As the 2014-2015 NBA season approaches I'll be going through each divisions preview and projections.
Boston Celtics
Record Last Season: 25-57 (4th in Atlantic)
Key Additions: Marcus Smart (drafted), James Young (drafted), Marcus Thornton, Evan Turner, Will Bynum
Key Departures: Jerryd Bayless (Bucks), Joel Anthony (Pistons), Kris Humphries (Wizards)
Projected Starters: (2013-14 season stats)
PG: Avery Bradley... 14.9 PPG, 1.4 APG, 3.8 RPG
SG: Evan Turner... 14.0 PPG, 3.2 APG, 5.0 RPG
SF: Jeff Green... 16.9 PPG, 1.7 APG, 4.6 RPG
PF: Jared Sullinger... 13.3 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 0.7 BLKPG
C: Kelly Olynyk... 8.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 0.4 BLKPG
Notable Bench Players: Marcus Smart, Brandon Bass, Marcus Thornton, *Rajon Rondo (OUT)
Keep an eye on: Jared Sullinger (PF/C)
The former Buckeye Jared Sullinger nearly averaged a double-double in only his second season last year.
Preview: The Celtics look to have another season of rebuilding under coach Brad Stevens. They loaded up on guards this offseason which means one thing, when will Rondo be traded? He suffered a broken hand this offseason, however he might be ready for opening day. Boston selected the fierce Marcus Smart out of Oklahoma State who looks to eventually replace Rondo in the future. They also got Kentucky high-flyer James Young later in the first round as a steal. This year's Celtics are loaded with role players but no stars which will be a problem. Expect the Celtics to make some noise at the top of the Atlantic in the beginning of the year, then to fade away. All Celtics fans can hope for are more ping pong balls.
Projection: Miss playoffs (4th in Atlantic)
Brooklyn Nets
Record Last Season: 44-38 (2nd in Atlantic)
Key Additions: Jarrett Jack, Bojan Bogdanovic, Sergey Karasev, Lionel Hollins
Key Departures: Paul Pierce (Wizards), Shaun Livingston (Warriors), Andray Blatche (Free Agent), Marcus Thornton (Celtics), Jason Kidd (Bucks)
Projected Starters: (2013-14 season stats)
PG: Deron Williams... 14.3 PPG, 6.1 APG, 2.6 RPG
SG: Joe Johnson... 15.8 PPG, 2.7 APG, 3.4 RPG
SF: Bojan Bogdanovic... Did Not Play in NBA
PF: Kevin Garnett... 6.5 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 0.7 BLKPG
C: Brook Lopez... 20.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.8 BLKPG
Notable Bench Players: Mirza Teletovic, Mason Plumlee, Jarrett Jack, Alan Anderson
Keep an eye on: Bojan Bogdanovic (SF)
Only a handful of people have heard of the Croatian Bogdanovic. He caught my eye and impressed in the FIBA World Cup. We'll see if he can transition his European style of play to the NBA.
Preview: There was a tremendous amount of hype built around Brooklyn heading into last year after adding Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Kidd to coach. They started off playing uncanny together, but later went on to make the playoffs and knock out Toronto in the first round of the playoffs. Paul Pierce, Shaun Livingston, and Jason Kidd all left for other teams. New coach Lionel Hollins brought the Grizzlies from a bottom tier team to just missing the NBA Finals in 2013, which is an improvement. Brook Lopez was absent with an injury nearly the whole year and will be back despite fighting another foot injury again. If the Nets want to be legit contenders and compete they'll need Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Brook Lopez to live up to their big paychecks.
