We are in for one hell of a regular season.
I believe that after last years injury-riddled, predictable and downright boring season and playoffs that culminated in the Cleveland Cavaliers making it into the Finals that we are in for a treat. Why you might ask? There is intrigue, and not just ‘Will San Antonio repeat?’ intrigue but ‘Oh my god which team with a closing window is going to make it?’ or ‘Who is going to make the playoffs in the East?’ Yes, in the Eastern Conference there may actually be a legitimate playoff race. And I say legitimate because this years was a joke. It was ‘Will Washington, who lost their two best players fall all the way out?’ or ‘Will Orlando stop losing games to clinch a spot?’ The teams from the bottom are stepping up which is going to leave some people in the dust.
In the Eastern Conference, all of the lottery teams not named Indiana have improved. Shockingly some of the playoff teams have chosen not to step their games up and address their issues. My “locks” for the playoffs (this is before any thought of injuries that could happen) are Detroit, Chicago, Toronto, Miami, Washington and Boston. Those are the five teams that I think we’ll make it for sure. Shocked that I put Miami up there? For one, I think they’ll win their division. My second reason? Three little words; Hungry D-Wade. I hesitated but I put Washington up there for karma and Gilbert. Gilbert (and Caron) had to sit and watch their team die a slow and painful death, which should be enough motivation to carry them through.
That being said there are some of last years playoff teams that need to watch out and some lottery teams that are on the rise.
Team #1 that needs to watch out; the Cleveland Cavaliers. I was reading ESPN.com’s little ‘Writer roundup Q&A’ on the Eastern Conference and was dumb-founded as to how John Hollinger, Marc Stein and Ric Bucher could say that the Cleveland Cavaliers would be at the top of the East at the end of the regular season. For one, they were an absolute cinderella story that will more than likely never be duplicated again in NBA history. They had no business being in the NBA Finals and everyone knows it. They drew Washington, a three person New Jersey team and a Detroit team that forgot how to play basketball for a week. They just happened to be at the right place at the right time. Barring a move (which the Cavs have inexplicably not made) the Cavs are headed towards the bottom half of the East. They’ll have the same team as last year which means they’ll still have Eric Snow, Donyell Marshall and Damon Jones to depend on. And they will still have Mike Brown. Wake up call, they need to make a move and make on fast or we’ll be seeing a lot of Angry LeBron next year.
06 Playoff Team #2 that needs to watch out; The New Jersey Nets. The good news is that Nenad Krstic will be back which is a major upgrade over Mikki Moore. The bad news is they have no depth. But this what people are forgetting; if a team with solely Vince Carter, Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson can get to the second round of the playoffs how do KG, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce not get afforded that same respect. Of course, Jason Kidd is proving in this Net purgatory that he is one of the greatest point guards to play the game. Take a look at their bench. I dare you. Scared ya a little bit didn’t it. They can still get in based on the big three but it would be a battle for 7 or 8.
The last 06 Playoff Team that needs to watch out; the Orlando Magic. Marc Stein and David Thorpe said that the combination of Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard can get the Magic to the playoffs. I disagree because Orlando has Carlos Arroyo and Jameer Nelson running their ship. Unless they change their uniforms to Puerto Rico’s, Arroyo is pretty much like a box of Mike and Ike’s to a kid who just got braces. Useless. Jameer has talent but I think he is a little too shoot first oriented and certainly isn’t the type of PG I would want running a half-court offense. Plus they have no post depth. They have six guys who are 6-10. Two of them are Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu who play like they are 6-6. One of them is Dwight Howard. The other three? Tony Battie, James Augustine and Mikolan Rakovic. That sound you heard? Someone in Orlando projectile vomiting. They are far from a lock to be in the playoffs.
New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Charlotte have all also improved. The question is have they done enough to jump into contendership or even the playoffs? No one knows quite yet but one thing that is for sure is that they will add intrigue to the regular season. However each team has their own holes. For New York, they have zero defense and a team full of guys who need the ball to even think about being effective or happy. For Philadelphia, they are young and lacking a real “go-to” guy they can count on all the time to carry the team. Atlanta and Charlotte look to be the two teams that could make the leap in August. The Bobcats won 33 games despite and injury riddled season that required Derek Anderson to play a major role. Now they have Jason Richardson and everyone healthy. The tools are there. In Atlanta all the tools are there as well. Perimeter scorer (Joe Johnson), athleticism (Josh Smith and others), post play (Horford), banger (Shelden Williams), PG (Acie Law and his three backups). The only question is can they put it all together.
The East of 07 and the East of 06 are like night and day. And I love it.