Los Angeles Lakers - A major addition in Ron Artest makes the defending champions considerably deeper. One of the league's best defensive players and an all-around hustler, Ron Artest will significantly alter the makeup of the Lakers. What he can do for the team is uncertain at this point.
Artest often takes over games and likes to be the focal point of his teams. This won't be possible in LA as long as Kobe Bryant is on the court. The adjustment in roles may be an easy shift for Artest, but if he doesn't take well to it, things could be murky come playoff time. Regardless, the Lakers should easily win their division during the regular season.
San Antonio Spurs. With some key additions in Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess, the Spurs have revitalized what was seen as an aging, declining team just a few short months ago. With a nice core of Duncan, Ginobili, Parker, and Jefferson, there are four players who can top 20 points per game, making this a very dangerous team. The loss of Bruce Bowen may be a problem though.
Dallas Mavericks. It seems like this team always enters the season with high hopes, only to quietly exit during the first round of the playoffs. With some big additions in Shawn Marion and others, Dirk and Jason Kidd have a nice core in place now. Josh Howard's effectiveness will be a question mark, and the development of Barea will be key.
Boston Celtics: You are good. You have potential to be great. You probably will lose in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals again. But remember you are a very good team. You have all 5 starters returning and healthy which should help to start off at least8-2 or even10-0 if you can beat Cleveland on opening night and beat Atlanta, which is something you struggle with. The Boston 3 party willneed to invite Rondo and Rasheed inside and become aFab 5 in order to reducewear and tear on the agingbodies anddecrease the chances for injuries. KG will probably stay healthy but will not be the KG he was in Minnesota.RayAllen was pestered by JJ Reddick so teams may havefound a way to slow him down. Pierce will still be as dominate, ugly as it was. Rondo will be a key factor. Which Rondo will show up night in and night out. The almost Mr Triple Double in the playoffs Rondo or the You wanted to trade me / I cant beat Kirk Hinrichfoul playing Rondo. He is youngand still learning to handle pressure. He needs to be grown this year and mature to be as productive as he was in the playoffs. Rasheed will need to understand he is not a sharp shooter anymore and his old legs are not equipped to post up every player. His turn around jumper on the base line and interior defense will make him the asset Boston needs. Big Baby just needs to control his emotions and quit crying. They will finish somewhere in a 1-3 spot depending on the last 15 games of the regular season.
Cleveland Cavaliers - When you have LeBron on your team at this stage of his career, you'll always be a contender. Mo Williams and Delonte West are great complements to the superstar's game, and Shaq's presence in the middle will give the team something it's sorely lacked for quite a few years now.
This isn't a deep team by any means, but they don't need to be deep when they have an elite player and a few very good players backing him up. LeBron should probably have another MVP season and I see the Cavs emerging in the Eastern Conference this season, and possibly going the distance.
Orlando Magic. The victors in last year's Eastern Conference finals knocked out both Boston (though without Garnett) and Cleveland, to the surprise of many. They've lost Hedo Turkoglu and Courtney Lee, both valuable pieces, but the additions of Vince Carter, Matt Barnes, and Brandon Bass should more than make up for that in the eyes of most. Vince Carter's impact on a team is questionable seeing as how the Nets have fallen from grace these past few years, but with the right fit, the Magic will look better than before and remain the team to beat in the East.
Artest often takes over games and likes to be the focal point of his teams. This won't be possible in LA as long as Kobe Bryant is on the court. The adjustment in roles may be an easy shift for Artest, but if he doesn't take well to it, things could be murky come playoff time. Regardless, the Lakers should easily win their division during the regular season.
San Antonio Spurs. With some key additions in Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess, the Spurs have revitalized what was seen as an aging, declining team just a few short months ago. With a nice core of Duncan, Ginobili, Parker, and Jefferson, there are four players who can top 20 points per game, making this a very dangerous team. The loss of Bruce Bowen may be a problem though.
Dallas Mavericks. It seems like this team always enters the season with high hopes, only to quietly exit during the first round of the playoffs. With some big additions in Shawn Marion and others, Dirk and Jason Kidd have a nice core in place now. Josh Howard's effectiveness will be a question mark, and the development of Barea will be key.
Boston Celtics: You are good. You have potential to be great. You probably will lose in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals again. But remember you are a very good team. You have all 5 starters returning and healthy which should help to start off at least8-2 or even10-0 if you can beat Cleveland on opening night and beat Atlanta, which is something you struggle with. The Boston 3 party willneed to invite Rondo and Rasheed inside and become aFab 5 in order to reducewear and tear on the agingbodies anddecrease the chances for injuries. KG will probably stay healthy but will not be the KG he was in Minnesota.RayAllen was pestered by JJ Reddick so teams may havefound a way to slow him down. Pierce will still be as dominate, ugly as it was. Rondo will be a key factor. Which Rondo will show up night in and night out. The almost Mr Triple Double in the playoffs Rondo or the You wanted to trade me / I cant beat Kirk Hinrichfoul playing Rondo. He is youngand still learning to handle pressure. He needs to be grown this year and mature to be as productive as he was in the playoffs. Rasheed will need to understand he is not a sharp shooter anymore and his old legs are not equipped to post up every player. His turn around jumper on the base line and interior defense will make him the asset Boston needs. Big Baby just needs to control his emotions and quit crying. They will finish somewhere in a 1-3 spot depending on the last 15 games of the regular season.
Cleveland Cavaliers - When you have LeBron on your team at this stage of his career, you'll always be a contender. Mo Williams and Delonte West are great complements to the superstar's game, and Shaq's presence in the middle will give the team something it's sorely lacked for quite a few years now.
This isn't a deep team by any means, but they don't need to be deep when they have an elite player and a few very good players backing him up. LeBron should probably have another MVP season and I see the Cavs emerging in the Eastern Conference this season, and possibly going the distance.
Orlando Magic. The victors in last year's Eastern Conference finals knocked out both Boston (though without Garnett) and Cleveland, to the surprise of many. They've lost Hedo Turkoglu and Courtney Lee, both valuable pieces, but the additions of Vince Carter, Matt Barnes, and Brandon Bass should more than make up for that in the eyes of most. Vince Carter's impact on a team is questionable seeing as how the Nets have fallen from grace these past few years, but with the right fit, the Magic will look better than before and remain the team to beat in the East.
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