The East will never be the beast the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons and Boston Celtics made it out to be until somebody decides to break Shaquille O’Neal’s legs (oh God, please allow Mark Madsen to attempt to play basketball and fall and break Shaq’s legs.)
Wishful thinking on my part will not stop the Lakers. However, most attention will be focused on the Atlantic Division, considering the best player to ever don an NBA jersey has decided to play for the Washington Wizards.
Players such as Tracy McGrady, Grant Hill, Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd, Alonzo Mourning and Paul Pierce will also provide intrigue.
1. Orlando Magic
The best player in the NBA besides Shaq resides in the Atlantic. He is better than Kobe, Vince pales in comparison, and AI is out with an injury now. His name is Tracy McGrady.
He showed cousin Vince who the true baller was in the family, showed Kobe what a rejection looked like in the all-star game and blew by the three-headed dragon that is Sam Cassel, Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson.
Now Grant Hill is back, and if he can stay off the injured list, he will provide the Magic with a point guard that can pass and score.
The addition of geritol-users for-life Patrick Ewing and Horace Grant will provide Orlando with much-needed depth in the middle.
If all the pieces fly into place, we’ll see an NBA Finals played in Orlando.
Projected record: 61-21
2. Philadelphia 76ers
Coming off an NBA Finals trip, the 76ers have much to live up to, but will have to start without league MVP Allen Iverson.
Iverson is the heart and soul of the team. Without him, the team does not work and would not even make the playoffs.
The addition of Derrick Coleman may hurt even more then it helps considering Coleman’s attitude.
However, when Allen Iverson comes back, he will bring them back up to second place, considering the lack of good teams in the division.
Projected record: 55-27
3. Washington Wizards
I know you probably think I am soft for Jordan. You are right. Putting Jordan at any lower position than third would be blasphemous for me, and I would be sent straight to Michael Jordan hell.
Jordan will play very well, even though you probably couldn’t slip a dollar bill under his jumpshot. He’ll win games for the team.
Rip Hamilton and Courtney Alexander will have the most important jobs on the team. They’ll have to do something they have not done in their entire career?move off the ball.
Watching players sitting around and waiting for the basketball result in the death of a team. If Alexander and Hamilton move around and allow the other players to hit them while cutting, you’ll see Washington finish third.
Probably not, but that’s what happens when you have a Jordan bias.
Projected record: 49-33
4. Miami Heat
The next four teams are hard to separate, but I thought the Miami Heat would have a solid regular season and lose in the first round of the playoffs as usual.
The loss of Tim Hardaway did not hurt them as the acquisition of Rod Strickland will. Strickland is a cancer, but it did not leave Pat Riley much choice. Mr. Turnover, Anthony Carter, was his starting point guard.
Miami has a good front court with Alonzo Mourning, Eddie Jones and Brian Grant looming around the rim.
The fact Kendall Gill is starting for the Heat is not good. However, Eddie House should provide much-needed offense off the bench.
Projected Record: 47-35
5. New York Knicks
The Knicks will finish third considering their great offensive shooting guard and small forward, but will suffer defensively until Marcus Camby is back.
Mark Jackson is a large improvement over Charlie Ward, but the moves for Shandon Anderson and Howard Eisley were idiotic and a testament to Scott Layden’s stupidity.
They might beat out the Heat, but in my opinion Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston will be too streaky and will cost them some games.
Projected record: 46-36
6. New Jersey Nets
Dropping Stephon Marbury was the best move the Nets could have made, since Jason Kidd will distribute the ball to other players on the team.
Keith Van Horn has had a couple disappointing seasons, but he should play very well with Kidd playing the point.
When will teams learn the big seven foot white guys don’t work out? Bryant Reeves, Shawn Bradley, Greg Ostertag and Jim McIlvane were and are complete oafs that cannot move their feet in a coordinated fashion. The Nets have not figured this out as they signed Todd MacCulloch to a multi-million dollar contract.
Last year’s top pick Kenyon Martin will be better if he stops worrying about stacking his blocking numbers and thinks about playing team defense.
Projected Record 40-42
7. Boston Celtics
Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker are two very good players. However, they’ll have to learn to co-exist, and if they do, they could move all the way to third in the division. But Walker’s attitude will never go away.
The middle stands as a huge hole. Only Tony Battie stands as any type of defensive threat, and the middle will be the sole reason the Celtics finish last.
Projected Record 38-44