2013-2014 Atlantic Division Projections

Last season the New York Knicks enjoyed their best regular season since the 1996-1997 NBA season. The Knicks went 54-28 as they won the Atlantic Division for the first time since the 1993-1994 NBA season. The Knicks were led by forward Carmelo Anthony who was tops in the NBA for scoring at 28.7 points per game. The Knicks have the ability to win games in the regular season, but this team will be judged by what they can accomplish in the playoffs.

Last season the Knicks won their first playoff series since 2000, but they were bumped in the second round by the Indiana Pacers. In order for the Knicks to contend in the Eastern Conference with teams such as the Pacers and Miami Heat, someone other than Anthony is going to have to shoulder the scoring load. Last season shooting guard J.R. Smith was second on the Knicks in scoring at 18.1 points per game which shows the huge disparity in offensive production on this team.

The Knicks hope that they have added more production in their frontcourt with the acquisition of forward Andrea Bargnani. Bargnani spent the first seven years of his NBA career with the Toronto Raptors where he averaged 15.2 points per game. For the majority of his NBA career Bargnani has enjoyed being the main scoring option, but that will change in New York as he will be behind Anthony and Smith in the pecking order.

Another question for the Knicks is the health of power forward Amare Stoudemire. Stoudemire is in the fourth year of his five-year, $100 million deal that he signed with the Knicks and his knees have not been able to hold up. Each season that Stoudemire has been with the Knicks, his points per game and games played have declined. It will be important for Stoudemire along with power forward Kenyon Martin and center Tyson Chandler to crash the boards as the Knicks were tied for 25th last season in rebounding.

If Knicks head coach Mike Woodson is unable to find a scoring balance on offense, the Knicks won’t advance too far in the playoffs.

Y-Toronto Raptors 41-41

The Toronto Raptors have not enjoyed a playoff appearance since 2008 and they have not had a winning season since 2007, but there is optimism heading into this season north of the border. The Raptors have a new general manager in the form of former Denver Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri. Last season the Raptors acquired small forward Rudy Gay from the Memphis Grizzlies. Gay was hobbled by back problems for the majority of last season, but Raptors head coach Dwane Casey is hopeful that Gay will be healthy for the upcoming season.

At 19.5 points per game Gay led the Raptors in scoring last season. The Raptors also have their second leading scorer returning in shooting guard DeMar DeRozan who averaged 18.5 points per game. The Raptors also have a very underrated floor general in point guard Kyle Lowry who has the potential to average 14 points and 7.5 assists per game this season.

Last season the Raptors defensively allowed 98.7 points per game. To improve on that number the Raptors signed former Indiana Pacers power forward Tyler Hansbrough. In four seasons with the Pacers, Hansbrough averaged 8.9 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per contest, but he led the NBA in intensity as his motor is always running when he is on the court.

The Raptors first three games of the upcoming regular season are against playoff teams from last season in the Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, and Milwaukee Bucks. If Gay can stay healthy this season the Raptors should be playoff bound.

Philadelphia 76ers 34-48

The Philadelphia 76ers are a team that will enter this season desperate for success. After making the NBA Playoffs in 2012, the Sixers had high hopes entering last season. The Sixers acquired center Andrew Bynum from the Los Angeles Lakers only to see the big man not suit up for the team after undergoing knee surgery. The Sixers only won 34 games and missed out on the playoffs which led to changes in Philadelphia.

Sam Hinkie is the new general manager of the 76ers as he replaced Tony DiLeo. Philadelphia will also have a new head coach in the form of former San Antonio Spurs assistant head coach Brett Brown. The biggest shocker by the Sixers came during this past June at the NBA Draft when they traded All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for the draft rights to center Nerlens Noel. In his one season at the University of Kentucky, Noel suffered a knee injury which is expected to keep him out of action until at least Christmas. Holiday was coming into his own last season as he enjoyed career highs in points (17.7) and assists (8.0). To replace Holiday, the Sixers used the 11th overall pick of the NBA Draft on 6’6″ point guard Michael Carter-Williams. Carter-Williams is a tremendous ball handler as he averaged 7.3 assists last season at Syracuse University, but he must improve on his shooting as he was only a 39 percent shooter which included him only being a 29 percent shooter from beyond the three-point arc. This will be labeled as a make or break trade for the Sixers as both Carter-Williams and Noel will be attached to Holiday as the 76ers are not expected to be a threat in the Eastern Conference this season.

It won’t be easy for the young 76ers to start the season as they begin the campaign against three playoff teams from last season in the Oklahoma City Thunder,  Boston Celtics, and Brooklyn Nets as Philadelphia is once again “rebuilding”.

Boston Celtics 34-48

The Boston Celtics have enjoyed six consecutive winning seasons which was highlighted by them winning the NBA Championship in 2008, but all good things must come to an end. After losing in the first round of last season’s NBA Playoffs, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge decided that it was time to get younger. Guard Jason Terry along with forwards Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were traded to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for guards Keith Bogans, Marshon Brooks, and forwards Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, and Kris Joseph. As a part of the compensation the Celtics will also receive three future first-round picks in the NBA Draft. Longtime Celtics head coach Doc Rivers did not want to be apart of the rebuilding process that is beginning in Boston. Being that Rivers was still under contract with the Celtics, he was dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers to become their new head coach.

To replace Rivers, Ainge went to the collegiate ranks as he tabbed former Butler University head coach Brad Stevens as the next head coach of the Celtics. In six seasons at Butler, Stevens compiled a record of 166-49 which was highlighted by consecutive trips to the NCAA Championship Game in 2010 and 2011. Now the 36-year old who was a relative unknown a few years ago in the basketball world is now charged with leading the NBA franchise that has won more NBA Championships (17)  than any other team.

For Stevens to succeed in Boston he must be on the same page with his point guard Rajon Rondo. After 38 games last season Rondo’s suffered a torn ACL that changed the landscape of the Eastern Conference and the Celtics as we know them. Rondo did clash with Rivers from time to time. It had gotten to the point that Rivers was on the verge of trading Rondo, but cooler heads were able to prevail. Rivers was a veteran of the NBA as a head coach and a player and he still clashed with Rondo. Will it be any tougher for Stevens and his baby face looks to get on the same page with Rondo?

Forward Jeff Green averaged 12.8 points per game last season, but with the departure of Garnett and Pierce he will be the main scoring option to offset Rondo’s penetrating ability. The Celtics are backing on a healthy forward in Jared Sullinger. In 45 games last season primarily off of the bench Sullinger was averaging 6.0 points and 5.9 per game, but like Green more is expected of Sullinger with the departure on Garnett and Pierce. Wallace and Humphries will be on the Celtics roster at the start of the season, but I don’t expect them to finish the season in Boston as Ainge will more than likely attempt to move them.

If Ainge plays his cards right on the trade front and the acquisition of players, this will be a quick rebuilding job in Boston. 

X-Clinched Division
Y-Clinched Playoff Berth