Atlantic Division1. Boston Celtics- Playoffs #1 seed
2. Philadelphia 76ers- Playoffs #5 seed
3. Toronto Raptors- Playoffs #8 seed
4. New Jersey Nets
5. New York Knicks
The Boston Celtics are still the best team in basketball a year after their 17th championship. The Cs lost James Posey to NO in the offseason, but still boast the Big 3. Boston should easily snag the #1 overall seed in the East. The 76ers made the biggest offseason splash landing PF Elton Brand. With brand in the mix, and Andre I! gualdola back longterm Philly is a contender. The Raptors quietly have a solid basketball team. Jermaine O'Neal is now in the mix along with Chris Bosh. Expect Toronto to make some noise this season. The Nets are in rebuilding mode and we should see strides by the end of the season. And last and certainly least, the Knicks are still an awful basketball team.
Central Division
1. Cleveland Cavaliers- Playoffs- #2 seed
2. Detroit Pistons- Playoffs #4 seed
3. Chicago Bulls
4. Indiana Pa! cers
5. Milwaukee Bucks
The Cleveland Cavalier! s landed G Mo Williams to be Lebron James' new PG and I love this move. This acquisition gives Cleveland what they need to leap over the aging Detroit Pistons. The Pistons are aging, but are still a solid basketball team with Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, and Rasheed Wallace all still on the roster. The Bulls will improve once Derrick Rose develops, but expect plenty of growing pains. Also, with Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich still there be ready for playing time controversey. The Pacers are quietly rebuilding, and the Bucks, well are plain bad.
Southeast Division
1. Miami Heat- Playoffs #3 seed
2. Orlando Magic- Playoffs #6 seed
3. Atlanta Hawks- Playoffs #7 seed
4. Washington Wizards
5. Charlotte Bobcats
You are reading that correctly, I believe Miami rebounds and finds themselves back in contention in the Eastern Conference. Dwayne Wade, Shawn Marion, and Michael Beasley gives this team a solid squad. The one issue in Miami is the PG position. Expect the Heat to make a deal. The Magic won this division a season ago, but I see Orlando taking a step back this season. The Hawks are very young, but should make the postseason once again. The Wizards influx of injuries will keep them out of the playoffs. As for Charlotte and Larry Brown, that is a work in progress.
