The Celtics have won five consecutive Atlantic Division titles, dating back to the 2007-2008 season, the first season of the ‘Big Three.’ Although Ray Allen decided to take his talents to Miami, the Celtics still have a very deep roster. With the additions of players like Jason Terry and Courtney Lee, Boston is poised for another exciting season.
The New York Knicks have also made major strides in improving their team, and everyone in the city is hoping that Carmelo Anthony can transform his game to harmoniously co-exist with the other major contributors on the roster. There is a great chance that Anthony will be an MVP candidate this season and his skill-set has the potential to challenge the likes of LeBron James and Kevin Durant. If the Knicks want to surprise everyone and take the division crown, Anthony has to make sure he’s leading the charge.
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The Brooklyn Nets will begin their inaugural season in 2012-2013, and there is a lot of excitement surrounding the team. With a new stadium and a revamped roster, the Nets are hoping to get back to the postseason. The addition of Joe Johnson and the re-signing of Deron Williams were the Nets’ two main moves in the summer and they will likely be the most-improved team from last season.
Sixers fans are expecting great things from their talented young nucleus. With the addition of Andrew Bynum in the off-season, the Sixers made themselves true contenders in the Atlantic Division. The duo of Jrue Holiday and Bynum will be a formidable one and they will surely experience significant success during the season.
North of the border, the Toronto Raptors are looking forward to finally cracking the top three in the division. The Raptors won the divisional crown in 2005-06, but they have been irrelevant ever since. However, with a group of young players and international leaders, the Raptors may surprise the NBA this upcoming season.
According to the NBA general managers survey, 66.7 percent of them believe the Celtics will win the division; the Nets and Knicks got 13.3 percent of the vote while the Sixers received 6.7 percent.
Division Standings Predictions:
1. Boston Celtics (53-29)
2. New York Knicks (49-33)
3. Philadelphia 76ers (45-37)
4. Brooklyn Nets (44-36)
5. Toronto Raptors (32-50)
Next Page: Boston Celtics
For some reason, the pride of the Boston Celtics franchise is something that never fades away. Despite injuries and various setbacks, winning a series against the Celtics is one heck of a challenge. Under the guidance of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, the Celtics are bound to contend in the Eastern Conference.
Celtics fans were disappointed, to say the least, when Ray Allen left for the Miami Heat, but the Celtics should be able to achieve success without him. Even though Allen was a fan favorite in Boston, the Celtics added the right pieces to fill Allen’s void. Jason Terry was one of their main additions in the summer and his veteran experience will only strengthen the team.
Last season, the Celtics ended up winning the Atlantic Division despite the strong start by the Philadelphia 76ers. Still, not many people expected Boston to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals and be very close to another Finals appearance. Their series against the Miami Heat was very entertaining and if it was not for the injury to Avery Bradley (and not to mention the blatant foul on Rajon Rondo by Dwyane Wade), the Celtics could have made it back to the Finals.
With the addition of Courtney Lee, the Celtics were able to add yet another young and talented piece. Courtney Lee’s addition and Jeff Green’s return from injury will noticeably improve the Celtics. Both players performed well during the preseason and the Celtics expect to continue seeing similar production from both players.
Key Players: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo
Key Additions: Jason Terry and Courtney Lee
Key Losses: Ray Allen
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN_dxmQFbrg
Next Page: New York Knicks
The New York Knicks have been the laughingstock of the NBA for quite some time, but with the recently-formed nucleus of Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, the Knicks have suddenly become one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Anthony is determined to be a more all-around threat this season while continuing to solidify his place as one of the best players in the league.
After winning another Gold medal in the 2012 Olympics in London, Anthony has begun to understand the true responsibilities of being a leader. Many people have criticized Anthony for being too one-dimensional and his lack of postseason success. However, with some very talented pieces around him, Anthony should do great things for the Knicks in 2012-13.
