2006 - 2007 NBA Preview: Atlantic Division
With the season starting in about a week and a half, it is time to take a look at each team and see how they look. Starting with the Atlantic Division today, I will post team previews by division every couple of days, then finishing up with my postseason and awards predictions.
Atlantic Division:
1. New Jersey Nets (2005-06 record: 49-33)
Key Additions: Marcus Williams (draft), Eddie House (free agent)
Key Losses: None
The defending Atlantic Division champions have done nothing to hurt their status as the team to beat. Last year, the Nets kept points off the board, but barely outscored their opponents. House adds instant scoring off the bench, something they have been lacking. Williams was a steal at the 22nd pick in the draft and will be asked to be Jason Kidd’s backup immediately. Josh Boone was another solid choice at 23, but he will be sidelined for the beginning of the season. When he returns, he will add athleticism to the front line. The almost win the division by default, as every other team has significant questions. It would take injuries to at least two of Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and Richard Jefferson to make the division race close. The Nets may very well end the season as the only team in the Atlantic with a winning record.
2. Toronto Raptors (27-55)
Key Additions: Andrea Bargnani (draft), T.J. Ford (trade), Rasho Nesterovic (trade), Jorge Garbajosa (free agent), Anthony Parker (free agent)
Key Losses: Mike James (free agent), Charlie Villanueva (trade), Rafael Araujo (trade)
How does a team with such a poor record in one season leapfrog two division rivals the next? Credit Bryan Colangelo for not wasting any time. First, he got lucky and received the number one pick in the draft, where he took the best prospect available in Bargnani. It will take time for him to get acclimated to the NBA game, but in time he could be a very good scorer. Colangelo’s next step was to let James and his stat-padding game leave as a free agent, then trading combo forward Villanueva for speedy point guard Ford. Villanueva, while coming off a very strong rookie season, became expendable with the drafting of Bargnani. Ford is a pass-first point guard who will become a co-leader of the team with Chris Bosh. Araujo was not a contributor, but it was better for both parties to give him a change in scenery. Nesterovic will more than replace his production, and allow Bosh to play his natural power forward spot. Tying it all together are the additions of Garbajosa and Parker, who were stars over in Europe and are used to playing the style of basketball Colangelo wants. The Raptors will be the surprise team of the NBA.
3. New York Knicks (23-59)
Key Additions: Jared Jeffries (free agent)
Key Losses: Larry Brown (fired), Jackie Butler (free agent)
Is Isiah Thomas that much better of a coach than Brown? No. Is Thomas a better coach for this team? Absolutely. As the President of Basketball Operations, Isiah constructed a team to his liking, which was contrary to Brown’s style. Now he gets to attempt to show his style works. The Knicks will not become an instant contender, but they will spend most of the year hovering around .500. Jeffries will provide some height, athleticism and defense, but little else. The loss of Butler to free agency may not seem like a big deal, but he was very productive in limited time and, as a young, athletic center who does not need the ball, is exactly the kind of player the Knicks should be keeping. The Knicks still have Jalen Rose’s expiring contract in hand, as well as some valuable young players as trading chips. Isiah the coach will be managing this team in such a way that will rebuild the reputations of Steve Francis and Jamal Crawford, providing Isiah the President of Basketball Operations even more ammunition to make at least one blockbuster move again this season.
4. Boston Celtics (33-49)
Key Additions: Sebastian Telfair (trade), Rajon Rondo (draft), Leon Powe (draft)
Key Losses: Raef LaFrentz (trade), Orien Greene (free agent)
Based on talent, the young Celtics should be ranked higher. They will take their lumps this year though as they gain more experience. Telfair gives the Celts a true point guard, and he should start over Delonte West, who will become the first guard off the bench. Rondo and Powe were both steals at their respective draft positions, and should see more time as the season progresses. LaFrentz’s minutes should go to the combination of Al Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins, who, if healthy, are both potential double-double candidates on a given night. Greene played a much more significant role last year than was expected, but the additions of Telfair and Rondo made him expendable. If all the young guys click well early on, this team could end up moving up. Even if the offense comes together, however, the defense will be much further behind. It will be a tight race between the Raptors, Knicks and Celtics for second place in the division, and the Celtics’ youth will keep them just behind their peers.
5. Philadelphia 76ers (38-44)
Key Additions: Rodney Carney (draft)
Key Losses: John Salmons (free agent)
Allen Iverson deserves better. Carney is a gifted athlete and very good basketball player. So is Andre Iguodala, who the Sixers drafted last year. It is hard to improve your team when you add one player who is basically replicating another. Salmons was a nice contributor off of the bench, and Carney will be asked to replace his production. Philadelphia fans have to hope Samuel Dalembert becomes the player he has shown flashes of becoming and that Kyle Korver begins scoring enough to justify his contract. This team will be competitive on any given night, but will have serious trouble closing game. There is still also the chance that the team will explore trade opportunities for Iverson when it is obvious the playoffs are out of reach. In a division that will show significant improvement, this will be the recipe for a lot of ping pong balls. The bright side of that is that they will have a likelier chance of being able to draft Greg Oden next June.
