At last.
How fitting is it that on the first day of the NBA season, the day that many like myself get giddy at the thought of competitive basketball returning, that George and I finish this preview up with the two conferences that house the most likely Finals participants? I say it's not a coincidence at all, but I guess you'll just have to take my word for it.
There are some other interesting stories in this division beyond the Cheat, though. The regular-season has been kind to the Orlando Magic in the past, but can they finally get that ring? Gilbert Arenas holsters his guns long enough to return to help rookie John Wall out in the nation's capital, but to what effect? Joe Johnson received the biggest contract this off-season (read that statement again and try not to put your head through a wall) but what does that mean for the Atlanta Hawks? And how far can the greatest basketball player of all-time run the Bobcats into the ground? The answers to these questions and more. . . now! (ESPN SportsCenter Theme Song)
1. MIAMI CHEAT (LY: 47-35, 3rd in division, 5th in conference, first round exit)
What hasn't been said about the team from South Beach? Let's look at this from a basketball-only perspective for a second. The truly scary thing about these guys joining forces is a combination of their age (LBJ: 25, Bosh: 26, Wade: 28) and their contracts (all six years, with an opt out option after 4, but I mean, c'mon. . .). This means that they'll be playing their prime of their careers together, taking out anyone in their way, and only getting better as time goes on (especially once the Heat can start signing mid-level veterans in the next couple years - I mean, what types of players can they attract who might just want to win a title?). They are going to win a lot of games, even with as little as they've played together (although they did have the summer of 2008 and every All-Star over the last 5 years, so they're at least familiar) and they get used to the tendencies that each other has. And a crunch-time lineup of James-Wade-Miller-Bosh-Haslem is a quick, frightening unit. . . not to be confused with the skills of Rick Pitino's penis (zing!).
But here's where I look at the half-empty portion of their glass. They have no size, save for Big Z, who doesn't spend any amount of time in the paint anyway. Neither does Bosh. And their next two tallest guys are Joel Anthony and Juwan Howard (yes, still that Juwan Howard) both listed at 6'9''. Um, this is a problem. Just ask my beloved Phoenix Suns. Also, injuries are already plaguing this team, as both Wade and James sat out some of the preseason for little nicks and bruises and now Mike Miller (the sleeper pick for 6th man of the year) is out for potentially a third of the year. These are real issues and their depth is not something to be praised (although it is understandable - they put a little bit of money into those three main guys).
But let's be real. This is two of the top 5 players in the league and Chris Bosh (you're not a superstar, CB. . . I'm sorry but it's the truth) and it's the most lethal "big 3" in the league. They won't challenge the 1996 Bulls record this year, or maybe even next, but it's definitely in play over the course of their contracts. They'll cruise pretty convincingly to the best record in the East and then we'll see how they perform in the nitty gritty of the Playoffs against tested rivals. It's tough to see them not making the Finals though. I'd love to say Boston or Orlando can take them down, but I just don't see it happening. The Lakers on the other hand. . .
Prediction: 62-20, 1st in division and conference, Finals loss
2. ORLANDO MAGIC (LY: 59-23, 1st in division, 2nd in conference, ECF loss)
After sweeping through Charlotte and Atlanta to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, the Magic looked ready to rematch with the Lakers (who were heavily favored against the Suns) for league supremacy. But the Celtics had other things in mind and eliminated the Magic in 6 games (although it really should have been 4 or 5), sending them back to Orlando to think about things. And what did they do with that time?
Very little.
They re-signed J.J. Redick (smart) and added Chris Duhon and Quentin Richardson to their already wussified back-court (just with the presence of Vince Carter alone). Dwight Howard turned down an opportunity to play in the WBC and a chance to be "the guy" on a competitive team and get some awesome practice/experience playing in big games (always helpful). Instead, it was Kevin Durant who blew up and carried the American team to first place and now has all sorts of MVP buzz. That could've been you, Dwight!
This is a talented team at times. Jameer Nelson is a nice point guard (but boy would they much rather find a way to get CP3 from the Hornets) and Vince will win you some games when he decides to play. Rashard Lewis has one of the worst contracts in the league, though, as he doesn't nearly deserve the almost-$100 million he is getting from the organization. And to top it off, two summers ago, they gave money that they should've just given Hedo (can you imagine a Jameer-Vince-Hedo-Rashard-Dwight lineup?) to Brandon Bass and Marcin Gortat. Again I say: Um?
I think it's a carbon copy of last year for the Magic with just a few less wins. They'll get to the ECF and will immediately be trounced out, left to think about what to do differently next year. And maybe they'll learn their lesson and go do something! But probably not. . .
