It's August, it's hot and there's nothing else really to do around my
house right now (construction officially begins next week), so let's
spark up some debate about what has become the new-look Atlantic
Division.
I complied the rosters as they stand right now. Obviously there will
be a few more moves made by the Knicks (who have too many players) and
the Celtics (who don't have enough) and who knows, perhaps the Nets
will try to get back into the Jermaine O'Neal situation now that KG
has ****fted the balance of power for Boston.
Let's rub some Nets fans the wrong way here and build on our theory
that they are the team to put in the red this season. I'm not saying
they are the worst team -- Philadelphia is going to have it's hands
full with that very young and very raw roster -- and I'm not saying
the Knicks are better, but the Nets are the team that seems most
likely to regress, even with J-Kidd running the show and working the
strings that operate Lawrence Frank (who just got a contract
extension, don'tcha know).
This is how the Knicks match up, in my mind:
The Nets (41-41) added Jamaal Magloire to beef up the post (an obvious
answer to the Knicks' bulk down low) and the free agency loss of Mikki
Moore will hurt because he was a Knick killer. Magloire and Jason
Collins can handle the physical battle with Curry down low, but who
will take on Zach Randolph? Nenad Krstic is coming off major knee
surgery. Kidd is still better than Marbury at the point and the Knicks
did nothing to improve a glaring weakness that Kidd often exploits:
help defense. I'll take Q-Rich on RJ for the most part, as long as
Q-Rich is healthy. Vince Carter-Jamal Crawford is a tough matchup for
Jamal, especially if VC posts him up.
The Nets starting five is still a pretty solid matchup, but the bench
just doesn't impress you at all. Perhaps the most effective player
they would have off the bench is Nachbar, but D-Lee is more effective.
House and he isn't signed yet and could go elsewhere. Marcus Williams
has a lot to prove after his performance level (and attitude) dropped
off in the second half of the season. Mardy Collins almost has pulled
even with him. Renaldo Balkman has the potential (and the
determination) to drive Carter crazy if VC starts going off. Isiah can
put Balkman on him and kill that trademark momentum that Carter
thrives on.
Key Possible Move: Jermaine O'Neal. Potential: Unlikely.
Toronto (47-35) won the division because they are a very difficult
team to defend, especially during the regular season. Bryan Colangelo
went way off the blueprint of a typical Eastern Conference team and
stuck with it during the offseason, when he grabbed Carlos Delfino and
Jason Kapono. This team has the best bench in the division, with
Bargnani and Calderon and Kris Humphries. Nesterovic is difficult to
for Curry to defend because he can nail long-range jumpers and pulls
him away from the paint, where he is very uncomfortable. Chris Bosh is
very similar to KG, just not as polished. TJ Ford just shreds the
Knick defense and is a master at drive-and-kick to the many perimeter
shooters the Raps have. I don't like this matchup for the Knicks at
all. Bench-wise, the Raps have a lot of offense coming into the game,
from Bargnani to Delfino to Calderon, etc. This team still has some
growing up to do, but they are good and built well. They just lack a
lightning rod - perhaps Bosh will emerge to be a leader - to put them
over the top.
Key Possible Move: Charles Oakley. Potential: Doubtful, but they sure
could use his kind of veteran leader****p and grit to bring it all
together.
The Celtics (24-58) as they were last season had good matchups against
the Knicks. I thought Al Jefferson gave Curry a great effort several
times and he outplayed him in the team's final meeting in Boston.
Pierce seems to love playing at the Garden and we know Ray Allen does,
too. The perimeter D will be put to the test in these games and that's
what makes keeping Jared Jeffries on the team an im****tant move
(unless Ron Artest arrives). Jeffries early in the season did a good
job on Pierce. His length helps. But the Celtics have the ability to
make it rain at MSG. All KG has to do is battle Zach and Eddy for
rebounds. We know he jumps higher than both, so...
But here's where Marbury comes in. This is a game for him to dominate
because he is physically stronger than Rondo. He can do a lot of
drive-and-dish stuff to draw KG away from the bigs and set them up.
Crawford can make Allen play defense, which Allen showed he didn't
like to do when Crawford played him in Seattle last season. That
Celtics bench right now is very, very young and not very impressive,
so foul trouble can be an issue. Curry and Randolph thrive on drawing
fouls but Curry is also prone to them, too. These will be great games.
The difference between the Knicks and Celtics right now lies between
the ears: KG and Allen have led their teams to conference finals.
Pierce has been there, too. Zach and Eddy have yet to experience that
level of winning in the NBA. Marbury either.
Key Possible Move: A point guard (they have a mid-level exception to
use) and Dikembe Mutombo. Potential: Both very likely.
The Sixers (35-47) had a strong finish once the Allen Iverson/Chris
Webber distractions were gone and they were a surprisingly tough team.
Their key stat is a 9-7 record against Atlantic Division opponents
(and Knicks fans know they frustrated the Knicks all season). The
Knicks were 3-13 against the Atlantic, which is inexcusable.
Philadelphia may have only gotten younger this season, with four
rookies, including Thaddeus Young and Jason Smith, but Andre Iguodala
is still tough to guard and Sam Dalembert uses his quickness well
against Curry. Kyle Korver also gets over screens easily when you
don't play him physical. The Knicks have to take this team seriously
this season because every win will matter. They should dominate these
games.
Key Possible Move: Kobe Bryant. Potential: Dennis Kucinich has a
better shot at the presidency.
So if I'm putting strength-of-roster ratings into a ranking, here's
what I come up with:
1. Toronto - well-rounded, from starters to bench. only lack a
winner's grit.
2. Boston - top-heavy with an empty bench.
3. New Jersey - Big 3 and more size, but ability to stay healthy, not
to mention the motivation to bring it every night through a long
winter, is questioned.
(tie) Knicks - chemistry experiment that will either be explosive or
implosive.
4. Philadelphia - early lottery favorites who can spoil a few parties
along the way.
Tell me why I'm right or wrong. In the meanwhile, I owe my kids some
fun in the sun for the rest of the afternoon.
|
