How the East was Lost: Atlantic Division
The Eastern Conference is wide open. There really isn't a single team that isn't looking to make a playoff push this season. However, while every team has a reason to expect improvement, they also all have weaknesses that could cause them to fall short of their goals. While most teams have made their main moves this offseason, how teams address these weaknesses could hold the key to their fates this season.
Toronto Raptors: Consistent #2 scorer; Perimeter Defense
While Chris Bosh is the franchise, no player is more important than Andrea Bargnani. If Bargnani doesn't improve his game and take over the #2 role by the playoffs this year, the Raptors will likely find themselves sent home in the first round once again. That being said, even if Bargnani does improve, it might not matter.
The Raptors couldn't stop Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and Richard Jefferson in the playoffs and they couldn't stop new Atlantic division arrival Ray Allen in the regular season (32 points a game on better than 50% shooting). While Jason Kapono and Carlos Delfino makes sense on offense but neither is going to help the Raptors fill their need of a defensive stopper at the swing position. The team probably should look into adding a guy like Mickeal Pietrus to hold down the shooting guard spot.
New Jersey Nets: The post
Relying on Sean Williams and Jamaal Magloire in the post is a recipe for... well, the same results the Nets have had ever since Kenyon Martin left. Williams and Magloire are solid but Williams needs to mature and Magloire has matured too much. Nenad Krstic is a very good prospect but he is more of a high post big man on a team filled with shooters. The Nets probably should have pressed a little harder on the Sean May deal (they offered the #17 for him). In the end, they will likely have to bite the bullet and deal Richard Jefferson for a legit big man if they are ever going to make it back to the NBA Finals.
Philadelphia 76ers: Maturity; Power Forward, post scoring, perimeter shooting
On paper, the 76ers have filled most of their needs but the problem is that most of the solutions are young players who won't be ready to help out much next season. The biggest need is a legit PF. Jason Smith hardly seems like the answer and Thaddeus Young seems more like a SF than a PF. Sam Dalembert is solid at center but the team needs a PF to help get them good high percentage shots in the half court. Rodney Carney, Thad Young, and Louis Williams could answer the perimeter shooting problems but right now, only Kyle Korver is truly reliable behind the arc.
Billy King has put together a nice assortment of talent but he has to figure out a way to make them fit together as a cohesive unit. While he did wonders for the Sixers after coming over in the Iverson deal, Andre Miller might serve them better as a trade asset. This team is a year or two away from making a leap and 'Dre will probably be gone or on the decline by that point.
New York Knicks: Ball movement, Perimeter shooting, defense.
The flow of the Knicks offense will dictate their success this season. If the ball bogs down in the paint (which it could since neither Eddy Curry nor Zach Randolph is a good passer) or if the guards devolve into shoot first, remember passing is an option second mode, it's going to be a long season in NYC. Isiah might be able to work out this issue amongst his players but then the issue becomes, can anyone hit an open shot if the ball comes their way? The Knicks are in desperate need of a consistent outside threat who can keep defenses from clogging the paint.
As for defense, the Knicks have some good defenders on the bench but figuring out a rotation to keep them involved (while not having them become liabilities on defense) will be Isiah's toughest task. Renaldo Balkman could be up for an All-Defense team this year but his lack of a shot makes it hard to play him at the three. David Lee is a very good young player but will battle for time with Z-Bo. The Knicks have a lot of individual talent but it will take a masterful coaching job to bring it all together into a winning team. Most likely, the Knicks are going to have to deal a couple of their young prospects to make this all come together.
Boston Celtics: Defense, Point guard
With Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Al Jefferson, the Celtics have a good mix of firepower. The problem is that these guys will have to be firing on all cylanders every night because the Celtics don't really seem like they are built to stop anyone on defense. While Rondo is solid and Perk, when healthy, can help, overall the team is going to have to embrace team defense like it did with Jim O'Brien. Can Doc Rivers and his assistants pull that off?
Rondo seems like a nice talent but he probably isn't ready to run the point for a playoff-caliber team. I'm just not sure whether he is at the stage where he can go toe-to-toe with TJ Ford, Jason Kidd, Stephon Marbury, and Andre Miller. The backups, Sebastian Telfair and Gabe Pruitt, don't instill much confidence either. If the Celtics are going to get the most out of the Pierce/Allen era, Danny Ainge has to find a veteran point guard to help lead the way.
