A Power Shift in the East

There is absolutely no reason I should be sitting here talking or, rather yet, thinking about basketball, especially since the NFL is about two weeks away from kicking off. Yet, here I am, with no choice.

There has been such a flurry of activity, especially in the East, that I have no choice but to sit back and try to make sense of any of what has happened.

So, with a long way until the start of the season, I give you: My Eastern Conference Playoff Scenario.  
8. Orlando

After all the problem this team has been through, (The collapse to Detroit in the 2004 Playoffs, TMAC’s loss of motivation, Steve Francis issues, etc.) Orlando should be back in the playoffs this year. Dwight Howard is an absolute monster. He has come on quite well in the past two seasons. I fully expect him to lead the league in rebounding, while also getting close, if not averaging twenty points per game this season. They are also quite nicely set at the point guard position with Jameer Nelson and Carlos Arroyo. In terms of free agency, the Magic have not digressed. The lost DeShawn Stevenson, but that should not pose a major issue, especially since J.J. Redick and Trevor Ariza were added to fill that gap. Also, the fact that Orlando is in the Southeast Division should play to their advantage. Besides Miami, the division is at best average with teams like Charlotte and Atlanta. This is why I have Orlando at number eight.

7. Washington

With the triple threat presented by Gilbert Arenas, Antwan Jamison, and Caron Butler, Washington should be back in the playoff mix. With Arenas, one of the leagues premier scorers, leading the way, Washington is in good shape. Also, they posses one of the most versatile forwards in the league. Jamison is a twenty points, twelve rebound guy, who can drive, shoot, dish, and crash the boards. To compliment these two all-stars is an up-and-coming star, Caron Butler. This guy is a dynamic defender, tenacious rebounder, and above average scorer. With these three guys in the fold, Washington could torch any team, any given night. The team did lose Jared Jeffries, which does serve as a minor setback, but they added another shooting threat by acquiring DeShawn Stevenson from Orlando. Regardless, as long as the big three are healthy, Washington should be able to roll themselves into the playoffs, and this is why I have them at number seven.

6. Indiana

Indiana is quite an interesting case, with potentially the craziest off-season of them all. The key losses for the Pacers include Peja Stojakovic, Scot Pollard, and Anthony Johnson. With the departure of this trio, the Pacers lose a sharp shooter in Peja, a role player in Pollard, and a very important backup point guard in Anthony Johnson, especially since the starting point guard, Jamaal Tinsley, has been hurt on and off for the past two seasons. With this said, this is the East not the West, so the Pacers might be able to get by, especially when you account for the additions of Al Harrington, Marquis Daniels, Darrell Armstrong, and Shawne Williams. Harrington provides Indiana with a fifteen point eight rebound forward while Daniels is the young, versatile, and explosive forward that Indiana has not had in quite some time. Armstrong will be expected to fill the void of Anthony Johnson, and the savvy veteran should be able to fill the role. Oh ya! This is not to mention that Indiana has one of the leagues top players in Jermaine O’Neal. Also, serving as compliments to O’Neal will be guard/forward Stephen Jackson and the rapidly developing Danny Granger. For these reasons, Indiana should be able to secure the sixth seed.

5. Cleveland

What more is there to say about Cleveland than LeBron James? Cleveland is not a team that has multiple stars, but the Cavs do have a plethora of role players. James is the best all around player in the NBA, as he could easily average thirty plus points, eight plus rebounds, and eight plus assists per game this season. He alone assures that the Cavs have guaranteed ticket to the playoffs. Add this to a revived Larry Hughes, and the two should make for a good one-two punch. Speaking of punch, mix in a little Zydrunas Ilgauskas and the Cavs have something going. Big Z might not be the premier center in the East, but he is among the top three or four, which makes him a threat on any given night. Mix in the rotation at power forward between Drew Gooden and Donyell Marshall, the shooting of Damon Jones and Sasha Pavlovic, the veteran prowess of Eric Snow, and the tenacity of Anderson Varejao, and the team is headed into the playoffs, with what I believe is the fifth seed.

