The Southeast Division is kind of an afterthought when you're breaking down the league. It's got the best young big in the East, the most-entertaining guard in the league, an up-and-coming team that pushed Boston to seven games in the first round last year and also the number one pick in the draft. Still, does anyone really see a team from this division making any serious noise in the playoffs? Me neither.
In-depth analysis after the jump. Check out all of my
here.
1. Orlando Magic (49-33)
I would believe in the Magic if they had even one above average guard, but they don't. Dwight Howard can be a beast down low (as long as he isn't playing the International competition). Hedo and Lewis can light it up from down town. Still, I can't get past the fact that Jameer Nelson and Mickael Pietrus are their starting guards.
The Magic were deadly from downtown last year, this was a direct result of having a 4 who can step out and knock down more than 200 threes (Lewis), and a beast down low who commands double teams. It just isn't enough, though. They need to upgrade the point, the went into the offseason with that need and did nothing to address it.
Luckily for them, no one else in the division made any significant moves, beyond the Beasley pick. I think they're a safe bet to repeat their division title, and probably another second round exit, at best, in the post season.
Team blog worth checking out: Third Quarter Collapse
2. Atlanta Hawks (46-36)
The Hawks lost Josh Childress to Greece, which is embarrassing, but won't kill them. They brought in Maurice Evans to take his spot as their sixth man. While Evans isn't a comparable player to Childress, he isn't a huge step down either. The biggest move this team made was to sign Josh Smith to a long-term deal.
Smith the catalyst for this team's frantic style of play, for better or worse. He can take over a game at both ends of the floor, and while it may not be pretty, he's one of the most talented players in the league. The biggest difference from last season's surprise run to this season is the pressence of Mike Bibby. He'll be here all year long and his skills at the point should make a big difference in their final record. That and the fact that this division is piss poor.
One thing to keep an eye on. Coach Mike Woodson has to have the shortest leash of any coach in the league. I was shocked they didn't can him in the offseason, but a slow start will have him collecting unemployment.
Team blog worth checking out: Hawks Blog
3. Washington Wizards (36-46)
Caron Butler is an absolute stud. Gilbert Arenas is the worst near-max-contract (fixed per comment) since Allan Houston. Butler and Jamison will spend the entire season making everyone ask why the Wiz wasted all that money on Gilbert. Gilbert will probably play somewhere around 30 games, take way too many shots, and write some really funny material on his blog. That's basically all he's good for at this point.
The Wiz have been right around .500 for a couple of years now, but they're missing Haywood. I like Andray Blatche, but he isn't a starter in this league. One guy to keep an eye on is Nick Young. DeShawn Stevenson is a joke.
The Wiz miss the playoffs for the first of several consecutive seasons.
Team blog worth checking out: Bullets Forever
4. Miami Heat (32-50)
I am so sick of reading about how Dwyane Wade is back. Wade is great, don't get me wrong, but he never did anything without Shaq, not a thing. That Miami Heat team didn't win a championship because he was on the team, they won it because of Shaq. He had a great Finals because the Mavs were so intent on stopping Shaq.
Wade may very well be healthy (although I doubt he'll stay that way), but it doesn't matter. This team has no point, no center, no real power forward. They have Wade, and two talented tweeners in Beasley and Marion, neither of which is a real three, nor a real four. They'll be fun to watch, but nothing more. They're lottery bound, again. The good news is that I don't think we need to worry about Pat Riley coming out of retirement to coach this team, he only does that if the team has a chance to win.
One more thing about the Heat. I'm sick of announcers treating the team name as singular. "The Heat is..." different rules don't apply to this team, the Heat are, or in the case of this year's team, "The Heat are not good."
Team blog worth checking out: Crazy From The Heat
5. Charlotte Bobcats (20-62)
Poor Larry Brown. I thought that if he came out of retirment to coach again he'd pick a team with a stockpile of talent who just needed a coach to put the pieces together. Instead, he picked a team run by Michael Jordan. As far as Michael Jordan's talents go, running a basketball franchise falls somewhere below hitting a curve ball.
