The SLAM NBA Preview: Atlantic Division
SLAM’s official predictions for the 2006-07 NBA season…
A few years ago, I came up with the idea of running individual NBA team previews on The Links, and having each team’s preview written by a fan of that team. Nowadays, all the fans have their own blogs, and every NBA site (including ours, thank you) has been having fans/bloggers review their team’s chances for the upcoming year.
So in order to flip the script a little, I’m going to do quick NBA previews for each division. I wrote a gargantuan NBA preview in SLAM 103 (on newstands now!), and I’m using the illustrations from that issue here (drawn by the terrific Mike T).
If you want to read my full predictions and thoughts you’ve gotta go buy the magazine. But here’s how I ranked them and why.
Today, the Atlantic Division…
How I picked it in the magazine:
1) New Jersey Nets
2) Boston Celtics
3) Toronto Raptors
4) New York Knicks
5) Philadephia 76ers
Why I picked them that way:
To be honest, I’m still not convinced of the Nets’ depth, but they’ve obviously got the best starting five in the division. I also really like Li’l Lawrence Frank, and I don’t think anyone else in this division will outcoach or outprepare him.
With the Celts, they’ve got so much young talent, and Paul Pierce really came into his own last year…I just think this is the year it finally clicks for them and they figure out what kind of team they are. I don’t know what to make of Linkstigator Doc Rivers, though — has a coach ever gone from Coach of the Year to butt of jokes so quickly? I’m giving Doc the benefit of the doubt here, strictly based on his performance in the Atlanta’s Air Force video.
I like what the Raptors are doing, assembling a team that can really get up and down the floor, almost trying to replicate the Suns. Two things jump out at me though: 1) They don’t have Steve Nash; 2) They don’t have Mike D’Antoni. Can Sam Mitchell go from running the same play over and over every game to having a diverse, multi-faceted attack?
We commissioned this picture of Isiah Thomas to illustrate what the Knicks seemed to be doing the last few years — seemingly assembling players at random — although I point out in the mag that we’re not sure how much of that was Larry Brown’s doing, either. Either way, there’s a lot of talent on that roster, and I don’t see how they can’t be better than they were a year ago.
Finally, the Sixers. Khalid wasn’t happy with this, but they’re an aging team, they’re up for sale, and they didn’t really do anything major in the offseason. If Iverson and Webber both stay healthy all year, they might hit 40 wins. But really, what are the odds of that happening?
27 Responses to “The SLAM NBA Preview: Atlantic Division”
Oct.24 at 8:38 pm
the de la menthe says:
Agree, agree, agree. Although I think the Raptors will get more wins than expected this season because of the sheer surprise factor. Sad about the 76′ers. It’s a little painful to watch them now. ALIVE struggles in vain.
Oct.24 at 9:22 pm
jamal says:
1) raptors
Oct.24 at 9:58 pm
Indian Iverson says:
chea … Jamal spits tha truth
Oct.24 at 11:34 pm
maddskizzle says:
raptors will be a dramatically different and improved team but #1 overall? nah.. i think you still gotta give it to the nets but the raptors are definitely gonna be solid for years to come… they still have some cap space to work with this offseason so watch out!
Oct.25 at 12:31 am
Klemperer says:
Yeah, maybe they could sign Vince.
Oct.25 at 12:33 am
Klemperer says:
(Surprise factor)
Oct.25 at 12:47 am
Patrick says:
no matter how good offense is, raps D won’t be up to it.. 2nd at best, and i hope
Oct.25 at 1:22 am
OKNARB says:
The Nets look good on paper, but something is not right with that team. Like Lang said… depth.. after the starters there is big unknown..one can only hope for a surprise from an unproven bencher. The Raps are making nosie. NOTHING WOULD SUPRISE ME. Biggest questions are Sam M. and the Italian import. NYK and the Celtics are dangerous cuz they are loaded but unpredictable. Could go either way. I only feel sorry for Iverson as far as the Sixers are concerned. Any team with CWebb on it is doomed.. check any team he ever played on.. (the non-exsistant timeout at M, whining in GS, injury as a Bullet, Horry dagger thanks to Divac in Sac, no jumping ability in Philly)
Oct.25 at 1:49 am
kingstuffs says:
yee the raps r gunna
bring it this season
first round in the playoffs
i bet
Oct.25 at 1:50 am
Alex says:
The Nets look good, but yeah something isn’t right. They won’t be able to seriously battle in the ECF like some people are saying but they’ll coast to 47 wins and the division title easy.
