They did bring Joe Johnson back though. That shows that they dont want to be a mockery but not making any other moves shows that they are ok with mediocrity. I may have ranked them too high but I cant bring myself to drop them any lower.

PG Bibby/Teague

SG Johnson/Crawford/Jo. Crawford

SF Williams/Evans

PF Smith/Powell

C Horford/Pachulia/Collins

Prediction : 40+ Wins

Bottom 7

9. Charlotte Bobcats

They have a lot of work to do. This team actually got worse after their first playoff birth in team history. You know what you get from your starters but look to the bench for some excitement. Shaun Livingston & Gerald Henderson should be fun to watch.

PG Augustin/Livinston

SG Jackson/Henderson/Caroll

SF Wallace/Najera

PF Diaw/Thomas/D. Brown

C Mohammed/Diop/K. Brown

Predictions 35+ Wins

10. New Jersey Nets

I actually wont be shocked if they sneak in as an 8^th seed this year but lets not get carried away. They have made an obvious push to get better. Morrow , Farmar , Outlaw & Murphy were big upgrades. The emergence of Terrence Williams & the play of the rookies ( Favors & James ) will also be keys to the Nets making some noise. Look for Lopez to solidify himself as a top tier center too.

PG Harris/Farmar

SG Williams/Morrow

SF Outlaw/Graham/Ross

PF Murphy/Favors

C Lopez/Smith/Petro

Prediction : 35+ Wins

11. Cleveland Cavaliers

Well they surely werent expecing this at the end of last season. But I can guarantee you that this team feels it has something to prove & will be playing with a big chip on its shoulder. Byron Scott will have them playing defense. I just dont think they have enough offense.

PG Williams/Sessions

SG Parker/Gibson

SF Moon/Graham/Williams

PF Hickson/Jamison/Powe

C Verajao/Hollins

Prediction : 30 Wins

12. Philadelphia 76ers

I want to but them higher but I just cant. Turner is a great addition. Iggy is a top 20 player. But they just dont have it. They sent their defensive big man out west for a back up in Nocioni & an under developing center in Hawes. They are rebuilding once again.

PG Holiday/Williams

SG Iguodala/Turner

SF Young/Nocioni/Kapono

PF Brand/Songalia/Brackins

C Hawes/Speights

Prediction : 30 Wins

13. Detroit Pistons 
    They just dont have the juice to make much noise. If they could stay healthy , maybe.Look for McGrady's back to be in the headlines more than the team.

PG Stuckey/Bynum

SG Hamilton/Gordon/McGrady

SF Prince/Daye

PF Jerebko/Villanueva/Monroe

C Wallace/Maxiell

Prediction : Less than 30 Wins

14. Indiana Pacers

Collison & Granger cant carry this team alone. Maybe management should move some pieces around.

PG Collison/Ford

SG Dunleavy/Rush/Jones

SF Granger/Posey/George

PF McRoberts/Hansbrough

C Hibbert/Foster

Prediction : Less than 30 Wins

15. Toronto Raptors

If you think they were bad with Chris Bosh wait till they suit up this year.

PG Calderon/Jack/Banks

SG Derozan/Barbosa

SF Klezia/Weems

PF Johnson/Evans/Davis

C Bargiani/Andersen

Prediction : 17-25 Wins

Due to the divisions this isnt how I see playoff seeding just overall records in the Eastern Conference. I would LOVE some feedback on this post. Tell me what you think. Who is to high? Too low? Let me know. Your comments are always welcomed.