2008-2009 NBA Basketball Eastern Conference Preview

2008-2009 NBA Eastern Conference Preview Courtesy of The Prez, A Professional Award Winning Handicapper Featured on Touthouse.com. If you are betting on NBA basketball this season be sure to buy The Prez’ Expert NBA Picks

On the eve of the new season, here’s a look at the NBA’s Eastern Conference. The East is widely assumed to be weaker than the West yet houses the defending NBA champs.

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Boston Celtics (+150 to win East/+350 to win NBA title): The Celtics will raise NBA title banner No. 17 on Opening Night and are the overwhelming favorites to be the team to represent the East again this season. The Big 3 are back in Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, with the only significant loss really being that of James Posey to the Hornets. When you think of Garnett, Pierce and Allen, you probably think offense, but the C’s were the best defensive team in the land last year. Really, the only thing that realistically should keep Boston out of the NBA Finals again is the injury bug. Other than the Spurs, no team relies on 30-something stars like Boston. Coach Doc Rivers plans to reduce the regular-season minutes of Pierce and Allen to keep them fresh this year.

Cleveland Cavaliers (+450 to win East/+1250 to win NBA title): Is this the year LeBron James finally carries his supporting cast to a title? Doubtful, although King James does have arguably his best No. 2 option since he has been in the NBA with Mo Williams, who came over from the Bucks. Williams averaged more than 17 points and six assists in each of the past two seasons in Milwaukee, so he can alleviate both a scoring and ball-handling load on James. So while the backcourt should be better, the frontcourt remains a question. Ben Wallace regresses more each year and Zydrunas Ilgauskas can’t be counted on to stay healthy, can he? They very well could reach the East Finals again, but that’s probably it.

Detroit Pistons (+330 to win East/+750 to win NBA title): These odds seem very low for a team whose title window seems closed. Detroit does have a new coach in Michael Curry, but GM Joe Dumars didn’t deliver on the overhaul that he threatened after last season. No doubt the Pistons win probably 50 games and a playoff series this year, but with aging Chauncey Billups and unpredictable Rasheed Wallace, this club’s ceiling is lower than it’s been in recent seasons.

Orlando Magic (+800 to win East/+1700 to win NBA title): The Magic should win the weak Southeast Division again with no problems, but their flaws were again exposed by the Pistons in the East semifinals last year, with those mainly being a weak, undersized backcourt and an unreliable rebounder outside of Dwight Howard. Orlando tried to address the backcourt problem with former Warrior Mickael Pietrus, but he couldn’t get consistent minutes in Golden State. Meanwhile, Howard remains the only true low-post presence on this team. Look for the same result as last season: Win a playoff series and then out.

SHOULD REACH PLAYOFFS

Philadelphia 76ers (+850 to win East/+1900 to win NBA title): By signing Elton Brand, the Sixers became many people’s chic underdog pick to win the Eastern Conference. No doubt, Brand helps what was Philly’s big weakness last year: low-post scoring. But Philly’s turnaround last season was due to a shift to a fast-breaking style, so it will be interesting to see how the team adjust with Brand taking a lot of balls down low (although he is a great outlet passer on the defensive end). In addition, while having some great perimeter athletes, they don’t really have any shooters who scare you.

Toronto Raptors (+1100 to win East/+2200 to win NBA title): If there’s a team worth taking a longshot flier on this year with your betting money, this might be it. However, that is placing a lot of faith in Jermaine O’Neal. The Raptors acquired the five-time All-Star from Indiana for point guard T.J. Ford, and if O’Neal is healthy he gives Toronto potentially the best frontcourt in the East with Chris Bosh. But that’s a big if: O’Neal has played only 60 games once in the past four years.

Chicago Bulls (+1700 to win East/+2900 to win NBA title): The Bulls might be the East’s biggest mystery team. Last year they were picked by some to win the conference but instead took a major step back. Much of that was credited to contract issues with Luol Deng and Ben Gordon and those Kobe Bryant trade rumors. There were only two good things to come of last season: Chicago was able to dump Ben Wallace and it won the draft lottery and has its point guard for the next decade in Derrick Rose. There’s still a lot of talent here, but how it will jell under new coach Vinny Del Negro is anyone’s guess.

Atlanta Hawks (+1750 to win East/+3500 to win NBA title): Remember that the Hawks stretched the Celtics to the limit in the first round of last year’s playoffs. However, Atlanta did lose sixth man Josh Childress to Europe. But look at this team’s starting five: Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Marvin Williams and Al Horford. That’s arguably as talented a starting five in the NBA – albeit raw. I think the Hawks edge out the Wizards for the final playoff spot, although Atlanta still will be limited by not having a center – Horford will play there out of place.

BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR

Washington Wizards (+2100 to win East): Most experts have the Wizards sneaking into the playoffs, but this team looks in trouble to me. Gilbert Arenas had yet another knee surgery, and the Wizards’ best center, Brendan Haywood, might miss the entire season.

Indiana Pacers (+4200 to win East): The Pacers have three solid starters in T.J. Ford, the underrated Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy, but their frontcourt is led by Troy Murphy and Jeff Foster or Rasho Nesterovic. Enough said.

Charlotte Bobcats (+3800 to win East): Coach Larry Brown is in Charlotte, so that should mean instant improvement. And they do get Sean May and Adam Morrison back this year. Playoffs aren’t an impossibility if Jason Richardson and Gerald Wallace have career years.

Milwaukee Bucks (+10000 to win East): Scott Skiles is the new coach here, and he should bring some needed discipline and a hard-nosed style. And Richard Jefferson is in Milwaukee for a full season. But this team still can’t defend anyone.

Miami Heat (+2000 to win East): Will almost assuredly be the NBA’s most improved team as far as wins and losses. Dwyane Wade is healthy and Michael Beasley will probably be the rookie of the year if Greg Oden isn’t. But other than Wade, Beasley and Shawn Marion, there isn’t much else.

New York Knicks (+5000 to win East): At least Isiah Thomas is gone, Knick fans (and apparently taking too many sleeping pills). And this team should be entertaining under new coach Mike D’Antoni, but it has miles to go and may be the worst defensive team in the league.

New Jersey Nets (+6000 to win East): It will be a long year in the New York area when it comes to basketball. The Nets are in full rebuild mode, hoping to outbid the Knicks for LeBron James in 2010. If only they could dump Vince Carter on someone.