While the Knicks may have added older players this off-season, veteran experience is something that every team could use. Jason Kidd and Marcus Camby will hold important roles for the Knicks and they can do wonders for the team during the postseason. Kidd will back up returning point guard Raymond Felton, and Camby will back up Tyson Chandler.
The Knicks are arguably one of the deepest teams in the league. While there is a lot of pressure that comes with playing in New York, the current roster will provide a lot of exciting basketball in Madison Square Garden.
Key Players: Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler
Key Additions: Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd, Marcus Camby and Ronnie Brewer
Key Losses: Jeremy Lin
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21OF3i7u2pI&feature=related
Next Page: Philadelphia 76ers
The Los Angeles Lakers made a big splash this summer with the addition of Dwight Howard, but the Philadelphia 76ers got a center of their own in Andrew Bynum. The Sixers were a major surprise last season when they held the division lead for a few months. Although the team eventually lost the lead to the Boston Celtics, Philly continued to greatly support this young team.
With Andre Iguodala and Jrue Holiday leading the way, the eighth-seeded Sixers made it to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs and were one game away from the Conference Finals.
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Even though Iguodala is no longer on the team, the franchise bolstered its roster by adding Andrew Bynum. Bynum is currently facing some injury problems, but he should not be sidelined for too long and will surely make a major impact on the team. Last season, Bynum developed into the second best center in the league behind Dwight Howard and his offensive game is something opponents fear.
For the first time in his career, Bynum will be the “go-to-guy” for his team and it will be interesting to see how he reacts to such a role.
Holiday also made a name for himself in 2011-12, as he ran Doug Collins’ offense extremely well. Holiday has the ability to take the ball to basket himself or set up his teammates for easy shots. He can shoot the ball effectively from behind the arc and now he will have a big target to pass to in the paint.
Key Players: Jrue Holiday and Andrew Bynum
Key Additions: Andrew Bynum
Key Losses: Andre Iguodala
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nPPpwBeR3M
Next Page: Brooklyn Nets
The Nets grabbed everyone’s attention this summer with their much anticipated move to Brooklyn. From the amazing Barclays Center to a new found “swagger” for the franchise, there is a lot to look forward to for the Nets. Not only have they made the move to New York City, but they also put together a solid team.
Although the Nets are not title contenders as of this point, they will make noise in the Atlantic Division this season. Deron Williams is poised to bring his team to the postseason and he will surely have help in the backcourt with the addition of Joe Johnson. Johnson and Williams will be a very explosive duo and they can definitely score points in bunches.
The Nets also have Gerald Wallace, another player that fits well with All-Star point guard Williams. Wallace can do a lot on the court, but his specialty is crashing the boards and creating second chance points for his team.
However, the Nets biggest weakness is their front-court. Brook Lopez is a fairly inconsistent center and the coaching staff isn’t sure what they will get out of him on a daily basis. Lopez can perform well at certain points, but he will have a tough time against the likes of Andrew Bynum or the Knicks’ big men. Kris Humphries is not a player that instills fear in opponents and he is very one-dimensional. The Nets like to consider Humphries a very potent forward, but in reality he isn’t a very dangerous player on the court.
Key Players: Deron Williams and Joe Johnson
Key Additions: Joe Johnson
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eae2yw6KESQ
Next Page: Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors have definitely made nice strides in improving their team this off-season. Although the Raptors will likely win more games in 2012-13, it is very hard seeing them cracking the top four of the Atlantic Division.
Toronto added some nice pieces in Landry Fields and Kyle Lowry, but at the end of the day the Raptors will have trouble beating the upper echelon teams. They will surely be a fun team to watch this season, but their chances of making the postseason are very slim. Still, Jonas Valanciunas will be a player worth watching in Toronto and there is a lot of excitement surrounding his potential.
There is no doubt the Raptors are heading in the right direction and they may be at the top of this list down the road.
Key Players: Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani
Key Additions: Kyle Lowry and Landry Fields
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3NZ0ozItOY