Here are a series of important questions and answers that will help define all 15 teams in the Eastern Conference as we head into opening week of the 2009-2010 NBA regular season. The Western Conference list will be added shortly as well. The teams appear in order of where I think there standings will be at the end of the season.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
Question- Will Lebron James win his first NBA ring?
Answer- Shaquille O’Neal has won with both Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade, so logic would say that King James is next, though I am not quite sold. The East has two other powerhouses in both Orlando and Boston. Even if the Cavs are able to get past them, they still have the defending champion Lakers to deal with. O’Neal quietly had a productive season last year, but at age 37, is it really realistic to count on him being healthy again? The Cavs supporting talent overall I just do not trust come playoff time, yet finishing with the most wins in the regular season seems more than plausible.
2. Orlando Magic
Question- Will the loss of Hedu Turkoglu cost them their season?
Answer- While they do lose their point forward and defensively are weaker, the Magic were able to pull off well… Magic. Adding Vince Carter, the hometown hero, will make fans soon forget about the Turkish product. Having Dwight Howard in the middle, only the best center in the league, and Rashard Lewis, who stretches the floor by knocking down three pointers, could combine to make the best threesome outdueling Boston’s big three. It is also easy to forget that they are bringing back a healthy Jameer Nelson at point guard, who was only an all-star last year. They are my favorites to repeat as the Eastern Conference Champions.
3. Boston Celtics
Question- At their age, can they maintain the pace of an entire regular season?
Answer- Rasheed Wallace fits this team’s persona perfectly, but having four 30 year olds in their starting lineup could bring about mixed results. This team is clearly built for the post-season and will have experience on their side, yet they have to get through a regular season first. Garnett is already coming off a serious injury and expecting them all to be healthy at their ages is risky. If they are able to get through the marathon of a season without any lingering health concerns, then I can see this team making a serious run, considering their starting five may be the best in the game. The explosive Rajon Rondo running the show at point guard also makes them an intriguing contender.
4. Atlanta Hawks
Question- Is this the year they breakthrough to the Eastern Conference Finals?
Answer- Jamal Crawford will finally get a chance to play for a winning team who alongside Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson make for an excellent backcourt. They do have the talent and have improved in the last two seasons, but unless they add a power forward before the trading deadline, they are only advancing as far as the second round.
5. Chicago Bulls
Question- Derrick Rose is clearly good, but is it too soon to call him great?
Answer- Not too soon at all. He will not suffer a sophomore slump like many do, and is truly the real deal. As a rookie, he was able to lead his team to one of the most entertaining first round playoff series against Boston in quite a while. The loss of Ben Gordon will hurt, but Luol Deng will be back and should make up the point differential. Brad Miller and John Salmons will now have a full season to flourish while this team is still young, well coached, and hungry; all important ingredients for winning.
6. Washington Wizards
Question- Does Gilbert Arenas want to talk or play?
Answer- Both, but as a Wizards fan that is what you want. He is the NBA’s version of Chad Johnson. {I still refuse to call him Ochocinco} They run their mouth about anything and everything, but when they play well so does their team. This season, Gilbert should be healthy and have plenty of scoring help. Jamison, Butler, as well as the new additions of Randy Foye and Mike Miller will make for an explosive offense. New coach Flip Saunders will bring a winning attitude to this team and they could be a scare for opponents to play come playoff time.
7. Miami Heat
Question- Does Michael Beasley become a legit number two threat for Dwayne Wade?
Answer- {I hope so because I just drafted him on my fantasy team.}We all know what the MVP runner up can do in Dwayne Wade, but without a successful sidekick this team is not too good. Jermaine O’Neal is constantly hurt so it is up to Beasley, in only his second season to become a star. The depression issues should obviously raise serious concerns about his state of mind, but with more opportunity and getting starter’s minutes, he will improve enough to help out the explosive Wade, and at least give this team a playoff berth.
8. New York Knicks
Question- Can they become competitive so free agents actually want to come to New York?