Projection: Lose in first round of playoffs (2nd in Atlantic)
New York Knicks
Record Last Season: 37-45 (3rd in Atlantic)
Key Additions: Jason Smith, Cleanthony Early (drafted), Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert, Derek Fisher, Phil Jackson
Key Departures: Mike Woodson, Tyson Chandler, Raymond Felton
Projected Starters: (2013-14 season stats)
PG: Jose Calderon... 11.4 PPG, 4.7 APG, 2.4 RPG
SG: Tim Hardaway Jr... 10.2 PPG, 0.8 APG, 1.5 RPG
SF: Carmelo Anthony... 27.4 PPG, 3.1 APG, 8.1 RPG
PF: Amar'e Stoudemire... 11.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 0.6 BLKPG
C: Jason Smith... 9.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 0.9 BLKPG
Notable Bench Players: Andrea Bargnani, Samuel Dalembert, J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert
Keep an eye on: Jason Smith (C)
The seven footer Jason Smith was acquired from New Orleans and quietly might be the best acquisition this summer for the Knicks. With the triangle offense in effect and the center position being the weakest position, Smith will get way more touches than you'd expect.
Preview: This is what Knicks fans need after last season. Yup, take last season, crumble it up, and toss it out the window. The Zen Master, Phil Jackson was brought in to exercise all demons in New York and introduce the triangle offense. Derek Fisher was hired as head coach for his predecessor, Mike Woodson. Jackson immediately started gutting the team by trading Felton and Chandler to Dallas for Calderon and Dalembert. However, the team still has some weeds left like ball hog J.R. Smith, banged up Amar'e and clumsy Andrea Bargnani. Expect Carmelo Anthony to score less and role players like Tim Hardaway Jr. to score more due to the ball movement in the triangle offense. The Knicks will win this division strictly because Phil Jackson (and the other teams are not very good).
Projection: Lose in second round of playoffs (1st in Atlantic)
Philadelphia 76ers
Record Last Season: 19-63 (5th in Atlantic)
Key Additions: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Alexey Shved, Joel Embiid (drafted), K.J. McDaniels (drafted)
Key Departures: Byron Mullens (CBA), Thaddeus Young (Timberwolves)
Projected Starters: (2013-14 season stats)
PG: Michael Carter-Williams... 16.7 PPG, 6.3 APG, 6.2 RPG
SG: Tony Wroten... 13.0 PPG, 3.0 APG, 3.2 RPG
SF: Hollis Thompson... 6.0 PPG, 0.9 APG, 3.2 RPG
PF: Nerlens Noel... Did Not Play
C: Henry Sims... 7.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 0.4 BLKPG
Notable Bench Players: Elliot Williams, K.J. McDaniels, Jason Richardson, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
Keep an eye on: Nerlens Noel (PF)
The 2013 first rounder sat out all of last season due to a knee injury. In the Summer League he showed how lanky and versatile he can be with blocked shots and dunks.
Preview: If you're into D-Leaguers then this is your team. The 76ers are loaded with unseasoned players just filling the void. Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel might spark some attention, other than that this team won't be playing on TNT a lot this season. General Manager Sam Hinkie has his eye on the first overall pick in next year's draft, which means loss after loss after loss. Tanking!
Projection: Miss playoffs (5th in Atlantic)
Toronto Raptors
Record Last Season: 44-38 (1st in Atlantic)
Key Additions: James Johnson, Louis Williams, Jordan Hamilton
Key Departures: Steve Novak
Projected Starters: (2013-14 season stats)
PG: Kyle Lowry... 17.9 PPG, 7.4 APG, 4.7 RPG
SG: DeMar DeRozan... 22.7 PPG, 4.0 APG, 4.3 RPG
SF: Terrence Ross... 10.9 PPG, 1.0 APG, 3.1 RPG
PF: Amir Johnson... 10.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.1 BLKPG
C: Jonas Valanciunas... 11.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG 0.9 BLKPG
Notable Bench Players: Louis Williams, Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson, James Johnson
Keep an eye on: Jonas Valanciunas (C)
The Lithuanian center surprised many people last season in his second year averaging nearly a double-double. Lets see if he can repeat another solid season and be a legit center in the NBA.
Preview: The Raptors pulled off a franchise-saving trade last December when they traded away Rudy Gay to Sacramento. Since the Gay trade the Raptors finished 41-21 and won the Atlantic division. They ended up losing in the first round to the Nets in a valiant fight. The question is can the Raptors repeat with practically the same squad? I envision Toronto as a playoff contender again but not nearly as dominant as last season.
Projection: Miss playoffs (3rd in Atlantic)
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