The SLAM NBA Preview: Southeast Division

by Lang Whitaker

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 Southeast Division…

How I picked it in the magazine:
1) Miami Heat
2) Washington Wizards
3) Orlando Magic
4) Atlanta Hawks
5) Charlotte BETcats

Why I picked them that way:
To begin with, I picked the Heat to not only win the division, but to make it all the way back to the Finals. They’re returning everyone, Pat Riley seems like he’s still having fun, and D-Wade has now assumed control of the Heat (as the drawing suggests).

I’ve always been an Eddie Jordan fan, but I can’t figure out why the Wizards never go out and make that one big move to put them over the top. Sure, Gilbert is great and Antawn Jamison is perennially underrated, but if they want to win a title, I don’t think it’s happening with Etan Thomas and Brendan Haywood battling it out for the starting center spot.

Orlando’s an interesting team. Dwight Howard remains my main man, but he needs some help down in O-Town. They went on that insane tear at the end of last season — winning 12 or their last 15 — and they still finished with just 36 wins. Maybe Darko will turn it on, or maybe Carlos Arroyo will play he plays for Puerto Rico. But as they stand now, they’re still not quite ready to be big time players.

ATL, shawty! I made the Hawks one of our Wild Card Teams, meaning I have no idea what they’ll do. They could win 40 games, they could win 20 games, and I won’t be surprised either way. I do think they could end up ahead of the Magic, but I left them in fourth to be safe. Keep an eye on Marvin Williams, though.

Finally, the BETcats. Michael Jordan might be in charge now, but Bernie Bickerstaff is still the coach, and their most potent offensive player is a rookie with a bad mustache.