Behold the (ahem) Present: 07-08 Southeast Division

The Southeast Division improved the least of any in the League over the offseason.

Orlando

F Hidayet Turkoglu F Trevor Ariza
F Rashard Lewis F Pat Garrity
C Dwight Howard C Adonal Foyle C James Augustine
G Keith Bogans G Keyon Dooling G J.J. Redick
G Jameer Nelson G Carlos Arroyo

Mickey’s minions may be on to something down in the FLA. Dwight Howard is an unquestioned beast—he has perhaps the most explosive package of size, quickness, strength and agility since Shaq got old. A serious Ned Flanders, Howard is goofy in love with basketball and that means a whole lot of problems for the rest of the League. The addition of Rashard Lewis to the young nucleus of Howard, Jameer Nelson, Hidayet Turkoglu greatly improves Orlando’s talent level. Though overpaid and not quite the rebounder you might expect, Lewis is a great fit. Orlando has turned a corner.
The Magic have a solid bench, including a young trio of shooting guards in Keith Bogans, Keyon Dooling and JJ Redick. Look for all three to cycle through the starting line up. Trevor Ariza is very talented at the forward. Pat Garrity, Adonal Foyle and Carlos Arroyo are established veteran role players.
What Orlando lacks is much experience winning. In an improved East, their quest for the post season will be difficult. But the Southern Division in the weakest squirrel in the conference, and the Magic have a great frontline with Howard, Lewis and Turkoglu. All 6’10 or taller, the will be a defensive menace. The versatility of the forwards matches well with the sheer inside dominance of Howard. Though the Playoffs will be one and done, Orlando wins the Division. We will hear much more from this team in years to come.




Washington

F Caron Butler F Dominic McGuire
F Antwan Jamison F Andrae Blantche F Darius Songaila
C Brendan Haywood C Olexsiy Pecherov
G Deshawn Stevenson G Donell Taylor G Nick Young
G Gilbert Arenas G Antonio Daniels

Washington is the team most likely to slip as result of the overall improvement in the conference. Eddie Jordan has a great group of guys as far as putting points on the scoreboard. But it is going to be harder to get in a scoring race and win for the Wiz in this year’s East. They are highly suspect in the paint. Antwan Jamison is one of the best opportunistic scorers, but his ability to influence the game defensively is questionable at best. Brendan Haywood is junior varsity. Caron Butler is sorta a secret beast, but he lacks length.
The strength of the Wizards, of course, is their perimeter play. With Gilbert Arenas leading the charge and Butler and Jamison waiting eagerly on the wings, Washington wrecks havoc on the offensive end. Arenas is brilliant with the ball in his hands. A volume shooter, he automatically puts pressure on the opposing defense just being on the floor. Butler is an outstanding small forward. Rugged inside but with the skills and agility to do serious business from all parts of the floor. DeShawn Stevenson has a sweet stroke and young legs. Antonio Daniels is a solid veteran backing up Arenas at the point.
Washington is going to offer Orlando a good chase for the Division title, but that does not mean they will be sporting a winning record. With Boston, Cleveland, Orlando, Toronto, Chicago, New Jersey and Detroit all locks for the Playoffs, Washington is going to be battling the likes of Miami, Indiana, New York and possibly Atlanta for the 8 spot.



Miami

F Ricky Davis F Penny Hardaway F Dorell Wright
F Udonis Haslem F Alexander Johnson
C Shaquille O’Neal C Alonzo Mourning C Mark Blount
G Dwyane Wade G Daequan Cook
G Jason Williams G Smush Parker

The Miami Heat are in big trouble. An aging Shaq has become somewhat of a defensive liability and worse yet lost his dominance on the glass. Do everything Dwyane Wade has not yet recovered from last season’s wounds. Until the brought in Ricky Davis, Pat Riley had not made one significant addition to the Heat roster since the Championship. The Heat are in the salary cap log jam they created to get the Daddy and win a ring. Riles mortgaged their future for the present and were rewarded handsomely. Now it is time to pay the piper.
Aside from Wade and Davis, the Heat perimeter play is suspect at best. Jason Williams is on the decline big time. Though Smush Parker has some game, he makes poor decisions. As much as I am rooting for Penny, his comeback seems ill fated. Dorell Wright and Daequan Cook are nowhere near ready for prime time. The Heat got stronger up front with the addition of Mark Blount, but if he really has to play (aka Shaq is missing games) the Heat are screwed anyways.
Wade is obviously one of the best players in the game right now. Practically un-guardable, he has and will carry the entire Heat team to victory. His defense and court savvy are special. An electric shot blocker, superb rebounder, and exceptional distributor, he may be able work a miracle if his buddy the Big Fella has anything left to give. But that is where it all falls apart: For all practical purposes, the days of Shaq the Destroyer are done. The pace of the game around the League has picked up. Many centers are losing weight and many more are facing up from 15 feet rather than posting on the block. Miami will struggle mightily before Wade returns. They will battle back in contention but fall short of the 8 seed.



