With the 2012 NBA regular season set to go in a week, here are my Eastern Conference predictions.
15. Orlando Magic
If Arron Afflalo is the Orlando Magic’s best player, then they will be in last place at the end of the season.
Since the Magic finally got rid of Dwight Howard, they are officially in their rebuilding process. Expect this team to make noise in next year's off-season.
14. Charlotte Bobcats
Micheal Jordan’s team has yet to make the jump to a playoff team. With new head coach Mike Dunlap, the Charlotte Bobcats hope to start a new year in North Carolina.
They are hoping rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will become an elite talent in the NBA. But for now, this team is in a rebuilding process.
13. Cleveland Cavaliers
Kyrie Irving shows promise after winning Rookie of the Year last season. The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted guard Dion Waiters from Syracuse and Tyler Zeller form UNC to help Irving bring the Cavs back to the playoffs.
Anderson Varejao will continue to add a physical presence in post for the Cavs but Cleveland simply just doesn't have the talent yet. It’s going to take few more years before they can climb their way back to being playoff-contenders.
12. Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors continue to put their money into their lottery pick, Andrea Bargnani. This off-season, they picked up promising third-year guard Landry Fields from the New York Knicks and rookies Qunicy Acy and Terrence Ross.
The Raptors will be athletic and uptempo, however they don’t have enough talent to go up against the elite teams in the NBA.
11. Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are in a funk this season as they don’t have any true elite NBA players. They are hoping the evolution of Greg Monroe will help him become an All-Star.
They signed veteran swingman Corey Maggette to help. Tayshaun Prince and Maggette are both 32, which makes them the oldest players on the Pistons. The Pistons are just too young and not talented enough to make any noise in the NBA.
1o. Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks arguably have the most talented backcourt in the NBA with both Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings. The key for the Bucks is to see how those two similar talents work together.
The surrounding talent around Ellis and Jennings is the team's weakness. Many aging veterans and average players won’t be enough for the Bucks to make the playoffs.
9. Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards have struggled mightily these past few seasons, but this season it will be different. John Wall enters his third year and now he has the most talented team around him yet.
Second overall pick Brandon Beal can flat out score the rock, while the addition of Nene will add a solid low post presence. The Wizards will push for a low seed in the playoffs but will miss it due to inexperience.
8. Atlanta Hawks
Big things are happing in Atlanta with the Hawks. The new GM Danny Ferry traded away Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams, which in result freed up major cap room. So, this season, the Hawks have given the keys to Josh Smith to be the face of the team.
The Hawks signed Lou Williams to help replace Johnson. With a healthy Al Horford and many sharp shooters, the Hawks will be a very uptempo team. Ferry is setting up for a big 2013 off-season. The combined experience of Horford, Jeff Teague and Smith will keep this team in the playoffs.
7. Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers finally started showing promise last season as they advanced to the second round of the playoffs. However, this off-season, they lost two key pieces and only gained one.
Andre Iguodala was traded to the Denver Nuggets while Lou Williams left to sign for the Hawks. The Sixers, however, did get center Andrew Bynum in a blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Sixers will be a dangerous team, but are still too young to be considered a top Eastern Conference team.
6. Chicago Bulls
Derrick Rose seems to be all over cable TV with his adidas advertisements about his return. Chicago Bulls fans have to be excited to get their MVP back, but he won’t be in full form.
Last season’s playoffs showed just how important Rose is to the Bulls. The Bulls will struggle at the beginning of the season as they wait for Rose to get back to 100-percent. They will be a dangerous team once the playoffs roll around.
5. Brooklyn Nets
What a big off-season for the Brooklyn Nets organization.
The team moved to Brooklyn, will be playing in the most technological-advanced stadium ever made and added All-Star shooting guard Joe Johnson to help Deron Williams take the Nets to the promise land.
Even though they didn’t get Dwight Howard, the Nets were able to re-sign Brook Lopez to a deal, which keeps them a dangerous team. On paper, this team is a very sexy pick for the East.
4. Indiana Pacers
Larry Bird left the Indiana Pacers organization at the an interesting time. They are moving up and only up. It seems every year the Pacers are getting better and better.
As long as center Roy Hibbert and forward Paul George keep improving, the Pacers are a team to watch out for. The Pacers don’t want to become the next Atlanta Hawks of the Eastern Conference.
They can’t settle for third or fourth in the East every year, but it's going to be interesting to see what the front office is going to do with this attractive roster.
3. New York Knicks
Once Mike D’antoni was fired by the Knicks last season and gave the head coaching job to Mike Woodson, the Knicks became a much better team. Now with a full off-season under Woodson, the Knicks should be able to put the pieces together.
Jason Kidd has one or two more good years left in him which will help point guard Raymond Felton mature more. Iman Shumpert is also coming back from a knee injury, which will hlep add that third scoring option the Knicks have needed.
The key for this team is to have Carmelo Anthony to evolve into a top five NBA player.
2. Boston Celtics
Bye-bye, Ray Allen; hello Jason “The Jet” Terry to the Boston Celtics.
Many people believe the Celtics have been getting too “old,” but with the heart of Kevin Garnett fueling this team, they seem to never go away. With the departure of Allen, the Big Three has officially been broken up, but that isn’t a bad thing.
Rajon Rondo will keep emerging as the star of the Celtics and Paul Pierce will continue to be "The Truth." Terry will add a very strong spark off the bench and, oh yeah, Jeff Green is healthy again.
If they can stay healthy, the Celtics will challenge the Miami Heat.
1. Miami Heat
Easily the best team in the East is the Heat. The reigning NBA champs and their Big Three come back with an even more talented team. The additions of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis will help LeBron James and company going for a second straight title run.
