Last year, the Miami Heat won the tightly contested Atlantic division by two games over the New York Knicks, and three games over the Philadelphia 76ers. The pressure should be just as hot on Miami this year, as New York made off-season moves to try to keep pace with the Heat, while the 76ers managed to keep their nucleus intact. Throw the Orlando Magic into the mix, too, as they added Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady in the off-season. With no team a hands-down favorite to win the division, there could be an interesting, four-team race for the rights to Atlantic Avenue. Of course, there will be a less interesting, three-team race for lottery picks between the Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, and New Jersey Nets.
Take it to the bank:
You're going to have to run to win in the Atlantic. Looking for a big man? Don't look at the Atlantic division. With Alonzo Mourning out for the season with a kidney ailment and Patrick Ewing shipped off to Seattle, there is not one dominant center in the Atlantic division. What does this mean for the fans? We might get to watch some exciting, fast-paced basketball for a change. The starting centers in the Atlantic - which include John Amechi, Travis Knight, and Duane Causwell - are about as impressive as Al Gore would be at an Evening at the Apollo. More emphasis is going to be put on the little men like the Heat's Tim Hardaway and the 76ers' Allen Iverson. You heard it here first: At the end of the season, the team that shoots the best from the perimeter and scores the most fast-break points will win the division.
Fearless Predictions:
They'll be dancing on the streets of Philadelphia. The 76ers were only three games out of first place last year and are returning all of the same players. Plus, they will have a legitimate second scorer for the whole season, as Toni Kukoc, who came over in a midseason deal last year, will get to spend all year playing second fiddle to Iverson. The key to this team, other than Iverson's 28 points per game, is the play of point guard Eric Snow. The former Michigan State Spartan averaged over seven assists per game last year and is the perfect contrast to Iverson in the backcourt. He doesn't rap. Throw in big men Matt Geiger and Theo Ratliff and you have a very impressive starting lineup. If this team gets help from an average bench - which features role players Aaron McKie and George Lynch - it should win the division.
Clueless:
Will we see any Net gain? The biggest question mark in the Atlantic is the New Jersey Nets. Everyone knows the top four have the horses to win the division, but what no one knows is whether the Nets can stay healthy enough to show off the talent they've assembled by being bad the last few years. Immediate reports seem dim. Forward Keith Van Horn, who averaged 19 points and eight rebounds a season ago, is already going to miss the first four to six weeks with a broken leg, and the team has no idea if it will have the services of guard Kerry Kittles. Throw in injuries to Jamie Feick, who could have started, and Lucious Harris, who would have been a major contributor off the bench, and you have a very banged up team. If these guys come back, they could join Stephon Marbury, Kendall Gill, and first overall pick Kenyon Martin to form a very talented team. If not, it's lottery time for the Nets.
Young guns to be tested
Kenyon Martin. The Nets took the power forward from Cincinnati with their first pick, and first-year coach Byron Scott needs the former Bearcat to produce. He will have the benefit of not needing to carry the offense, as he will be the third or fourth option behind Marbury, a healthy Van Horn, and Gill. Still, there is going to be a lot of pressure on the number-one pick to turn more into a Tim Duncan than a Joe Smith, as the Nets are itching for a playoff berth.
Mike Miller. With all the free agent moves the Magic made, many forgot about the 6'8" Miller, who was the fifth pick out of the University of Florida. True, Miller won't have to worry about scoring points, and won't even start, but since the Magic have no proven big men, everyone is going to have to do his part on the boards and in the paint. Plus, if the Magic are going to go as far as they feel they should, then Miller is going to have to become a star off the bench in the mold of Austin Croshere.
Old legs to be retested
Brian Grant. When Grant signed on with the Heat, he thought he would have the desirable job of playing up front with Alonzo Mourning. Not the case. Grant, a power forward who spent last year miserable in Portland, will get a chance to step up his minutes and his rebounding in Miami, which is exactly what he wants. The exciting, hustling, dread-locked forward played only 21 minutes a game last year, but this year he will start at the four and see some time at center. Grant is going to have to improve on his five rebounds per game if the Heat are going to have any chance this year.
Glen Rice. The former Michigan Wolverine may end up on X-Files pretty soon. What happened to the man who won the All-Star MVP three years ago in Charlotte? Well, he became the third option in Los Angeles, and is now the third option in New York. Rice is going to have to break out of his scoring shell, something he is still capable of doing, and be a legitimate three-point threat for the Knicks. The only problem with Rice, though, is that he doesn't seem to fit in. New York already has two perimeter players - Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell - that don't play much defense, and they don't really need a third. This will be a chance for Rice to either establish himself in the post, or on the bench.
Honey, grab the duffel bag, we're moving
It would have been easier if teams just exchanged rosters, or that's how it seems, as almost every team had a mass exodus and re-growth. Neither Philadelphia, New Jersey, nor Washington made any big moves, and the Celtics just seemed to move in place, as they added Bryant Stith but lost Dana Barros and Danny Fortson. However, Orlando, New York, and Miami went on shopping sprees, so hold your breath.
The Magic traded Chucky Atkins and Ben Wallace to get Grant Hill from Detroit, and gave up a first-round pick for Tracy McGrady. The Magic also said goodbye to Cory Maggette and Matt Harpring.
New York traded Patrick Ewing to Seattle for Vernon Maxwell, Vladimir Stepania, Lazano Borrell, and two second round picks. If you haven't heard of these guys, forget about it, Maxwell and Stepania have been cut, and Borrell will be shortly. As part of the deal, Seattle traded Horace Grant, Greg Foster, Emmanuel Davis, Chuck "the Rifleman" Person, one first round, and two second-round picks to the Lakers. The Lakers then sent Glen Rice, Travis Knight, and a first-round pick to New York. Oh yeah, the Knicks dealt Chris Dudley and a first round pick to Phoenix for Luc Longley.
Not to be outdone, Miami traded Jamal Mashburn, P.J. Brown, Tim James, Otis Thorpe, and Rodney Buford to Charlotte for Eddie Jones, Anthony Mason, Ricky Davis, and Dale Ellis. Deep breath.
