NBA 2005-2006 Preview: Atlantic Division
Part 1 of a 7 part series previewing the 2005-2006 NBA season
Playoff seed (in parentheses) and projected record appear after name
Atlantic Division
1. New Jersey Nets (3) 49-33The Jason Kidd-Richard Jefferson-Vince Carter trio is the best in the league…still, I’m not sold on this team at all…Their frontcourt has potential, but that’s it. Until it does anything, it’s one of the weakest in the league…Their bench is good with Jeff McInnis and Cliff Robinson, but unless all three All Stars are healthy for 75-82 games, they're just an average team...They should win the division, but they’re one Jason Kidd injury from the lottery
2. Boston Celtics (7) 44-38
I could flip flop Philly and Boston here, but the sentimental vote goes to the C’s…The knock is that they’re too young, but most of the squad is a year older and presumably, better…Once Al Jefferson really figures out what he can do, he'll be the best offensive power forward in the East...For the first time in a long time, they won't be outrebounded…Ryan Gomes and Orien Greene look like second round steals…Ditching Antoine Walker and Gary Payton was the right move, but their success this year lies directly in the attitudes of Paul Pierce, Ricky Davis and Mark Blount
3. Philadelphia 76ers 42-40
Maurice Cheeks is the best possible coach for Allen Iverson…The big question lies with Chris Webber, whether his knees will hold up or if he’s mentally committed; it will be interesting to see what kind offense they run this and how Webber is involved in it…Kyle Korver will have a decreased role this year, but Samuel Dalembert should have every opportunity to play…Andre Iguodala is OK, but they have minimal bench.
4. New York Knicks 39-43
Larry Brown is a great coach, but Isiah Thomas is unfortunately the worst General Manager in professional sports…This franchise lacks direction; it’s hard to plan for the future when half of your team could be traded and your coach could retire by the end of the year…In NY, the talent will always be there, but it will be an amazing job by Brown if he can put it together...Hopefully Eddy Curry's heart problem is behind him, because if its not, because Celtics and Loyola-Marymount fans know whats at stake if it's not
5. Toronto Raptors 17-65
In terms of franchise stability, the Raptors make the Knicks look like the Spurs…Absolutely no direction or talent, and their last three lottery picks (Chris Bosh, Charlie Villanueva, Rafael Araujo) all play the same position…Ditching Rafer Alston was wise, but this team doesn’t win more than 25 games, tops...There is really nothing positive to say about this team
posted by Jay at 10:29 AM
1 Comments:
On the Knicks: its too early to deem "Zeke" Thomas the worst GM in sports, considering the mess he inherited and the pressure he is under. For starters, ineffectual or not, he generated interest in the team from the outset through his many moves, and this upheaval was something Knicks fans had hoped for since the quagmire following their last finals run.
The Knicks GM job presents a unique challenge because the team literally cannot afford to rebuild--ownership demands that they fill Madison Square Garden every night...thus, they must always shoot for a playoff spot and cannot go the traditional route to NBA success of tanking and rebuilding through the lottery. This combined with the pheomenally stupid payroll cripples the Knicks in many ways--resulting in stop-gaps like Stephon Marbury and Malik Rose.
That being said, I think the "soft Eddie" curry trade isn't a good one for the knicks. Word on Curry is that he is one of those athletic 7-footers who was chosen by basketball, rather than the other way around. I think the Knicks gave up too early on Mike Sweetney. And theres an uneasiness surrounding Curry because of his heart problems, and the fact that he seems to have fallen prey to the standard pitfalls of young NBA players--too big of an enterage, too many "handlers", several children to support, etc.
Im flat-out tired of Larry Brown. Great coach or not, he's made a lot of enemies and never seems to take responsibility for his actions. Maybe the problem is YOU, bud. Still, I'll take him over Lenny Wilkins any day.
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