Miami Thrice. The Miami trinity. The dream team. Well, the last one is stretching it a bit, but there is no doubting that the new threesome in Miami is very, very good. Scary good.
However, the NBA is not about one team, or three players, and there were significant developments from the free agency, which has shifted the balance of power to one side, the Eastern Conference.
While the spread of talent and good teams from 1-10 remains with the west, the top tier teams in the east have improved.
Here is a look at how it’s panned out in the east, and what I expect going into next season.
1. Orlando: For my money, still remain the best team in the east, regardless of what happens in Miami. They have had two consecutive seasons of 59 games won, captured the second best record in the east, and have the best big man in the game in Dwight Howard.
The Magic had a disrupted 2010 season with trying to accommodate Carter, the injury layoffs to Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis. Their first two round performances against the Bobcats and Hawks were completely dominating. Remain the team to beat for the nunber one seed. Predict 59+wins.
2. Miami: A team with Wade, Lebron and Bosh as your core is going to challenge every time. With the announcement that they have taken $2.5 million pay cuts for the team, the Heat look set to make a run at the number one seed.
The challenge remains in putting together a competitive roster, with Derek Fisher, Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem being courted. Mike Miller looks to be an excellent addition as he is a brilliant shooter who can spread the floor.
Still need a competitive big man, a energetic 6th man and a capable bench. Predict 58 wins.
3. Chicago: One of the big winners from the free agency, even though they didn’t get one of the big three. An already good Bulls side will improve from their 8th seed last season. Noah, Rose, and Deng needed an excellent spot up shooter and 3 point marksmen and they got it in Kyle Korver and help on the inside.
Boozer is a 20 10 guy that will only improve a young hungry bulls side. Excellent additions and the third seed in my mind. Predict 56 wins.
4. Atlanta: No big changes in the offseason. They re-signed Joe Johnson, but paid way to much for him. What were the alternatives? Not many.
They are competitive with him and will only get better. They won 53 games last year and if josh Smith keeps improving defensively, then they could improve on that. Currently in talks with Childress returning and Shaq in their front lines. Predict 53+ wins.
5. Boston: Ray and Pierce are back, objective completed. Jermaine O’Neal was also added to boost their centre stocks.
They did lose their best defensive sub in Tony Allen, who was excellent in the post season against Wade, Lebron and Kobe and Perkins is out for most of the year. That loss will hurt.
The Celts will need to trade Wallace to a team desperate for cap space as his retirement is probably a sure thing. This will allow Boston to get a quality wing player and add to their bench. If the Celts stay healthy, they can capture the 5th seed in the east (it only took 50 games to do it this season) Predict 52+games.
6. Bucks: I’m going to have to go with the Bucks to capture the 6th seed. Their end of the season was unexpected, and they did it without Redd and Bogut. Gooden re-signed with Salmons, and a weakened bottom half of the eastern conference means 6, 7 and 8th spots are up for grabs. Desperately need Ridnour back along with their injured all stars to cement their place as 6th best in the conference. Predict 45 wins
7. Charlotte: are the front runners to take place number seven, but the loss of Felton will hurt. Regardless, they were one of the best defensive teams in the east, are well coached, and have a defensive dynamo in Gerald Wallace. Don’t expect anything higher, but will be challenged strongly from the teams below. Predict 44 Games
8. Only twp teams look capable. New York have added Amare and Felton, and should capture the last seed, but Mo Williams and Jamison would argue their Cavs can still make the playoffs without lebron.
The other contenders from last year were Toronto, but without Bosh and any significant additions to the team, I can’t see them contesting. Indiana, Detroit and Philly will remain about the same and I expect Washington to actually leapfrog them. I think Ji Jianlian, John Wall and Kirk Hinrich are solid improvements and the Wizards are my smokey for the playoffs.
Gilbert Arenas may return, which will only add wins. 41 wins was all that was required to be 8th best in the east, and I think they may be in the running.
