Charlotte Bobcats
2011-2012 Record: 7-59
Place in Division: 5th (last)
Head Coach: Mike Dunlap
Key Additions: Ramon Sessions, Ben Gordon, Brendan Haywood
Prediction: 23-59
Scoop: You know what's so ironic about this team? Their owner, the great Michael Jordan, is a six-time NBA champion, but he is struggling BIG TIME trying to assemble a winning team. Where do they even begin? First, they hired a coach who has never been a head coach until called upon this past season at St. John's. They also let one of their best players walk in D.J. Augustin, but replace him with an older Ben Gordon? I don't even know what kind of scoop to give. It's hard for me to see this team even getting to my prediction of 23 wins, but Ben Gordon might have some cold blood left in those veins for a couple big shots.
Washington Wizards
2011-2012 Record: 20-46
Place in Division: 4th
Head Coach: Randy Wittman
Key Additions: Trevor Ariza, Emeka Okafor
Prediction: 29-53
Scoop: After firing Flip Saunders and revamping their roster, the Wizards appear to be headed in the right direction. With John Wall and Nene as their core, the Wizards are trying to move forward with Randy Wittman, whose discipline and tough attitude should influence these young Wizards. The Wizards have 10 players with less than three years of experience on the roster, so let's give Wittman and his staff a clean slate as they now can finally recover from the Gilbert Arenas days.
Orlando Magic
2011-2012 Record: 37-29
Place in Division: 3rd
Head Coach: Jacque Vaughn
Key Additions: Al Harrington, Arron Afflalo
Prediction: 33-49
Scoop: You have to feel bad for Orlando. They spent most of their offseason debating whether or not to trade Dwight Howard, putting them in an awful predicament. This dragged on seemingly forever, but they could not move forward without first making a decision on Howard. Now that they've decided to blow it up, it will take a while to rebuild. Where do they even begin? Let's not look at this year, although Glen Davis, Arron Afflalo, and Jameer Nelson have some personal incentive. With an average group of individual talent, this team should win some games, but they will not be as consistent as they have been in the past.
Atlanta Hawks
2011-2012 Record: 40-26
Place in Division: 2nd
Head Coach: Larry Drew
Key Additions: Devin Harris, Kyle Korver, Lou Williams
Prediction: 42-40
Scoop: Losing Joe Johnson and Kirk Hinrich is crushing to a team that seems to be stuck in the middle, and it's been this way for a while. Are the Hawks legitimate contenders, or just an annual low-seeded playoff team? They have the talent to always sneak in, but not enough to finish higher than 4th in the East. Al Horford is the key piece to this team. There was a dramatic difference during the playoffs with and without him. Josh Smith is tremendously talented, but when is he going to take that next step? Lou Williams is a nice addition and will provide an instant spark off the bench. Can this team finally come together and challenge the powers of the East? I doubt it will be this year.
Miami Heat
2011-2012 Record: 46-20
Place in Division: 1st
Head Coach: Erik Spoelstra
Key Additions: Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis
Prediction: 61-21
Scoop: Is there really any doubt that the Heat will not easily win this division? Now that it seems that LeBron has finally figured it out, and with one of the best free agent additions in Ray Allen, the Heat seem primed to make another run to the Finals. The Heat applied the Kevin Garnett method and moved Chris Bosh to the center spot, making him more effective in the Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals. Dwyane Wade is still Dwyane Wade. The only team that can stop the Heat (besides the Celtics or Lakers) is the Heat. If Wade isn't healthy, if LeBron goes back to being the big-headed LeBron that guaranteed not five, not six, not seven championships, and if Father Time catches up to Allen and Rashard Lewis, the Heat could run into some problems.
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