The final installment of my division predictions is finally here. It's the Atlantic Division.
Let's not waste any more time:
Brooklyn Nets
2012-2013 Record: 49-33
Head Coach: Jason Kidd
Key Additions: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry, Andrei Kirilenko
Prediction: 55-27
Scoop: I'm not overly concerned with the regular season with this Brooklyn team. Any questions of chemistry and their ability to play together will be answered with a resounding yes, and I believe that will happen very quickly. When the 2007-2008 Celtics came together, the big guns (Pierce, Garnett and Ray Allen) were determined to sacrifice any personal accomplishments for the good of the team, and lo and behold they did. KG, Pierce and Terry are the only ones on that team who have won a championship, so the other guys need to follow their lead. The only problem this team might have is the inexperience of Jason Kidd as their head coach. Will his lack of coaching experience haunt them in the playoffs?
New York Knicks
2012-2013 Record: 54-28
Head Coach: Mike Woodson
Key Additions: Metta World Peace, Andrea Bargnani
Prediction: 50-32
Scoop: Yes, Carmelo Anthony took a big risk in deciding to forego surgery on a torn rotator cuff and labrum. Yes, J.R. Smith, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, is out for at least the first month of the season. Yes, A'mare Stoudemire's knees are about to fall off. With all that said, at the end of the day, the Knicks are still very good. I love their additions of Bargnani and World Peace. I like Tim Haradaway Jr. They won't shoot 38% from three-point range again, but they'll still be very good.
Boston Celtics
2012-2013 Record: 41-40
Head Coach: Brad Stevens
Key Additions: Kris Humphries, Marshon Brooks, Gerald Wallace, Kelly Olynyk
Prediction: 36-46
Scoop: Call me a homer all you want, but believe it or not, I am a realist. No one knows what this team will look like by the trade deadline. Rajon Rondo could be gone. Wallace could be gone. You name the player, Danny Ainge won't be afraid to pull the trigger on anyone. I'm looking at this from a best-case scenario. It appears that Jared Sullinger is healthy. Avery Bradley should be better. With the success that most athletes today have in coming from from ACL surgery, it isn't crazy to expect Rondo to be Rondo when he returns, but it will take some time. I love Olynyk. I feel Brooks and Humphries are due for big seasons. So hey, why the hell can't they be the eighth seed?
Toronto Raptors
2012-2013 Record: 34-48
Head Coach: Dwane Casey
Key Additions: Tyler Hansbrough, D.J. Augustin
Prediction: 33-49
Scoop: For some reason, a lot of experts like the Raptors. I'm not buying it. I'm sorry, but Rudy Gay is a tad overrated -- side note, does anyone else think him and Jeff Green are eerily alike as far as maximizing their talents? They do have some talented big men in Amir Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas. They certainly have players who are more than capable of scoring, but they are still not a good defensive team.
Philadelphia 76ers
2012-2013 Record: 34-48
Head Coach: Brett Brown
Key Additions: Nerlens Noel, Michael Carter-Williams
Prediction: 23-59
Scoop: Of the 20 players the Sixers have in camp, seven of them are rookies. SEVEN. Not to mention the fact they have five guys with only one year of experience. In the NBA, inexperience equals failure.
No comments:
Post a Comment