Answer- The answer’s probably not, {but I am biased so I’ll say yes.} Danilo Gallinari needs to prove to his critics that he can stay healthy while being productive for an entire season. Wilson Chandler’s role is also important as the Knicks look to improve under D’Antoni’s system. It is reasonable to think that another season under D’Antoni leads to additional wins and they were only 7 wins away from making the playoffs last year. The real mystery that remains is their roster next year. I don’t want to start speculating, {but it is too tempting not to.} The Knicks have actual money to spend on free agents next year which includes a list of Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, and many others. I’m not saying they get any, but one seems possible, and if their current players show improvement, we could be looking at a respectable team for the future.
9. Detroit Pistons
Question- Have they lost their identity?
Answer- Yes, adding Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva are great {from a fantasy perspective.} As a team though, they lost exactly what brought them their NBA Championship which was their defensive swagger. Without Billups and Rasheed Wallace, they will have no tenacity and leadership. They did bring back Ben Wallace, but he was talking about retirement and has never been the same since he originally left. They will have good individual play, yet no team chemistry and thus miss the playoffs.
10. Philadelphia 76ers
Question- Can rookie Jrue Holliday replace Andre Miller?
Answer- Andre Miller is one of the most under rated players in the league which is why I believe he makes Portland an instant contender while hurting his former team. Jrue Holliday may become a star, but not this quickly and Louis Williams is a shoot first guard which is not what they need from their potential starting point guard. Elton Brand has also never really fit into this squad and health always remains a question with him. On the bright side, Philly fans might get a chance at enjoying back to back World Series victories.
11. Indiana Pacers
Question- This team plays hard, but does it have the talent to make the next step?
Answer- They have a smart team, similar to their President Larry Bird, except one key difference is that they lack Larry Legend’s skills. Rookie Tyler Hansbrough and second year man Roy Hibbert will be solid pros but nothing incredible. While Danny Granger is a player who fills up a stat sheet, he has no real help around him. Similar to the Heat with Wade, if Granger doesn’t get a second star around him, another losing season is in store for them.
12. Toronto Raptors
Question- Can they keep Chris Bosh happy?
Answer- The Raptors need a quick start to their season, because if things get ugly early they will turn from potential buyers to sellers in the market early. I see them as being the most active team come mid-season with the potential of them giving up on Bosh, realizing that as a free agent he could be gone after this season. Bringing in Turkoglu should help with the improving Bargnani, but at the end of the day I do not think they can make the playoff push that many are predicting.
13. Charlotte Bobcats
Question- Who is going to score their points?
Answer- No one, which is why as much as you would like to argue on behalf of one of the greatest coaches, it once again will be a long season for the North Carolina connection of Larry Brown and Michael Jordan. Getting rid of Emeka Okafor for the offensively challenged Tyson Chandler seems puzzling. Their leading scorer may have to be Gerald Wallace who averaged a respectable 17 points last year, but he should not be the best player on your squad. The rest of their team plays great defense and are role players, yet they lack a true star to stay competitive for the course of an entire season.
14. New Jersey Nets
Question- Can their new Russian owner play for the team as well?
Answer- The Nets are in as big of a mess as Steve Phillips. Devin Harris will be an all-star in this league for years to come; however, they are also playing the wait until 2010 game and have no other stars around him. Sure they have some young guns in Courtney Lee and Brook Lopez, but they do not have nearly enough experience to compete even in the bottom half of the measly east.
15. Milwaukee Bucks
Question- Will the rookie set a future NBA trend for going abroad instead of going to college?
Answer- Brandon Jennings will have an opportunity to prove himself and silence the critics because he and Michael Redd are about the only positives the Bucks have to offer. If he has a successful rookie campaign, you may start seeing other prospects drop out of school to make money while playing overseas. I think Jennings will have a nice season, but going to college will still be the preferred choice for most youngsters and playing in Europe will be a rarity rather than regularity. As far as their season goes Drew Rosenhaus said it best… Next question?