Atlanta

F Marvin Williams F Josh Childress
F Josh Smith F Al Horford F Shelden Williams
C Zaza Pachulia C Lorenzen Wright
G Joe Johnson G Salim Stoudamire
G Anthony Johnson G Ty Lue G Speedy Claxton G Acie Law

As bad as Atlanta has been so far in the Era of Ownership Uncertainty, the number of young talented players on this roster suggest that things gotta turn around some time soon. Joe Johnson, their high priced ‘star’ is in his prime. Josh Smith has emerged as a wrecking ball of a forward. Marvin Williams and Josh Childress have demonstrated legit NBA tools. Draft pick Al Horford seems of a quick track to Impactville. Aside from the fact that you can argue that all these guys (excluding Horford) are natural small forwards, the Hawks are nicely stocked for the next several seasons.
Their challenge remains that in the NBA that the two most consistently important positions on a team are point guard and center. Point guard is major question mark for the Hawks. Despite having three proven journeymen in Anthony Johnson, Ty Lue and Speedy “except when I am sitting on the bench” Claxton, none of the trio has elevated themselves as a consistent floor leader for the young bunch. Rookie Acie Law seems to have similar tools as Salim Stoudamire, i.e. a lead guard with an eye for scoring—but not the point need in the ATL. Center is a bit of a better situation. Zaza Pachulia is a decent young big, and Horford has already displayed the rugged game necessary to play the pivot despite being a bit short for your ideal center.
Atlanta is part of the story of the improved East. Though 2008 is doubtful to wind up a playoff year for the Hawks, they will escape the realm of basement dwellers and maybe even stay in the post season race until March.



Charlotte

F Gerald Wallace F Jared Dudley
F Walter Hermann F Jermareo Davidson
C Emeka Okafor C Primoz Brezec C Othella Harrington
G Jason Richardson G Matt Carroll
G Ray Felton G Jeff McInnis

The Charlotte Bobcats, like their fellow lovable losers in Atlanta, have acquired a decent young core of talented players. Also like the Hawks, the Bobs have yet to see dividends in the Win-Loss column. The draft day trade that brought in Jason Richardson was intended to anchor Charlotte’s youth movement with an established scorer and veteran. But an injury depleted frontline, rookie coach and an improved East may spoil the party before it begins.
JRich is first rate NBA shooting guard in his prime. His ability to get his own looks, as well as his sheer athleticism, help Charlotte improve upon some of their primary weaknesses. As good a year as Matt Carroll had last year, the Bobcats perimeter play was deeply in need of an upgrade. Whether Richardson meshes with young lead guard Ray Felton remains to be seen. Felton loves the ball in his hands. With his talented backcourt mate, Felton will need to balance his own desire to dominate the ball with the team offensive flow. In other words, if Charlotte’s offense devolves into Felton and Richardson talking turns pounding the ball on the hardwood, the season will get long fast. If Felton can subvert his dribble attack and pick his spots to break down the defense himself, Charlotte may have their best season since entering the League.
As important as the ability of Felton and Richardson to play off one another without excluding their teammates is for the Bobcats, at least of equal importance is an injury free season from Emeka Okafor. Okafor is the key to the Bobcat defense. With the injury to Sean May and the instability in Primoz Brezec home life, Okafor is now carrying the weight of Charlotte’s season on his broad shoulders. Gerald Wallace is another Cat that needs to stay injury free, though if he goes down for his requisite 10-15 games, Charlotte can more reasonably withstand the hit. Look for Charlotte to play well in fits and spurts. If they avoid any 2-8 slides, they could challenge through March for the 8-spot. Regardless, expect a return to Lottery.


Atlantic Division: On the rise after years of misery

Central Division: Can the Pistons make another run, or has the reign of King James already begun