My Eastern Conference predictions

My Eastern Conference predictions for the 2008-2009 year.

 

Comments, praise and even constructive and polite criticism will be appreciated.

 

Boston  ( 55 27 ) 1st in Atlantic, 1st in Eastern Conference
Orlando  ( 52 30 ) 1st in Southeast, 2nd in Eastern Conference (tie breaker)
Washington ( 49 33 ) 2nd in Southeast, 4th in Eastern Conference
Philadelphia ( 48 34 ) 2nd in Atlantic, 5th in Eastern Conference
Detroit  ( 46 36 ) 1st in Central, 3rd in Eastern Conference
Cleveland  ( 45 37 ) 2nd in Central, 6th in Eastern Conference
Toronto  ( 45 37 ) 3rd in Atlantic, 7th in Eastern Conference
Miami   ( 40 42 ) 3rd in Southeast, 8th in Eastern Conference (tie with Indiana) *
Indiana  ( 40 42 ) 4th in Central, 8th in Eastern Conference (tie with Miami)
Chicago  ( 38 44 ) 4th in Central, 10th in Eastern Conference
Charlotte  ( 32 50 ) 4th in Southeast, 11th in Eastern Conference
Milwaukee  ( 32 50 ) 5th in Central, 12th in Eastern Conference
New York  ( 29 53 ) 4th in Atlantic, 13th in Eastern Conference
Atlanta  ( 28 54 ) 5th in Southeast, 14th in Eastern Conference
New Jersey  ( 25 57 ) 5th in Atlantic, 15th in Eastern Conference

* Miami will reach playoffs in tiebreaker with Indiana.

 

#1 Boston Celtics 55-27        They won't be as good as last year, but still #1
Boston can't continue to have the same unreal luck with injuries that they did last year. The Celtics top 8 guys played an average of 76 games last year. That kind of luck just cannot continue to hold as the Celtics get older and older, game by game. The loss of Posey doesn't help either. Any significant injury to Pierce or Garnett, and the Celts could slip to 5th or 6th in the Conference. At full strength though, they're still the team to beat.

2 Orlando Magic 52-30       Poised for break-out
Contrary to what the ESPN "experts" think, I believe that Pietrus WILL help the Magic - and Jameer Nelson is not a bad PG.  Turkoglu showed near All-Star form last year; and Rashard Lewis showed that he can do more than just score. I don't know what they're going to do about the PF spot, but unless Howard wears down from the extra load that the Olympic experience put on him, I think the Magic will be right at the top of the heap.

 

3 Washington Wizards 49-33    Eastern Conference better watch out (but no threat to the West)
This is finally the year that the Wizards will make it out of the First Round of the playoffs. I look for Arenas to take it slow at the beginning of the year; but come on late. Jamison will continue to be Mr. Consistent... And Caron Butler will finally play a full season without injury. The bench is much improved from 2 years ago and will be able to contribute. Another year under Randy Ayers should progress the defensive improvement we started to see last year. Are they good enough to contend for the Championship?  NO. Are they good enough to contend for the Eastern Conference? YES.

 

4 Philadelphia 76ers 48-34     Much improved, but needs time to gel.
Philly can now be officially labeled a "scary" team. They were bad enough last year when they were just trying to run teams out of the gym. But now with Brand, they'll have a legit low post scoring threat and a very efficient half court offensive game.
The only reason I haven't moved them higher is because it may take them half a year to learn to play together - but then, watch out!

 

5 Detroit Pistons 46 36        Old, tired and done.
Detroit's Championship window has closed. They still have enough (with Rasheed, Hamilton, Tayshawn Prince and Chauncy) to make the playoffs; and I still think they're better (very slightly better) than Cleveland during the regular season - but it will be 1 and done in the playoffs.

 

6 Cleveland Cavaliers 45 37    One man show, on it's final run.
If the Cavs can find chemistry in the combo of King James and Mo Williams ... if Big Z and Big Ben have anything left ... if J.J. Hickson makes an immediate impact inside ...  Too many if's for me. It's been the Lebron show for the last 3 years in Cleveland - but the Queen may be left at the end of the year pondering his move to Metropolis.
 
7 Toronto Raptors 45 37        Not as good as last year.
Jermaine O'Neal has missed 122 games in the last four seasons. He's done......toast. Chris Bosh played a ton of minutes in the Olympics. I think the Raptors regress.

 

8 Miami Heat 40 42*            D-Wade will rule.
Dwyane Wade is back, but this Heat roster is a mash of mismatched piecees. Marion should put up good numbers. Beasley should be good enough for ROY. Chalmers is a year away. But let's face it, Wade doesn't need much help to carry this team to the playoffs.

 

The Lottery:

8 Indiana Pacers 40 42         Run em out of the gym.
Sending Jermaine O'Neal to Toronto was a good move; and new PG T.J. Ford should fit right in with Jim O'Brien's running style. They will be better than people think

 

10 Chicago Bulls 38 44         Disappointing
11 Charlotte Bobcats 32 50     Even Larry Brown won't be able to fix this mess.
12 Milwaukee Bucks 32 50       Will get better, slowly.
13 New York Knicks 29 53       Waiting for the Lebron sweepstakes in 2010.
14 Atlanta Hawks 28 54         Will implode after very difficult early season schedule.
15 New Jersey Nets 28 54       Waiting for the Lebron sweepstakes in 2010.