| Cavaliers a contender even in improved Eastern Conference Authored by Keith Berzanske - August 23, 2005 - 4:08 pm
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With the additions of Donyell Marshall and Larry Hughes, the return of Luke Jackson, and the expected improvement of Anderson Varejao, Drew Gooden, and, of course, LeBron James, it could be argued that the Cavaliers helped themselves as much as any team in the conference.
(If not for the Jiri Welsch deal, the Cavaliers also would have the 13th pick, possibly Hakim Warrick or Danny Granger, in the fold as well. While I'm not sure, years from now, what will be the defining moment of the "Jim Paxson Era", the Welsch trade will certainly be on a short list. I think my personal vote will go to the DaJuan Wagner draft pick...but I digress)
Although rosters are not yet totally finalized (there are still some free agents yet to finalize their destinations), enough of a blueprint exists to get an idea of what might go down in the Eatern Conference this year.
CENTRAL
INDIANA
DETROIT
CLEVELAND
CHICAGO
MILWAUKEE
This is by far the toughest division, when you consider that the top 4 teams all finished above .500 last year and that Milwaukee added Andrew Bogut, Bobby Simmons, and TJ Ford. Normally I'd say that the Pistons have to be considered the best until someone knocks them off, but considering what the Pacers went through last year and now they get Ron Artest back and add Danny Granger and Sarunas Jasikevicius - Indiana is ready to make a statement.
INDIANA
Starters
PG Tinsley
SG SJackson
SF Artest
PF JO'Neal
C Foster
Bench
Granger
FJones
Croshere
Bender
Jasikevicius
Harrison
Pollard
Depth is scary, and Artest has a lot to prove. It will be interesting to see how they respond having everyone together from day one. The biggest question for the Pacers is who will be the go to guy at the end of games, now that Reggie Miller is retired.
DETROIT
Starters
PG Billups
SG RHamilton
SF Prince
PF RWallace
C BWallace
Bench
McDyess
Milicic
Arroyo
LHunter
DDavis
Maxiell
Delfino
The biggest question this year for the Pistons is what will become of Darko? This is the year that will tell us if he is really in the team's future plans. The Wallaces have some tread on their tires and this will be the year they start to show the wear.
CLEVELAND
PG Snow
SG Hughes
SF LJames
PF Gooden
C Ilgauskas
Bench
Varejao
LJackson
Marshall
Pavlovic
Newble
Andrieuskevicius
open
The Cavaliers still have an open roster spot, which will almost certainly be used on another point guard. Damon Jones would be the best fit of those available. Don't be surprised to see a big lineup with James handling the point and Hughes and Jackson on the wings. The Cavaliers should definitely make the playoffs. The big question here is just how ridiculous will the numbers be that James puts up.
CHICAGO
starters
PG Duhon
SG Hinrich
SF Deng
PF Chandler
C Curry
bench
Gordon
Nocioni
ADavis
Piatkowski
Basden
2 open
The Bulls still have to take care of some business; getting restricted free agents Chandler and Curry in the fold and then filling out their roster. They are certainly taking a hard look at Chicago native Michael Finley. History does not like teams like the Bulls who gain so many wins from year to year - look for them to regress slightly in victories even though they may improve as a team.
MILWAUKEE
PG Ford
SG Redd
SF Simmons
PF JSmith
C Bogut
bench
Mason
MWilliams
Kukoc
Gaines
Gadzuric
Welsch
Ilyasova
The biggest question is whether Ford can stay healthy and play at the level he is used to. Bogut is not the stiff that some people think - he can play.
ATLANTIC
NEW JERSEY
PHILADELPHIA
BOSTON
NEW YORK
TORONTO
I'm not making the mistake of underestimating Allen Iverson any more...
