<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Remedial Class: Celtics Hope to Make Noise in Quiet Division Here's how I expect things to shake out in the Abysmal Atlantic division. Each of these predictions must be taken with a grain of salt as most of these teams will likely finish with similarly stinky records and so the order in which they'll finish is really anyone's guess. The only thing you can really bank on is that at least one coach in this division (and maybe two or three) will be fired before the end of the season. New Jersey Nets Coach Lawrence Frank's gang of speedsters currently holds the world's tallest midget-like distinction of champions of the NBA's Atlantic division. They may not be a sure bet to emerge again from this underwhelming pack, but you can be certain that if they do run away with the division crown and go on a hot streak some time early in the second half (as they have a tendency to do), that there will be no shortage of round-ball pundits around the nation proclaiming that they're a team that no one wants to face and could really give (top seeded team x) a run for their money come the playoffs. This will be followed immediately by them losing in 5 games to whoever they end up playing in the second round. It's easy to forgive those who believe that the Nets have a chance to be among the elite teams in the NBA. They have one of the best and most exciting point-guard/shooting-guard/small-forward combinations in the entire league with Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson. This trio could be even better this year than they were last year. Vince Carter will be a free-agent at the end of the season so you can expect him to stay away from the kind of complacent play that made him so easy to dislike when he played for Toronto (you may even see him try to play some defense from time to time this season). Richard Jefferson has averaged close to 20 points per game for the last three seasons and only just turned 26 years old. Meanwhile Jason Kidd is 33 and not what he used to be, but then, he'll still probably be able to outplay most point guards until he's 50-something. For all of their high-flying, fast-breaking, kiss-blowing entertainment value, the Nets still lack the one thing that is a must for any team hoping to be taken seriously as a championship contender: a big-man who can at least hang in there with the best in the game. Serbian center Nenad Kristic definitely earned himself some new believers with his impressive showing in last year's postseason, but something tells me that if the Nets should happen to make it all the way to the NBA Finals, you're not going to see Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki or Amare Stoudemire having panic attacks at the thought of going up against him. At the very least, though, Kristic, in combination with Jason Collins, gives the Nets a pair of 7-footers who don't suck in their frontcourt; something that no one else in the division can boast. The Net's biggest weakness is easily their depth or lack thereof. Eddie House is still a great shooter and playing with Kidd will only make him better but he still can't pass or defend. It remains to be seen how well rookie Marcus Williams will perform as Kidd's understudy. Clifford Robinson (who will turn 40 in December) may not give them a huge boost off the bench either, but will at least be guaranteed to make a few people do a double-take and say oh my God! That guy is still around? every time he checks into a game. In 60 words or less: As always, the Net's fortunes come down to Jason Kidd. He should be good enough to win them another division crown, but if Carter and Jefferson couldn't help him get a ring last year, there's no reason to expect that they will this year. Boston Celtics No one around the nation seems to know what to expect from this years Bean-town Ballers (even if they think they do). I've seen the Celtics projected to win anywhere from 25 to 50 games and finish anywhere from dead last in the Eastern Conference to the top of their division and the 4th seed in the playoffs. On one hand, the Celtics still have a team loaded with talented but unproven youths who each seem to have at least one or two gaping holes in their game. On the other hand, they have Paul Pierce, who last year re-established himself as one of the top 10-13 players in the NBA. On one hand, they have what may be the least heralded big-man rotation in the league. On the other hand, they were able to avoid a last place finish in '05-06 despite the fact that duds like Brian Scalabrine and Orien Greene played major minutes because Doc Rivers didn't have anyone better to throw in there. Now he does have better people to throw in there, but he'll still probably play Scalabrine more than he should (i.e. none) because Doc likes to do all kinds of things that don't make much sense. The Celtics backcourt looks to be a vastly improved lot coming into this season. Delonte West did alright for himself running the point last year, but now the Celtics will be starting Sebastian Telfair, a pure point guard with playmaking skills that the Celtics haven't had in one of their players in years. Telfair will have to prove that he can keep the turnovers down and people will continue to question his shooting ability, even though he shot an outstanding percentage in the preseason. Paul Pierce will have to settle for just leading the team in scoring this year as opposed to scoring, rebounding and assists like he did last year (something tells me that's a-o.k. with him). Pierce will start alongside Wally Szczerbiak and the two should be able to outscore most 2-3 combos in the league (as long as Wally's