4. Detroit

Ah, here we are. This is the team that suffered the biggest blow of the off-season, when Ben Wallace decided to sign with Chicago instead of re-signing with Detroit. Not only did Detroit lose one of the leagues top three defensive players, but it also lost the heart and soul of the team. With this said, Detroit does not fall of too much, as they should be able to maintain their regular-season dominance, to a certain degree. The additions of Nazr Mohammed and Flip Murray eases some of the Ben Wallace pain, but it far from patches it up. Yet, Billups, Hamilton, Rasheed, Prince, and McDyess should prove to be a formidable squad. Add Lindsey Hunter and Dale Davis to the equation, and Detroit should still remain solid. They have shooting with Rip and Chauncey and Defense with ‘Sheed and Hunter. They present second biggest power forward match up problem in the NBA with ‘Sheed. Billups presents a match up problem for most power forwards with his strength and inside-outside game. This team has a number of three point shooters, guys who can take it to the hoop and guys who can dominate the paint. Thus, even with the departure of Big Ben, Detroit should be able to lock up the number four seed in the East.

3. New Jersey

I don’t believe we will see the New Jersey team that faced the Miami Heat in the Eastern conference semi-finals, but I do believe we will see the New Jersey team that made a roaring push during the second half of last season. I see this team and I think: WOW! How did they not win last year? The team features the three-headed monster of Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, and Jason Kidd. What more is there to say about these guys. Vince is one of the leagues most elite, and he showed that last season. Jason and RJ are both all-star guys who present different advantages for their team. Kidd is a monster when it comes to getting triple-doubles. We all know that he is one of the leagues best passers when assisting, but Kidd is also the best rebounding point guard in the league. He is a potential triple-double threat every night. As for RJ, he can light a team up any time he wants. He can shoot, drive, and finish. He is also a solid rebounder. Adding to the attack is Nenad Krstic. This young center has all the tools to be one of the better big men in the league, if he can put it all together. Mix in no key loses in the off-season, an A plus draft, and the additions of Eddie House and Cliff Robinson, and this team should roll to the third best record in the East.

2. Chicago

I have no idea what to say about this team. It is filled with youth, talent, defense, shooting, unselfish play, and much more. The Bulls, up and down the roster, probably have the best team in the league, on paper. They feature a vigorous attack of young, super-talented players: Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, Andres Nocioni, and Chris Duhon. This is not to mention Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha, the Bulls first round draft picks this year. Adding to the equation is Big Ben Wallace himself, the Bulls prized landing of the off-season. On this roster besides Ben Wallace, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and four time winner, the Bulls do not have a super-star player. All of these guys are willing to take a back seat to each other and settle for each of them being stars instead of one being a super-star. Oh ya, the team also has journeyman power forward/center P.J. Brown, who should be able to provide veteran leadership. This team is packed with youth, speed, energy, unselfishness, shooters, passers, drivers, cutters and slashers, defense, and much more. That is why the Bulls should claim the number two spot in the East.

1. Miami

It had to be this way. Although the Heat has not made any big time moves like last off-season, they did what they had to. They got Pat Riley coming back and extended Dwayne Wade’s contract for another three years, leaving him with the Heat for at least another four years. The Heat showed me so much during last season’s playoffs that I have no reason to believe they will digress. If anything, they will improve. This has to be regarded as the best team in the East. I mean come on. They have Wade, who proved he could be the leagues best player, and they have Shaq. Even if Shaq cannot put up Diesel like numbers, he still demands a double team, which opens up teammates, making it that much easier. The team also has ‘Toine, ‘Zo, JWill, and UD. These guys add a little something in different ways. ‘Zo bring tenacity and a defensive killer instinct. UD is hardworking and dedicated to crashing the boards and doing the small things. JWill has some of the most amazing court awareness I have ever seen, and ‘Toine has a proven inside-outside game. Add the young guns like Dorell Wright, Wayne Simien, and Earl Barron and the Heat present themselves as a formidable foe for any and all teams. This is not to mention that they are the reigning NBA Champions, so they top my Eastern Conference ranking and take home the number one seed.