NEW JERSEY
starters
PG Kidd
SG Carter
SF RJefferson
PF CRobinson
C Krstic
bench
MJackson
Wright
McInnis
Vaughn
JsCollins
Planninic
open
If only they had drafted a nice young power forward instead of Antoine Wright...
oh well - the core of Kidd, Carter, and Jefferson is good enough.
PHILADELPHIA
starters
PG Iverson
SG Iguodala
SF Korver
PF Webber
C Dalembert
bench
Mashburn
Salmons
SHunter
Ollie
LWilliams
MBradley
open
decent starting 5, but the bench is VERY thin. WHo even knows if Mashburn can play?
BOSTON
starters
PG DeWest
SG RDavis
SF Pierce
PF AJefferson
C LaFrentz
bench
TAllen
Scalabrine
Banks
Blount
GGreen
Perkins
Gomes
hardest team to figure out - they are rebuilding, but they still have Pierce and can win games. I like their young studs, especially Jefferson - they could be a force in 2-3 years
NEW YORK
PG Marbury
SG QRichardson
SF TThomas
PF Sweetney
C JJames
bench
Crawford
Ariza
NRobinson
Frye
Lee
Taylor
Hardaway
I haven't even listed Allan Houston, but the Knicks must expect him to return. I wonder how many games it will take for Larry Brown to tire of Marbury?
TORONTO
starters
PG Alston
SG Peterson
SF Rose
PF Bosh
C Araujo
bench
Villanueva
Graham
EWilliams
Calderon
Bonner
Murray
AWilliams
this is a team in desperate need of a new GM...they botched the Vince Carter trade and the last two drafts...
SOUTHEAST
MIAMI
WASHINGTON
ORLANDO
CHARLOTTE
ATLANTA
Has there ever been an easier pick for a divison title?
This division is a little hard to pick after the Heat. Anything could happen with the Wizards and the Magic...
MIAMI
starters
PG JWilliams
SG Wade
SF Posey
PF Haslem
C SO'Neal
bench
Walker
DWright
Mourning
Simien
Doleac
Emmett
Walsh
My only concern here is that the ball was in Wade's hands much of last year and now it won't be quite so much - may not be a good thing. Sometimes too much talent hurts chemistry. Walker is the key - can he accept his role?
WASHINGTON
starters
PG Arenas
SG Hayes
SF Butler
PF Jamison
C Haywood
bench
Jeffries
Daniels
Ruffin
EThomas
Atkins
Blatche
Ramos
Recovered nicely from losing Larry Hughes by stealing Caron Butler. Butler should flourish as a main option. Jamison's knee is the big question.
ORLANDO
starters
PG Nelson
SG Francis
SF Hill
PF Howard
C Cato
bench
Dooling
Stevenson
Battie
Augmon
Turkoglu
Garrity
Kasun
Howard needs to develop into an offensive force, and fast - this team has little to no size. Hill's ankle is also a question, as is Francis's acceptance of his new role off the ball.
CHARLOTTE
starters
PG Felton
SG Rush
SF GWallace
PF May
C Okafor
bench
Brezec
Knight
Ely
Kapono
Voskuhl
Bogans
Carroll
I like the way the Bobcats are building their team - so many players with a winning pedigree. The bench is still thin, and two rookies will be starting, but that is to be expected from an expansion team. Okafor will be a force for many years.
ATLANTA
starters
PG JJohnson
SG Childress
SF JSmith
PF AHarrington
C Pachulia
bench
MWilliams
Delk
Ivey
Collier
3 open
I really have no idea who is coming off the bench for the Hawks - they were lucky to get Joe Johnson. In one sense. I personally don't think he'll work out as a full time point guard. I think they overpaid - but hey, they had to! Who else was coming to play for the Hawks?
As the season gets closer, and after the remaining free agents find their way onto rosters, I'll give a more detailed overview on what I think will transpire this coming season. But at first glance, one thing is clear - it's going to be VERY interesting! Lots of new faces in new places, and a lot of great talent with unfulfilled expectations. |
