7. Detroit- The Pistons are reaching the end of their run as the dominant team in the East, and unfortunately it end with the firing of Flip Saunders... a terrible move by the Pistons. Although they still have Billups, Rasheed Wallace, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, and Antonio McDy

The (word that rhymes with East) of the East.

The East is confusing... There are so many teams, so close in talent, that it's hard to get a decent prediction. I did call the Hawks last because it was easy to see the pieces getting put together for the past few seasons. For the other teams in the NBA, that is how you run a team. You do not try to become something you're not, you just find players that you can build around, and sure enough the Hawks are now a power in the East. Yes I said it, a power. How can they not be? Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Josh Childress, Marvin Williams, Zaza Pachulia, and Al Horford? They have the best backcourt in the East, and Horford and Williams are not even close to reaching their potential. So that brings me to the question... Which teams are in position to become the next Atlanta Hawks?

Well here's the answer.

I like the Charlotte Bobcats, bringing in D.J. Augustin was the best pick in the draft. Not to mention the hiring of Larry Brown gives this young team one of the best coaches in the business. I still think that Gerald Wallace is one of the most talented players in the conference, not just from the Fantasy NBA perspective, he can flat out play. With a healthy Emeka Okafor, and Jason Richardson, the Bobcats are very close to becoming a play-off team. Augustin is given all the tools he will need to turn the Bobcats into a contender, and I don't see them making the play-offs this season, don't be surprised if it happens. One more note, I also think that bringing in D.J. will help out Adam Morrisson tremendously, and he will not be under the pressure of having to score 20+ a night, because he's just not THAT good of a player. 

Another team I like in the East is New Jersey. Unloading Kidd was smart, as was getting rid of Richard Jefferson. The Nets knew that the line-up they had could not contend for a title, so they are trying to get younger and possibly bring in LeBron James in 2010. Drafting Brook Lopez gives them a talented big man who is going to take a lot of the pressure off Vince Carter every night. I also believe that bringing in Yi Jianlian was a great move, Yi is 6-11 and can shoot, picture Yi as the Chinese Dirk Nowitzki. Yi is also a better fit in New Jersey than in Milwaukee because of the Chinese population in New Jersey and the surrounding areas. With Lopez and Yi, the Nets front-court becomes one of the youngest and most talented in the East, not to mention Carter is still the most explosive player in their conference. Another good move by the Nets was bringing in Devin Harris. Not used very much in Dallas, he is a very talented young point guard who plays great on the ball D and will be able to match up with Billups, Arenas, and Wade. 

The other teams in the East, Philadelphia, Miami, New York, Milwaukee, and Indiana still have some hope. 

The 76'ers are still a play-off caliber team if they keep Andre Iguodala. I just don't think there is enough depth on that team to keep them in the play-offs. Dalembert is one of the best defensive centers in the conference, and Andre Miller is a solid point guard, but the bench is not strong enough to keep Philly in the hunt this season. If they can make a move next season to get some more young talent around Iguodala then they will be a lock in the play-offs. Thaddeus Young is on the verge of being an impact player, but unless they can bring in 1 more key player, the 76'ers are just a few games out of the play-offs.

Miami just drafted the best player in the draft, Michael Beasley, not to mention they still have Shawn Marion, and with a healthy Dwyane Wade the Heat are talented enough to make a run in the East, I just don't see them going anywhere without a true point guard. if they can make a deal to get Marion out for a few younger players, I could see the Heat being one of the top teams in the East again, but as of right now, this team can't compete with the top of the league. Expect big things in Beasley's sophomore season though.

The Bucks brought in Richard Jefferson from the Nets on draft day, and the trade helps them out just as much as it helps the Nets. Bringing in RJ and allowing him to play alongside Michael Redd gives the Bucks plenty of scoring while Andrew Bogut and Charlie Villanueva give them a solid front-court. The only thing keeping the Bucks out this year is the same problem the Heat have, they desperately need a point guard, and until they get one, the rest of the East is just too good.

The Pacers are in trouble, but Larry Bird knows it, which is why he made two huge trades on draft day which brought in Brandon Rush and Roy Hibbert. Unloading Jermaine O'Neal to bring in T.J. Ford is a great move, and putting T.J. in the same line-up as Rush, Danny Granger, and Roy Hibbert, makes Indiana a very talented young team. Unfortunately for the Pacers, is that bringing in these players is very risky, and they still do not have many players who can contribute off of the bench. Pacers fans should be happy knowing their team is in good hands though, because Larry Bird saved the team by getting rid of O'Neal.

And last but not least... well last and least, the New York Knicks...

Nate Robinson is not the future... neither is Renaldo Balkman... or Eddy Curry... or Stephon Marbury, if you get where I'm going with this. The Knicks are a few years away from the play-offs, however, they aren't in as bad of shape as some people may think. Danilo Gallinari was a great pick for them because he is someone most Knicks fans have never heard of or seen. Balkman, and Robinson, played college ball, so Spike Lee knew about them. With Gallinari, the Knicks bring in the most talented European player I think I have ever seen, simply because he is not the prototype European player. He isn't Dirk, of Pau Gasol, he's not a 6-11 player with a jumper like Andrea Bargnani. He is the European comparison to LeBron James, a 6'8 guy with point guard skills but can score at will. Now I know there is no way that Gallinari is anywhere close to LeBron in skill, but their style is similar, and I really believe that if the Knicks can get rid of Marbury and focus on keeping their core with Gallinari, Jamal Crawford, Eddy Curry, and Quentin Richardson, they might have some success in a few years. But like a said... might... and in a few years, and the Knicks may not be willing to wait that long.

So here's how the NBA play-offs are going to turn out

The Hornets beat the Spurs in the West Finals

The Magic beat the Celtics in the East Finals

The Hornets beat the Magic in 7 games to win the NBA Finals

Be sure to look for my NFL Season Preview coming out later this week. Thanks any for reading, and if my Bowl Predictions were any indication, this should cause a great deal of debating. 

Let me know what you think, any comments are greatly appreciated.

-Patrick Lacey

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