Prediction: 55-27, 2nd in division and conference, ECF exit
3. ATLANTA HAWKS (LY: 53-29, 2nd in division, 3rd in conference, second round embarrassment by the Magic)
Ugh.
I'm not even close to impressed, but the East is really top-heavy (I mean, I like the Bucks, but c'mon, if that's a potential division winner?) and teams still have to win games!
The Hawks gave Joe Johnson 120 million reasons to stay in Georgia which made everyone immediately think "really?". Ok, think about this Hawks executives. . . You give about $20 million a year to a second fiddle (don't deny it Joe!) and you will never ever get past the second round. Ever. Ever ever!
His supporting cast isn't terrible, though. Athletic big-man Josh Smith is a defensive vulture, blocking shots and stealing passes left and right. But what is his offensive prowess like? Al Horford is a hard-worker and a great rebounder, but can he hit a jump shot? Jamal Crawford is a shoot first, shoot second, shoot third, and I-guess-I-can-pass fourth type of player, which ends well only once in a million (like his assist total!). And despite being nearly ten years apart, Marvin Williams and Mike Bibby will continue their contest of who can be more of a corpse on the basketball court. Edge: Bibby.
I don't like the Hawks. I think they're more over-rated than the Bulls and last season's complete giving up against the Magic proved that when your best player is a jump shooter who works best as a second or third option, you can only get so far in this league.
Prediction: 44-38, 3rd in division, 6th in conference, first round exit
4. WASHINGTON WIZARDS (LY: 26-56, last in division, 14th in conference thanks to the Nets)
We'll actually be hosting a guest in the next couple days to DIE-HARDS in the form of my cousin Josh, a Wizards fanatic. He put together an awesome preview of his beloved Wizards and I'll be putting that up either tomorrow or Thursday. But for now, you get my outside opinion. . .
I actually think they can squeak into the playoffs. I saw them in Las Vegas this summer and was really impressed with two things: the John Wall hype and the improvement of Javale McGee. Wall is going to be great. He's super quick, unfazed by any pressure, and unafraid to take the ball to the hole. The only thing in his way of having an 18-point, 10-assist season is the return of Gilbert Arenas, The Artist Formerly Known as "Agent Zero" (which has to go away now, in a sad turn of events for a fantastic nickname - Gil is now #9, apparently for how many lives in the NBA he has). And McGee, through his attempts at making the WBC team, looked like a much improved big, a guy capable of contributing in major ways. The Wall-McGee combo is going to attribute for a lot of fun in the form of alley-oops and the like, and they'll definitely be a fun team to watch.
Supporting them will be an odd mish-mash of talent. Veterans like Kirk Hinrich and Josh Howard will do what they can when healthy, Yi Jianlian will try to prove he can do more than score on a chair, and younglings Andray Blatche, Al Thornton, and Nick Young will do their best to get minutes and be productive in that time. And I think they'll be successful. Sometimes young teams who don't know any better can accomplish some things and I think this is the sleeper team to sneak into the playoffs (you know, except for Indiana).
You know, unless Gilbert shoots everyone. Then all bets are off.
Prediction: 41-41, 4th in division, 7th in conference, first round exit
5. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (LY: 44-38, 4th in division, 7th in conference, swept by Magic in round one)
Well, MJ, I don't know what to tell you. . . you know, other than that last season's playoff appearance won't be repeated.
The Bobcats are "led" by Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson, two hot-and-cold players, one (Wallace) who scores mostly because he rebounds and plays great defense, and the other (Jackson) who will absolutely keep shooting regardless of how many times he misses. Now I understand how Wallace gets so many rebounds! They make a great team!
Other than that, they run the floor with Boris Diaw (did I say run? I meant to say waddle), Tyrus Thomas (the poor man's version of. . . Gerald Wallace), D.J. Augustin (a slightly capable replacement of Raymond Felton - yes, that's a put-down), and. . . well, that's about it. Oh, shoot! I forgot about Kwame Brown. I doubt I'm alone in that sentiment. . .
Not even the great Larry Brown can save this team from the lottery. Good night, and good luck.
Prediction: 39-43, 5th in division, 9th in conference, miss the playoffs
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So there you have it!!!
Six divisions previewed just in time for the season to start tonight (games this evening include my beloved SUNS in Portland to play the Blazers - 1-0 baby! - the defending champs getting their rings and then battling the Rockets, and the much-discussed battle between Miami and Boston in Massachusetts. . . oh, it's on!). . . .
Hope you enjoyed. Hope you agreed. Hope you disagreed! Either way, pass a link along, won't you? We aren't biased about our readers. Just as long as you love the NBA!
Until later,
JUSTIN
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