Los Angeles Lakers: The key here will be can Ron Artest and Kobe Bryant play nicetogether? We all assume Bynum, Gasol, Odom, and fisher will play as they did last year. Trevor Ariza surprisingly was the sleeper last season and Ron Artest doesn't seem to be a good fit. Yes, he has amazing defense and he is big but Ariza understood his role was to be a pesky defender, shoot the long ball, and challenge the perimeter player to beat him to the rim.
His ego is big, and he's used to being the center of attention. He'll likely be third or fourth fiddle in LA, and we'll have to see how well he'll adapt to the shift. With this in mind, the Lakers should have another winning season that leaves them at or near the to of the conference.
San Antonio Spurs - The knock on the Spurs has been their affinity to injuries, and the fact that both Duncan and Ginobili are on the other side of 30. The window for this team closes each year, but Jefferson and McDyess should give this team a much needed burst of life. This previously shallow team suddenly became much deeper with these two, and the Spurs are the favorite (if there is one) to dethrone LA.
Dallas Mavericks. It seems like this team always enters the season with high hopes, only to quietly exit during the first round of the playoffs. With some big additions in Shawn Marion and others, Dirk and Jason Kidd have a nice core in place now. Josh Howard's effectiveness will be a question mark, and the development of Barea will be key.
Boston Celtics - I believe that the Celtics' best days are behind them. The only improving forces on the team are the young players in Rondo, Perkins, Powe, and Davis, but this isn't enough to offset the decline of players like Garnett, Allen, and Pierce, all one year older. Rasheed Wallace should definitely improve the team, but there's much competition in the East this season and I don't think he'll be enough.
Cleveland Cavs. Cleveland sees another year of LeBron, and at 25, he should still be on the way up. The addition of Shaq will have more of an impact than many anticipate and his veteran presence should go a really long way in bringing this team to another level and firming things up.
This isn't a deep team by any means, but they don't need to be deep when they have an elite player and a few very good players backing him up. LeBron should probably have another MVP season and I see the Cavs emerging in the Eastern Conference this season, and possibly going the distance.
Orlando Magic: You are the defending Eastern Champions and you are setting a new NBA trend. A shooting team that proved it is possible to make it to the Finals and almost win. You most certainly could have if Lee had made that lay-up (game 2)and Dwight had nailed 1 out of 2 free throws (game 4). No need to dwell on the past because your future is just as bright. Jameer (Mighty Mouse) needs to come back with a vengeance. Shooting over 50% from the field and 45% from 3pt will make you an all-star this year again. Rashard, keep doing what you did last year and Orlando will be a threat again as well as you an all-star despite the 10 game suspension. It wouldn't hurt to finish strong at the basket sometimes like dunking on smaller players to draw the and 1. Dwight "Superman" will be Dwight and Gortat "Polish Hammer" will be Gortat. Carter needs to come in a merely duplicate Turkoglu's numberswhich should be a marginal task at large and Orlando will reap the benefits of letting Turk walk and trading Lee. Carter needs to understand one on one is not necessary until the final 3 minutes of the game.Brandon Bass and the bench including Jason Williams, Anderson, Reddick,Pietrus, Barnes, Anderson and Grandpa Johnson need to realize the starters cannotput up 80+ PPG and expect to win +55 games this year. 35+ PPG for the bench is not asking for much. This team has one of the deepest benches and 4 all-stars (3 from last year alone which would've been the only team if Jameer had stayed healthy). APesky top 5defenseandsharpshooters from beyond the arc still make this team just a deadly as Boston and Cleveland in the East if not better. Just remember that Dwight is usually open in the middle and he could get at least 5 more dunks per game if you throw it to him. By no means is this team not capable of returning to the NBA Finals.
His ego is big, and he's used to being the center of attention. He'll likely be third or fourth fiddle in LA, and we'll have to see how well he'll adapt to the shift. With this in mind, the Lakers should have another winning season that leaves them at or near the to of the conference.
San Antonio Spurs - The knock on the Spurs has been their affinity to injuries, and the fact that both Duncan and Ginobili are on the other side of 30. The window for this team closes each year, but Jefferson and McDyess should give this team a much needed burst of life. This previously shallow team suddenly became much deeper with these two, and the Spurs are the favorite (if there is one) to dethrone LA.
Dallas Mavericks. It seems like this team always enters the season with high hopes, only to quietly exit during the first round of the playoffs. With some big additions in Shawn Marion and others, Dirk and Jason Kidd have a nice core in place now. Josh Howard's effectiveness will be a question mark, and the development of Barea will be key.
Boston Celtics - I believe that the Celtics' best days are behind them. The only improving forces on the team are the young players in Rondo, Perkins, Powe, and Davis, but this isn't enough to offset the decline of players like Garnett, Allen, and Pierce, all one year older. Rasheed Wallace should definitely improve the team, but there's much competition in the East this season and I don't think he'll be enough.
Cleveland Cavs. Cleveland sees another year of LeBron, and at 25, he should still be on the way up. The addition of Shaq will have more of an impact than many anticipate and his veteran presence should go a really long way in bringing this team to another level and firming things up.
This isn't a deep team by any means, but they don't need to be deep when they have an elite player and a few very good players backing him up. LeBron should probably have another MVP season and I see the Cavs emerging in the Eastern Conference this season, and possibly going the distance.
Orlando Magic: You are the defending Eastern Champions and you are setting a new NBA trend. A shooting team that proved it is possible to make it to the Finals and almost win. You most certainly could have if Lee had made that lay-up (game 2)and Dwight had nailed 1 out of 2 free throws (game 4). No need to dwell on the past because your future is just as bright. Jameer (Mighty Mouse) needs to come back with a vengeance. Shooting over 50% from the field and 45% from 3pt will make you an all-star this year again. Rashard, keep doing what you did last year and Orlando will be a threat again as well as you an all-star despite the 10 game suspension. It wouldn't hurt to finish strong at the basket sometimes like dunking on smaller players to draw the and 1. Dwight "Superman" will be Dwight and Gortat "Polish Hammer" will be Gortat. Carter needs to come in a merely duplicate Turkoglu's numberswhich should be a marginal task at large and Orlando will reap the benefits of letting Turk walk and trading Lee. Carter needs to understand one on one is not necessary until the final 3 minutes of the game.Brandon Bass and the bench including Jason Williams, Anderson, Reddick,Pietrus, Barnes, Anderson and Grandpa Johnson need to realize the starters cannotput up 80+ PPG and expect to win +55 games this year. 35+ PPG for the bench is not asking for much. This team has one of the deepest benches and 4 all-stars (3 from last year alone which would've been the only team if Jameer had stayed healthy). APesky top 5defenseandsharpshooters from beyond the arc still make this team just a deadly as Boston and Cleveland in the East if not better. Just remember that Dwight is usually open in the middle and he could get at least 5 more dunks per game if you throw it to him. By no means is this team not capable of returning to the NBA Finals.
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