troublesome knee doesn't start acting up again). This is an important year for a handful of the Celtic's young guns, not the least of which is center Kendrick Perkins. With Theo Ratliff out indefinitely with a back injury, there's no one to keep Perkins from establishing himself as the teams starting center. Perkins has improved his game in each of his three years in the league, and the Celtics rewarded him in the off-season with a reasonable contract extension that will keep Perk in green for another five years (barring a trade). It's up to him now to prove that he can earn those bigger paychecks. Ryan Gomes will likely begin the season as the starting power forward. He's undersized but has a much more well-honed and well-rounded game than Al Jefferson, who still appears lost on the court at times, particularly on the defensive end. The Celtics are easily the deepest team in the division. Delonte West could be better than ever now that he doesn't have to worry about trying to force himself to play like a point guard when he's a scoring guard by nature. He and backup PG Rajon Rondo could both be potential sixth-man of the year candidates. Rondo opened a lot of eyes in the preseason with his sensational all-around play and will lead an athletic second unit that figures to run circles around most reserves in the league with West, Jefferson, Tony Allen and Gerald Green. In 60 words or less: Call this a homer pick if you want, but the fact is the Celtics played in more close (decided by one or two possessions) games than almost anyone in the league last year and lost almost all of them. With one legitimate playmaker at the point they very well could have flirted with .500 and now they have two. Philadelphia 76ers There's no way a team that has Allen Iverson and Chris Webber on it should miss the playoffs, especially in the Eastern Conference. But that's exactly what happened last year. And neither of the aging superstars even got injured, which was in itself a minor miracle. In fact, Iverson had the highest scoring average of a career that has made him the most prolific scorer of his generation. This once-proud franchise appears to be in shambles from top to bottom. The owners want to sell the team. GM Billy King decided not to do a single thing to improve the roster in the off-season and seems terrified to do anything. Maurice Cheeks is the latest coach to be overwhelmed by the paradoxical task of getting Iverson to share the ball more despite the fact that they need him to keep putting up huge numbers to win...</div> here's the rest if u want to read it http://www.nesportsnews.com/celtics/index.html
After watching a handful of games do you stick by your predictions or would you make some changes? The 76ers look fairly cohesive right now, and Kyle Korver is in the right role coming off the bench to shred the nylon. Sammy Dalembert appears motivated again, and is getting it done on the defensive end. Chris Webber is content with taking a backseat role and supporting the young players like Iggy and Korver to play a larger role in the offense.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Small forward Morris Peterson remains a solid option for 3-point shots and little else.</div> That was pretty much the only thing that I really objected to from the Raptors' section. Mo-Pete's added a mid-range game and the ability to take his man off the dribble now. He's no superstar, but those additions were the reason he's become less of a specialist and finally become a more consistent player.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">After watching a handful of games do you stick by your predictions or would you make some changes? The 76ers look fairly cohesive right now, and Kyle Korver is in the right role coming off the bench to shred the nylon. Sammy Dalembert appears motivated again, and is getting it done on the defensive end. Chris Webber is content with taking a backseat role and supporting the young players like Iggy and Korver to play a larger role in the offense.</div> I haven't seen any sixers games but yes, I'd definetly change some predictions about now. Picking the Celtics to finish second was wishful thinking. I won't feel all that bad if my predictions don't shake out. i just wanted it to be informative about the teams and also a good read <div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">That was pretty much the only thing that I really objected to from the Raptors' section. Mo-Pete's added a mid-range game and the ability to take his man off the dribble now. He's no superstar, but those additions were the reason he's become less of a specialist and finally become a more consistent player.</div> yeah. i admit i oversimplified on Mo-Pete. I only had so much space (believe it or not) and I wanted to make sure to do justice to the players who were new on the team that folks might not already know about like Mo-pete. glad that was the only thing you objected to
Nice preview overall Olskool... nice to see you around these parts again. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Meanwhile Jason Kidd is 33 and not what he used to be, but then, he'll still probably be able to outplay most point guards until he's 50-something</div> Amen to that brotha'. He's only a year older than Steve Nash and played almost a full season last year, yet people still act like he's an aging, oft-injured veteran. Kidd's past his prime, but he's still one of a kind, and with him running the show, you always have a chance to be great. Remember, you rise as high as your dominant aspiration, you descend to the level of your lowest concept of your self - free your mind and your ass will follow.
