On The Ball

NBA Atlantic division preview

There have been so many changes to NBA rosters this offseason I don't think anyone in their right mind can actually predict with any kind of accuracy what is going to happen to the majority of teams as they enter the 2005-06 season.

Sure, anyone can make bold predictions about some of the elite teams in the league - like my prediction that the San Antonio Spurs will win back-to-back titles - but realistically, can anyone predict what teams like the unexceptional ones that reside in the NBA's Atlantic division are going to accomplish?

No - but it's fun anyway and hey, that's what I get paid to do.

So enough with the small talk, let me get down to business.

Philadelphia 76ers

Like most of the teams in the Atlantic division, the Sixers are a team in transition. First of all, they have a new head coach [their fifth since 2003] this season, in native son, Maurice Cheeks. The Sixers have committed themselves to Cheeks, at least verbally, for the next several seasons, so that should at least give Cheeks time to develop some of the younger players on the roster while simultaneously implementing his own system.

The Sixers parted ways with Philadelphia native Aaron McKie [good move] as part of the league's new amnesty tax rule and also traded power forward Marc Jackson to the New Jersey Nets (bad move) for a bag of marbles.

The Sixers did however, re-sign young center Samuel Dalembert and acquired another center/power forward in free agent Steven Hunter. I think both players, although eerily similarly, haven't hit their full strides yet and have a chance to be very good.

The Sixers also re-signed long range sniper, Kyle Korver which definitely opens things up for the big guys down low.

However, the Sixers hopes will rest on the production of Allen Iverson once again and the continued improvement of swingman, Andre Iguodala.

Crystal Ball: The Sixers should make the playoffs this season, but realistically, they are no where close to the level of the Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers. They are at least a couple of years away from challenging for eastern conference supremacy and the clock is ticking for Iverson.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics decided to part ways with enigmatic forward Antoine Walker to continue the youth movement that president of basketball operations, Danny Ainge, has committed the team to for the next several seasons. It also looks like aging point guard Gary Payton won't be returning to beantown for another cameo appearance as his career quickly comes to a close.

No matter. Should the young talent Ainge has assembled come of age in unison, the Celtics could return to their glory years before the end of the decade.

The Celtics landed one of the steals of the draft when picked shooting guard Gerald Green with the 19th pick of the first round. In addition to Green, the Celtics also landed some other players like Ryan Gomes and Will Bynum who could contribute at some point in their respective careers.

Ainge also made some wise salary cap-related moves by acquiring players like Curtis Borchardt, Brian Scalabrine and Qyntel Woods via trades.

Crystal Ball: The Celtics young guns surprised a lot of people last season and should be even better this year. Whether that equates into more wins, I'm not inclined to think so at this point. I think Boston has a future all-star in power forward Al Jefferson and their trio of young guards, Delonte West, Tony Allen and Marcus Banks could be absolutely scary some day, but for now, I expect Boston to ride the coattails of Paul Pierce (who doesn't necessarily perform too well in that role) while making the transition to Jefferson and the other young guns.

New Jersey Nets

As much as I respect GM Rod Thorn, I have to say, I think his offseason moves were highly questionable.

The Nets didn't lose much by trading Brian Scalabrine to the Boston Celtics and allowing Ron Mercer to walk as a free agent. However, their strange, on-again, off-again, pursuit of power forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim, was downright bizarre.

Thorn managed to put together a sign-and-trade deal that would have brought Abdur-Rahim to New Jersey for six years, at a reported $33 million which would have been a major coup for a team in desperate need of replacing the low post scoring they lost when they traded Kenyon Martin to the Denver Nuggets. When the Nets found out Abdur-Rahim had an existing injury that he has played with for over a decade, the deal was put on hold and eventually rescinded.

For the New Jersey, it was a loss of paramount proportions. The Nets did, however, regroup slightly after that debacle by trading for Philadelphia 76ers center/power forward, Marc Jackson, who could conceivably come back to haunt his former employers just down the turnpike.