They wasted a draft pick on DJ Augustin, who probably shouldn't see any time at Raymond Felton's expense. The good news is that Brown should have Jordan's last lotter bust, Adam Morrison, back. Although that's not really good news.
I'd like to say Larry will pull this team out of the abyss, but it's not going to happen this season, and it's definitely not going to happen if MJ continues to make personnel decisions. Kwame Brown disagrees with me, however.
Team blog worth checking out: Bobcats PlanetUp next, the Atlantic Division.
I would believe in the Magic if they had even one above average guard, but they don't. Dwight Howard can be a beast down low (as long as he isn't playing the International competition). Hedo and Lewis can light it up from down town. Still, I can't get past the fact that Jameer Nelson and Mickael Pietrus are their starting guards.
The Hawks lost Josh Childress to Greece, which is embarrassing, but won't kill them. They brought in Maurice Evans to take his spot as their sixth man. While Evans isn't a comparable player to Childress, he isn't a huge step down either. The biggest move this team made was to sign Josh Smith to a long-term deal.
Caron Butler is an absolute stud. Gilbert Arenas is the worst near-max-contract (fixed per comment) since Allan Houston. Butler and Jamison will spend the entire season making everyone ask why the Wiz wasted all that money on Gilbert. Gilbert will probably play somewhere around 30 games, take way too many shots, and write some really funny material on his blog. That's basically all he's good for at this point.
I am so sick of reading about how Dwyane Wade is back. Wade is great, don't get me wrong, but he never did anything without Shaq, not a thing. That Miami Heat team didn't win a championship because he was on the team, they won it because of Shaq. He had a great Finals because the Mavs were so intent on stopping Shaq.
Poor Larry Brown. I thought that if he came out of retirment to coach again he'd pick a team with a stockpile of talent who just needed a coach to put the pieces together. Instead, he picked a team run by Michael Jordan. As far as Michael Jordan's talents go, running a basketball franchise falls somewhere below hitting a curve ball.
I really hope you're right.
By the way, isn't the #1 pick in the Central division (Rose)?
Beasley should've been the number one pick, but you're right. Sorry, my brain isn't working at full speed yet.
I really hope you're right about the Hawks. I want them to win AND can Mike Woodson, I think chances are low of both occurring but there's a good chance I'll get one of them.
By the way, isn't the #1 pick in the Central division (Rose)?
ADD-ON: I want them to win AND can Mike Woodson, I think chances are low of both occurring but there's a good chance I'll get one of them.
The Heat is going to be better I think.
The is bothers me as well.
Magic - 51
Miami - 39
Washington - 36
Atlanta - 34
Charlotte - 32
I think that if Wade can just play about 65 games, this team is going to be competing for the playoffs. Marion can still play basketball. Beasley can play. Their supporting cast isn't too horrible either with close to average or average players in Quinn, Chalmers, Haslem, and Wright.
I'd also like to say Dwyane Wade did something without Shaq. His rookie year (?) the year before they got the Diesel he navigated that team to the playoffs and had a solid run when he was the only legitimate player on the team. He stepped in and was leader right away.
Sure he hasn't done much lately, but if you look at the abuse he took the first couple years, can you be shocked it caught up him with?
My main question is whether it will continue to catch up with him. If he hasn't altered his style, he's going to continue to take a pounding, only one little guy in the history of the game has taken that kind of pounding and remained productive over a long period of time, and that's Iverson.
It doesn't change your point, and it's not like I'm going to convince you otherwise when you spew all that hate, but Gilbert Arenas isn't on a max contract.
Fair point, forgot he came down a little from the max to help the team out. I made the correction.
Following my own investigation, thousands of people all over the world receive the loans from various creditors. Thus, there's good chances to receive a short term loan in all countries.