NBA 2007-2008 Preview: Southeast Division

1) Charlotte Bobcats

There are always a few surprise overachievers in the NBA.

Last year, it was the Raptors. This year, there's no reason it can't be the Bobcats.

PG Raymond Felton has great handles and makes crisp passes. As he gains experience and his defense and shooting improve, Felton will take his place among some of the better point guards in the league.

The best reason for hope, though, comes from the wings.

Gerald Wallace has always been a freakish athlete—even as he's been limited by a raw offensive game. He's improved exponentially over the past few years, and looks to be even better with Jason Richardson by his side.

Richardson is one of the strongest scoring guards in the league. While his drives to the basket are often out of control, his power and speed leave inferior defenders and late rotators eating his dust.

Emeka Okafor has had his NBA learning curve shortened by injuries. He's a great rebounder, screen-setter, and shot-blocker, but his offensive game is undeveloped.

Still, he contributes enough on put-backs, lobs, dunks, step-throughs, and occasional hook shots to be serviceable.

On the bench, Walter Hermann will need to duplicate the success he had late last season. If he does, the Bobcats will have yet another prolific scorer—and a matchup nightmare for opposing backups.

Matt Carroll is a surprisingly physical dead-eye shooter. Jeff McInnis plays out of control, but is an explosive scorer in a broken court.

The real key to Charlotte's season is at head coach. Bernie Bickerstaff was able to nurture the young ‘Cats the right way. Can new head man Sam Vincent follow suit?

Vincent will have to be forceful yet compassionate to get the most out of his team. With no previous head coaching experience, can he make the necessary day-to-day tactical adjustments to take advantage of opponents?

If Vincent can continue to coach up the young ‘Cats, and if the team (especially Okafor) can stay healthy, winning the Southeast might not be far-fetched, given the mediocre competition.

2) Miami Heat

The Heat are the NBA’s wild card.

If Shaq and Dwyane Wade are healthy, the Heat will be able to compete with any team in the league.

If they aren't, and if the rest of the supporting cast is as decrepit as last year, Miami may miss the postseason entirely.

Shaq had a dream season in '06-'07: He was able to start the year out of shape and sit out half the season because of injuries...before proving that he still had it by leading the sub-.500 Heat to a division title.

That said, Shaq’s poor conditioning left him gassed in the second halves of the Heat’s first-round playoff losses. That and Wade's injured shoulder doomed the team.

Given that Shaq has never been good at staying in shape—and considering that he’s fighting a losing battle with Father Time—it's hard to imagine he'll be the impact player the Heat need this season.

Then there's the bench.

The Heat rid themselves of the Antoine Walker cancer—but can Dorell Wright contribute to an NBA team?

Alonzo Mourning, for his part, isn’t fit to play more than 12 minutes a night. Will Pat Riley be able to ration the center minutes so that neither player ends up fatigued?

Does Jason Williams have any game left in his legs? If not, Smush Parker’s defensive shortcomings, inability to run the point, and inconsistent offensive game will drive another coaching legend out of his mind.

Udonis Haslem will rebound and defend as well as any other power forward in the year. But if he’s asked to be a third option, Miami is in serious trouble.

With all those questions, it's hard to envision Miami making too much noise in the East. The Heat will be a dangerous playoff team with Wade and Shaq—if they qualify.

Expect a turbulent regular season in South Beach.

3) Orlando Magic

In Rashard Lewis, the Magic finally have a talented wing scorer who can free up space inside for Dwight Howard.

Lewis is tough to contain off the dribble, and also can post up—though Howard's presence makes that skill redundant.

Despite his stiff offensive game, Howard is a voracious rebounder and an intimidating shot-blocker. As his offensive repertoire evolves and expands, Howard may become the next feared center in the league.

The rest of the lineup is still below par. Jameer Nelson is a third guard in a two-guard lineup. Having him start will significantly limit Stan Van Gundy's options on offense.

Keith Bogans is the best defensive guard the Magic have, but his rough offensive game seems best fit for a bruising ball club. Trevor Ariza is another talented defensive wing who can score in a broken court.

Ariza's ability to change the tempo of a game makes him best suited to a sixth-man role.

Hedo Turkoglu is a jack of all trades but master of none. J.J. Redick is a tremendous long-distance shooter with no other talents to speak of. Adonal Foyle is a legit defensive big man with zero offensive skills.

If the Magic come together behind Howard’s rebounding and Lewis’ scoring, another playoff appearance should be a given. Until Orlando finds a true point guard or a playmaking wing, though, it will be difficult for the Magic to get much further than that.

4) Washington Wizards

The Wizards have three bona fide offensive scorers in Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, and Caron Butler.

Butler’s quick hands and anticipation also make him a great steals generator.

Antonio Daniels can defend, run an offense, and hit jumpers, while DeShawn Stevenson’s defensive game is far more refined than his offense.

Other than that, there isn’t much to the Wizards.

With Etan Thomas out, Washington will have to rely on rebounding and muscle from the vastly underwhelming Brendan Haywood or the guard-like Andre Blatche.

Don’t count on much defensive execution or rebounding from either player—which means trouble, because the defensive ineptitude of Arenas and Jamison will have opponents assaulting the Wizards rim at will.

While Arenas can shoot the Wizards into every game, Washington’s poor team defense and lack of muscle up front will leave them mediocre at best. With so many lower-tiered teams in the East improving, the Wizards will find themselves on the outside of the playoffs looking in.

5) Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks have taken baby steps the last few years, but they're not quite ready for the final leap.

Joe Johnson is a big-time scorer. Beyond him, there are a multitude of problems with this team.

For all of Josh Smith’s defensive and acrobatic talents, he’s still a bricklaying jump shooter with a reckless style and a huge ego.

Josh Childress is also an athletic specimen, but he still hasn’t found a niche in the NBA.

Anthony Johnson is starting to break down. Speedy Claxton is a penetrator who can‘t shoot a lick. Tyronn Lue is a shooter who can't run an offense. And Acie Law is a rookie.

Salim Stoudamire is a streaky shooter who doesn’t contribute anything else.

Marvin Williams can’t shoot or drive like a wing and is too timid and soft to be a power forward. Zaza Pachulia is a crafty center who isn’t a starter on a good team. Al Horford has the frame and the strength to be a punishing post scorer, but he too is only a rookie.

If Smith matures, Williams and Childress find roles, and Law and Horford contribute right away, the Hawks will have enough to come within shouting distance of the playoffs.

Best bet is that it takes two seasons for Atlanta to give up on Williams, get one more bona fide draft pick, and mature to the point that making the playoffs becomes an expectation instead of a dream.