Crystal Ball: New Jersey has an outstanding trio in point guard Jason Kidd and wing scorers, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter, but until they address their issues with their ‘bigs' they will continue to be at the mercy of the Ben and Rasheed Wallace's of the NBA. Unless you're comfortable with players like Nenad Krstic, Jackson and 38-year-old Clifford Robinson leading the way, the Nets won't return to the eastern conference finals any time soon.

New York Knicks

The Knicks have hired prodigal son, Larry Brown, to help them restore pride to a franchise that, at one time, was as revered as any professional team anywhere. Brown, a master at turning around unexceptional teams, will have his work cut out for him in New York. He inherits a franchise that has shown no inclination to play with any sense of purpose or urgency.

The Knicks traded power forward Kurt Thomas to the Phoenix Suns for three-point threat, Quentin Richardson while another power forward, Jerome Williams retired.

General manager, Isiah Thomas did a bang-up job of acquiring young talent to help the Knicks in the near future and acquired a player I absolutely love, in lightning-quick point guard, Nate Robinson. Thomas also selected forward/center Channing Frye and forward David Lee who both appear as if they will become serviceable NBA players at the very least. I think Thomas made one mistake though in acquiring uninspiring big man, Jerome James, as a free agent after a glimpse of potential during the Seattle Supersonics' extended playoff run last season.

Crystal Ball: Brown's coaching ability should add about ten wins to the Knicks paltry total of 33 from a year ago. If Brown can get gunners Stephon Marbury and Jamal Crawford to buy into his defense-first system then who knows what could happen, realistically, expecting anything beyond that is like expecting Vince Carter or Tracy McGrady to play defense - it ain't gonna happen.

Toronto Raptors

All I can say is, Rob Babcock is lucky to have a job. He has shown himself to be about as bright as a three-watt lightbulb. The Raptors lost outside sniper, Donyell Marshall to the Cleveland Cavaliers as a free agent and then went out and drafted two players (Joey Graham and Charlie Villanueva) who play the same position as their best player, Chris Bosh.

Babcock also brought rising headcase extraordinaire, Rafer Alston to Toronto and traded supreme quitter, Vince Carter away for a bag of marbles.

Crystal Ball: At 38, I could probably suit up and be more productive than some of the guys on Toronto's roster - and that's not saying much, especially since I'm limping around these days with a pulled hamstring muscle like an arthritic octogenarian who cane was stolen.

So, there you have it. My take on the totally pedestrian Atlantic division. Although I'm no longer the betting man that I used to be, I can unequivocally guarantee that none of these teams will be playing any significant basketball games come June of ‘06. As a matter of fact, these teams may not be playing any meaningful games after the start of the new year.

Previous Editions

• The Rich Get Richer - September 12, 2005
• Heat May Be Colder Next Season - August 9, 2005
• The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Larry Brown - July 31, 2005
• A True Friend - July 18, 2005
• McMillian Leaves Sonics Clutching Thin Air - July 11, 2005
• Cavaliers Land Larry Hughes - July 9, 2005
• Cardiac Kids - July 7, 2005
• Sonics Takin' Care of Business - July 5, 2005
• 2005 NBA Draft Winners & Losers - July 1, 2005
• From 0 to 30 in 60 Seconds: The NBA Draft - June 29, 2005
• Wizards Future Is Bright Despite Sweep - June 21, 2005

About Eric Williams

Eric Williams is an award winning sports columnist and six year veteran writer for the Philadelphia Sunday Sun. Eric was born and raised in Philadelphia and has covered all four major professional sports in the Philadelphia area. He has also covered golf, track and field, soccer, tennis and bicycling.

Lifetime Boston Celtics fan. Basketball and football are his favorite sports. Eric is married with five children and currently resides in Marshall, Missouri.

Comments and feedback can be sent to eklass66@yahoo.com