Atlantic Division:
1. New Jersey Nets (2005-06 record: 49-33)
Key Additions: Marcus Williams (draft), Eddie House (free agent)
Key Losses: None
The defending Atlantic Division champions have done nothing to hurt their status as the team to beat. Last year, the Nets kept points off the board, but barely outscored their opponents. House adds instant scoring off the bench, something they have been lacking. Williams was a steal at the 22nd pick in the draft and will be asked to be Jason Kidd’s backup immediately. Josh Boone was another solid choice at 23, but he will be sidelined for the beginning of the season. When he returns, he will add athleticism to the front line. The almost win the division by default, as every other team has significant questions. It would take injuries to at least two of Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and Richard Jefferson to make the division race close. The Nets may very well end the season as the only team in the Atlantic with a winning record.
2. Toronto Raptors (27-55)
Key Additions: Andrea Bargnani (draft), T.J. Ford (trade), Rasho Nesterovic (trade), Jorge Garbajosa (free agent), Anthony Parker (free agent)
Key Losses: Mike James (free agent), Charlie Villanueva (trade), Rafael Araujo (trade)
How does a team with such a poor record in one season leapfrog two division rivals the next? Credit Bryan Colangelo for not wasting any time. First, he got lucky and received the number one pick in the draft, where he took the best prospect available in Bargnani. It will take time for him to get acclimated to the NBA game, but in time he could be a very good scorer. Colangelo’s next step was to let James and his stat-padding game leave as a free agent, then trading combo forward Villanueva for speedy point guard Ford. Villanueva, while coming off a very strong rookie season, became expendable with the drafting of Bargnani. Ford is a pass-first point guard who will become a co-leader of the team with Chris Bosh. Araujo was not a contributor, but it was better for both parties to give him a change in scenery. Nesterovic will more than replace his production, and allow Bosh to play his natural power forward spot. Tying it all together are the additions of Garbajosa and Parker, who were stars over in Europe and are used to playing the style of basketball Colangelo wants. The Raptors will be the surprise team of the NBA.
3. New York Knicks (23-59)
Key Additions: Jared Jeffries (free agent)
Key Losses: Larry Brown (fired), Jackie Butler (free agent)
Is Isiah Thomas that much better of a coach than Brown? No. Is Thomas a better coach for this team? Absolutely. As the President of Basketball Operations, Isiah constructed a team to his liking, which was contrary to Brown’s style. Now he gets to attempt to show his style works. The Knicks will not become an instant contender, but they will spend most of the year hovering around .500. Jeffries will provide some height, athleticism and defense, but little else. The loss of Butler to free agency may not seem like a big deal, but he was very productive in limited time and, as a young, athletic center who does not need the ball, is exactly the kind of player the Knicks should be keeping. The Knicks still have Jalen Rose’s expiring contract in hand, as well as some valuable young players as trading chips. Isiah the coach will be managing this team in such a way that will rebuild the reputations of Steve Francis and Jamal Crawford, providing Isiah the President of Basketball Operations even more ammunition to make at least one blockbuster move again this season.
4. Boston Celtics (33-49)
Key Additions: Sebastian Telfair (trade), Rajon Rondo (draft), Leon Powe (draft)
Key Losses: Raef LaFrentz (trade), Orien Greene (free agent)
Based on talent, the young Celtics should be ranked higher. They will take their lumps this year though as they gain more experience. Telfair gives the Celts a true point guard, and he should start over Delonte West, who will become the first guard off the bench. Rondo and Powe were both steals at their respective draft positions, and should see more time as the season progresses. LaFrentz’s minutes should go to the combination of Al Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins, who, if healthy, are both potential double-double candidates on a given night. Greene played a much more significant role last year than was expected, but the additions of Telfair and Rondo made him expendable. If all the young guys click well early on, this team could end up moving up. Even if the offense comes together, however, the defense will be much further behind. It will be a tight race between the Raptors, Knicks and Celtics for second place in the division, and the Celtics’ youth will keep them just behind their peers.
5. Philadelphia 76ers (38-44)
Key Additions: Rodney Carney (draft)
Key Losses: John Salmons (free agent)
Allen Iverson deserves better. Carney is a gifted athlete and very good basketball player. So is Andre Iguodala, who the Sixers drafted last year. It is hard to improve your team when you add one player who is basically replicating another. Salmons was a nice contributor off of the bench, and Carney will be asked to replace his production. Philadelphia fans have to hope Samuel Dalembert becomes the player he has shown flashes of becoming and that Kyle Korver begins scoring enough to justify his contract. This team will be competitive on any given night, but will have serious trouble closing game. There is still also the chance that the team will explore trade opportunities for Iverson when it is obvious the playoffs are out of reach. In a division that will show significant improvement, this will be the recipe for a lot of ping pong balls. The bright side of that is that they will have a likelier chance of being able to draft Greg Oden next June.
posted by Josh at 2:29 PM
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