The Raptors are relying on a lot of unknowns to materialize into positives. O'Neal's health, Parker and Jamario Moon's ability to contain opposing wings, and the fruits of Bargnani's offseason progress all have to turn in the Raptors' favor for Toronto to make noise in the East.
3.Miami Heat
If Michael Beasley is as good as advertised—and I'm going to assume for the sake of this analysis that he is—the Miami Heat have the chance to win over fifty games this season.
If Shawn Marion, Beasley, and a healthy Dwyane Wade can get some chemistry going early, they have the chance of becoming a three-headed monster like Washington's Arenas-Butler-Jamison trio.
However, Wade is the X-Factor. His play in the Olympics is a strong indication that he's back, and hungry for his second championship. While it's hard to imagine this team beating some of the best teams in the East, it's even harder to imagine a way anyone can stop them from scoring at will.
If Beasley's talks of being the MVP are to be taken seriously, he's going to have to average about twenty-eight points and grab eight rebounds on solid percentages. That's the only way he's going to beat out Wade.
2.Portland TrailBlazers
Welcome the future of the NBA—the Portland Trail Blazers. If you're a fan of a young team dreaming of championship banners over the next ten years, stop dreaming unless that team is Portland.
Barring some major health issues, this team is about as good as it gets when you're talking about quality youth.
They have one of the best young wing players in Roy, one of the best young power-forwards in LaMarcus Aldridge, and a center who's been called the second coming of David Robinson in Oden.
When you add Martell Webster, Travis Outlaw, Jerryd Bayless, Ike Diogu, Channing Frye, and the electric Rudy Fernandez to the mix, you have a solid nucleus of players who have yet to even scratch the surface.
If these Blazers can grow up fast, and Oden can stay healthy, Portland could give some of the top teams fits this season.
1.Phoenix Suns
The best move of the offseason for the Suns was replacing Mike D'Antoni with former Bucks coach Terry Porter. Add to the mix the additions of Goran Dragić and Robin Lopez via the draft, and you have to give Steve Kerr an A-plus for his work this off-season.
In Porter's offense, Nash will play a less prominent role, and the Suns will run their offense through two of the most dominant players this league has ever seen—Shaquille O'Neal and Amare Stoudemire.
They have a solid supporting cast for their three All-Stars in Grant Hill, Boris Diaw, Matt Barnes, Leandro Barbosa, Raja Bell, and the aforementioned rookies Lopez and Dragić.
Look for Dragic to be groomed as their point guard of the future, and Lopez will prove to be an absolute steal at 15, as defensive-minded seven-footers are a rare find.
The Suns have a great blend of youth and experience, which will be key to their success this season. Porter is looking to keep Shaq's minutes low, but his touches high.
One has to believe that a player of O'Neal's calibre wants one more ring before he hangs up his size 22s. When you look at their roster, coupled with their new coaching philosophy, you have to like his odds.
For what its worth, I don't think the Celtics would have a shot in hell of beating this team if Nash, Stoudemire, and O'Neal stay healthy.
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