Look out for my Western Conference Power rankings and predictions. Coming soon.
thesportsguy
Roar Rookie
i dont mind the knicks lineup at all. Amare is a offensive beast, but i cant help but wonder how much of that was the genius of steve nash. Im not sure how the felton / amare one will go. Although surrounding him with shooters like gallinaro & azubuike and pairing him with randolph is a nice touch. Ronny turiaf, azubuike & randolph all come from a high tempo team so they should be accustomed to this style of play. NY stand a very good chance of finishing as high as second in their division, and i expect them to make a playoff push this year.
mushi
Roar Guru
Jesus the charlotte trade is even worse than first reported apparently Jordan thought he'd rather throw out chandler for two guys who might play a combined 12 minutes a game.
mushi
Roar Guru
I’ve submitted something on the Knicks who I’m intrigued by. I think they are doing well to build a team of complimentary pieces and keeping a max player on the table for next year. Not saying top 5 good but like you can see them definitely there at playoff time with defensive big men at centre, Anthony Randolph a high potential guy who’s per minute numbers are pretty damn tasty, (Brandon Wright must be asking why did amnesty international rescue him rather than me I've been imprisoned longer), gallinari and chandler as a combo should be able to hold down a wing spot and Felton not great but a major upgrade. The team looks a good deal better than what they had last season and with so many youngish players you should expect some development.
thesportsguy
Roar Rookie
@ Al, apparently udonis turned down full MLE offers from dallas & denver to remain with heat. it cost him about $14m over 5 years. WOW. Thats a true sacrafice, he isnt capable of megabucks like the other 3, so that $14m hurts him a thousand times more then lebron or wade. Hes a solid guy to clean up the boards & defend the post. Not a known shot blocker, but he can get the job done, just what the heat need. Next year the heat pick up their bi-annual & mid level exceptions so they can make even bigger moves then this year.
thesportsguy
Roar Rookie
Fisher confirmed today he has rejected the heat offer and will return to the lakers for a shot at a three peat. you can have a look on his website www.derekfisher2.com on what he had to say. The magic remain the team to beat in the east, but thats not to say miami wont challenge them for #1. Its hard to give that ranking to a team that has not played together, and hasnt even completed a roster. Also, the magic had the 4th best record in the NBA against teams that were 0.500+ for the season. The lakers, nuggets, and cavs were the only ones better. I also love the way the ended their season with a 6-0 winning streak leading into clean sweeps of the first 2 rounds. They unfortunately got stuck with a rampaging boston who NOBODY but the lakers could control. They are an elite team, the only thing working against them is they are in the same division as the heat, which is the only team they wont dominate. As for the knicks, on paper they look pretty good. Except im unwilling to ever give them props. They have a recent history of epic failures. However, they have made some solid acquistions...amare, felton, turiaf & Kelenna Azubuike who is a lights out 40% 3pt shooter. I like the general makeup of that team and they all look like they will fit under the SSOL d'Antoni system. But you never know with NY. When i wrote this chandler & Diaw were still bobcats, so the team looked sound. those are big losses, and i dont think reggie evans and Jose make up for it. So id agree with you mushi, charlotte look defensively weaker. Lets just say places 7, 8 & 9 will be hotly contested in the east. The raptors got Chandler, barbosa, for the S&T earlier today, and they look on par with NY, charlotte and im sticking with washington to be the big surprise in the east for a playoff push. On a side note - rankings are only for regular season on what i think the playoff seeds will be. Playoffs are another matter. Boston can come from as far down as seed 5 to get to the finals, and the cavs can do nothing with number 1. So what does that mean? nothing really. but any team in the top 5 in the east is capable of winning this conference.
Aljay
Guest
Love the preview, but a few things that I have to add Magic - brave prediction to put them no.1. Sure they'll rack up wins in the regular season, but who'll score in crunch time in the playoffs? That's been their problem the last 2 years and I don't think it has been fixed yet. Big question for the season - can Dwight do it? Heat - Haslem and Miller would be good additions, but FIsher as a starting point? Don't see it. It'll be up to Wade or LeBron to Chicago - look out, this could be good. Knicks - hahahahahhaaha. Just have to laugh. From LeBron to Amare. Poor ppl of NY. Looking forward to your preview of the East
mushi
Roar Guru
Not sure Charlotte will be that good defensively with Chandler on the way out for Calderon. Jose couldn’t stop Phil Sims from driving to the hoop
Al
Guest
Udonis Haslem has just signed with the Heat so that gives them the tough, inside player they were probably lacking. They are a very scary prospect indeed. Fisher is going to stay with the Lakers.
Gibbo
Guest
Thanks for the wrap up - looking forward to the west.