Oct.25 at 2:54 am
Tripset30 says:
I just don’t get why everyone is so high on Toronto. They’re improved, but if they win more than 30 it’s an accomplishment.
Oct.25 at 3:08 am
Gilbert0 says:
nets will coast to the title, the rest wont make the playoffs. all of them between 30 and 40 wins central has 4 - 5 playoff teams, southeast has 2 - 3. aint much scraps for the crappy atlantic
Oct.25 at 8:33 am
t dot j. says:
1) raptors
2) raptors
3) raptors
4) raptors
5) new jersey,boston,philly,nyk. (my obviously biased opinion) tdot……………….
Oct.25 at 8:47 am
Noah Doucette says:
Raps are gonna beat boston for the number two spot. nets will take division with 55 wins. raps will just miss playoffs with 35-40 wins. philly and NYK will have a rebuildig year. celtics will finish third, and miss the playoffs. knicks will get 1# pick and draft greg oden. But im pretty sure chicago has knicks first pick this year so greg will end up in CHI and him and ben wallace will start a 3 year championship dyanaty. :p
Oct.25 at 11:30 am
paps says:
Nice work getting Mike T
Oct.25 at 12:28 pm
wassup says:
ummmmm
1)new jersey
2)toronto
3)boston
4)new york
5)philly
new jersery and the raps end up maken the playoffs.raps squeeze in at number 8
Oct.25 at 1:18 pm
rob stewart says:
Philly should be #2. Don’t sleep on them.
Oct.25 at 1:22 pm
sheed33 says:
Playoffs:
1. Heat
2. Cavs
3. Nets
4. Pistons
5. Bulls
6. Bucks
7. Wizards
8. Pacers Raps, Knicks, Celtics, Sixers far behind
Oct.25 at 1:59 pm
wassup says:
ok there sheed
Oct.25 at 2:00 pm
wassup says:
bucks at six what r u talken about.bulls finish ahead of the pistons. and i dont think the pacers make the playoffs or the bucks
Oct.26 at 12:08 am
a-bomb says:
wassup - agreed. no room for the bucks
bucks out, everyone up one spot, raps squeeze in at #8
Oct.26 at 10:15 pm
DeVAndrei says:
so ummmm wussup, what about the Heat? I hope u aint a hater now
Nov.1 at 5:50 pm
» The SLAM NBA Preview: NBA Champs - SLAM Online says:
[…] By now we’ve been through all six divisions (which you can check out here: Atlantic, Southeast, Central, Northwest, Southwest, Pacific), and now it’s time to settle on our NBA Champs. I wrote much longer about all this in the current issue of SLAM on newsstands now, but for now, let’s go through the contender pretenders… […]
Nov.6 at 3:16 am
Love & Basketball says:
I still think its premature to write off the Sixers and put the Raptors so high up in the division. The Raptors just re-assembled their team completely and are trying a new run and gun style, you can’t expect it to just work 1 year in. Sixers have more talented players on their squad and are probably playoff bound, even though I don’t like that. MC
http://loveandbasketball2.blogspot.com
Nov.20 at 4:05 pm
BCJ says:
Now way are the Sixers going to finish last in the Atlantic. This season I predict Iguadola coming on greatly, and he already works well with Iverson, which should create a great duo. Definetly see them making the playoffs. Then depending on how well the nets work together, it will either be philly or them in first, other at second. For some reason, I seem to be about the only person who doesn’t see the Raptors working. I see it being tight between them and the knicks for last position. That then only leaves the Celtics, who will have to come 3rd.
Jan.2 at 7:42 pm
Tdot says:
Raptorss all the wayy n i dont know wht ur talkin about bcj, raptors have so much talented players , there USED to be one in philly but i guess he got traded so dont ven say that
Feb.3 at 12:40 am
Matty says:
Raptors should finish 1st for the next 5-6 years atleast. Boston and Philly are in the celler with no hope, New York shows some promise and will be playoff contenders for years to come excluding this year, and New Jersey is on a steady decline which will continue.
Raptors take 3rd seed in the Eastern Conferene, book it.