NBA Analysis: East – Atlantic Division

The 2004-05 season is about to be under way. With that in thought, I’m here for my yearly predictions and analysis of each division. This will be a seven part series. First I will start off with the East Atlantic Division. There won’t be many surprises this year out of the Atlantic but as they say, you never know.New York Knicks

All Knicks fans have to say is, Thank God for Isiah Thomas. When New York fired former GM Scott Layden last year they took a chance by hiring Thomas to revamp the roster and restore order in a depleted Knicks franchise. When the news came last year that Thomas acquired Stephon Marbury in a blockbuster deal there was a sigh of relief in the city. Marbury came with the hype that he’d bring the Knicks back to championship caliber. But what they forgot was a center. This year, the Knicks made another blockbuster deal for guard Jamal Crawford and rebounding forward Jerome Williams of the Chicago Bulls for unwanted player in Dikembe Mutombo, Frank Williams, Othella Harrington and Cezary Trybanski. Still without a true center, they will be sending out a rotation of Nazr Mohammed, Vin Baker and Kurt Thomas at center.

Player to Watch: Guard Jamal Crawford. He will have to pick his game up a notch while trying to fight for points with ball hungry Marbury.

Player(s) not to Watch: Guards Allan Houston, Shandon Anderson and Moochie Norris. Houston will be out till December with his never ending knee injuries. Anderson and Norris are just not wanted in New York. Many failed trades included these names this off season. Expect either there release or trade for a late draft pick before the All Star Break.

Philadelphia 76ers

Philly will never go back to the championship game as long as Allen Iverson is in a Sixers jersey. The money being spent on AI could be better used on a true center and a better cast of shooters. Replacing a conservative, non-selfish point guard in Eric Snow with Kevin Ollie and Kedrick Brown shows fans that this team does not want to go into the playoffs. The Derrick Coleman for Corliss Williamson trade was a great one. Getting rid of an over aged, injured player for the tough leadership of Williamson was a steal for this organization.

Player to Watch: Center Samuel Dalembert. What he did last year was amazing. He’s only 6’11” and 250lbs but was banging around the inside grabbing boards against 300lb centers. He averaged 8.6 rebounds last year and those numbers will increase this year.

Player not to Watch: Forward Glenn Robinson. The Big Dog just doesn’t have it anymore. Injuries and nagging coaches is what he does best. He can still hit a big shot, but in order to hit that shot you have to be on the court and not in street clothes on the bench.

Boston Celtics

A team of Gary Payton, Ricky Davis, Paul Pierce, and Tom Gugliotta. A team Doc Rivers should not have taken over. All those ego’s in one locker room is only going to spell one thing in Boston, DISASTER! Rick Fox already saw this coming and retired as soon as he heard Boston traded for him. Mark Blount will have to pick up his pace also without Chris Mihm coming off the bench to relieve him late in the quarters.

Player to Watch: Center Raef LaFrentz. A healthy LaFrentz will prove why the Celtics traded Antoine Walker for him last season. Expect him to roll out more and take more 3 pointers and deep shots.

Player not to Watch: Point Guard Gary Payton. If everyone thought the ego maniacal Lakers were going to cause headlines than wait till Payton and Ricky Davis get into it. Blood will be shed on that one which will result in a Payton that will throw up bad shots and not pass the ball to Paul Pierce.

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors didn’t do much in the off season. There biggest free agent signing was PG Raefer Alston who was already in the Raptor organization and rode the bench. Vince Carter wants out, and new head coach Sam Mitchell has no experience as a coach. Taking over a team with a star like Carter who wants out so badly won’t be good for Toronto.

Player to Watch: Forward Chris Bosh is going to have a big season. I say his numbers will definitely go up playing with Alston and Jalen Rose.

Player not to Watch: There other big free agent singing in Center Loren Woods. When you need a center, Loren Woods is not the answer.

New Jersey Nets

The Atlantic division’s best team the last 3 years will not touch the playoffs this year. Losing key players in Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles, Lucious Harris and Rodney Rogers was not a good start to the Bruce Ratner era in New Jersey. Jason Kidd is another star player who wants out. Alonzo Mourning could make his return from kidney transplant surgery that can help a weak rotation at center and forward.

Player(s) to Watch: Forward Richard Jefferson. This is his team now and he will have to step up and start to play better defense. Forward Eric Williams will step up and have a great season. He’s back home in Jersey and I know he will play his heart out for the fans.

Player not to Watch: Guard Rodney Buford. They brought him in for shooting off the bench but he will miss a lot in this Nets offense. Mercer will be used a lot more than Buford when it counts.

Predictions

Standings

1st Place – New York Knicks

2nd Place – Boston Celtics

3rd Place – Philadelphia 76ers

4th Place – New Jersey Nets

5th Place – Toronto Raptors

Atlantic Division MVP – Jamal Crawford

Atlantic Division LVP (Lease Valuable Player) – Gary Payton

Sixth Man Award – Anfernee Hardaway

Defensive Player of the Year – Mike Sweetney

Most Improved Player – Zoran Planinic