Offseason Outlooks: Atlantic Division

"The Celtics failed in the their quest to repeat as champions last year, but despite a veteran squad, the window of opportunity is still open for Danny Ainge's squad. With Boston's Big Three now more than a century old combined, Ainge went for broke, adding free-agent Rasheed Wallace to the mix. Wallace will play the role Bill Walton filled for the '85-86 Celtics: A once-great big man, now coming off the bench to become a difference maker for the second unit."

Bradford Doolittle of Basketball Prospectus analyzes how the Atlantic Division is shaping up as the off-season begins to wind down. Doolittle made an oops in his projection, so click here for the updated standings of the C's.

Expect an outlook of the Southeast Division in a few days.

almost 3 years ago erivera7 23 comments 0 recs |

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Another critic who thinks Hedo and what was before is better than Carter and all that’s new… I would just make a list of these exact predictions, they all say the same things.
Boringgggg

by derekk on Jul 23, 2009 7:06 PM EDT reply actions

Actually, Doolittle knows what he's talking about.

.. all he said was that Hedo going to Toronto may help the Celtics more than the Raptors.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 23, 2009 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Why, Because Hedo was a Celtics killer for the Magic?

by CaliFlorida on Jul 23, 2009 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, Turkoglu was pivotal in the Game 7 win.

.. I said this in a post a few weeks back and I stand by my claim that it was his best game of the year. 25 points on 9/12 shooting with 12 assists in Game 7 at Boston. That’s pretty damn good.

Granted, he wasn’t consistent during the series but he was still a key in the series.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 23, 2009 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions

No doubt.

No one can say Turkoglu wasn’t a cluth player and huge key for the Magic the last two years. I’ve just never heard it said that Turkoglu caused lots of problems for the Celtics in particular – more so than other teams that is.

by CaliFlorida on Jul 23, 2009 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Agree with E and Cali

by derekk on Jul 23, 2009 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions

No, you're right.

I’m just saying Hedo DID do some things for the Magic against the Celtics.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 24, 2009 4:47 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't see it..

But hey know one is 100% right..

"No matter where you go, you are what you are playa"-Jay Z

by Wmillion on Jul 23, 2009 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow the Raptors got hosed big time

If memory serves me right they still have Chris Bosh and just added a winner of the MIP award 2 years ago. Somehow the Nets led by Brook Lopez and Devin Harris are gonna win more games?

Also the 76’ers aren’t doing anything without Miller. Who doesn’t want to go back to that team. Can you blame him?

by Souwantmyname on Jul 23, 2009 7:36 PM EDT reply actions

But they have Elton Brand, and big men are a undeniable big plus in playoffs. If their rookie PG gets good by playoffs start.. how does he not mention Brand? Explain why about TOR?

by derekk on Jul 23, 2009 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Or why he doesnt explain more explicitly why about TOR?*

by derekk on Jul 23, 2009 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't think the projection for the Raptors is outrageous.

Sure, that team may do some things on offense but defense is a different story.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 23, 2009 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I would hate to root for a team that started Bargnani at center

by CaliFlorida on Jul 23, 2009 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions

No way

I was surprised last year that the Raptors did so poorly. I don’t think they are contenders, but I think they will play very well. Does anyone remember Bosh at the beginning of last year and the playoffs against the Magic? Damn near unstoppable. You add a quality player like Hedo who, although is overpaid, is not overpaid by that much in today’s standards, and you have a dangerous team with Calderon staying healthy. If Calderon stays healthy, the Raptors may turn into the Suns of old, no defense but just able to outscore you and wear you down.

And again I mention that this Toronto team minus a backup PG and with Moon instead of Hedo put up a fight against us the year b4 in the playoffs, look for them to make some noise come playoff time next year.

by Eric9321 on Jul 23, 2009 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I never said I agreed with the prediction. I said it's not outrageous.

The Raptors did underperform last year so it’s not outside the realm of possibility to think that is a team capable of winning 42-48 games next season. The offense may be potent.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 24, 2009 4:51 AM EDT up reply actions

I hope that

Brand can come back and play well. Not that I want him to shoot like 20/20 like he did against the Magic one game that totally destroyed us, but I hate when good players go down with injury (every Magic fan should agree with me there I would hope…G.H.).

by Eric9321 on Jul 23, 2009 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions

philly is done

Miller is going to portland 21 million guaranteed for 2 yrs. with a third year option
Once the magic get Ratliff (or some other team does) all they will have left is Igudala. G/L philly fans

Thats me chilling with Nick Anderson

by The Magic made Lebron run off the court on Jul 25, 2009 8:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Philadelphia was never a threat, anyway.

.. and it’s clear the franchise is handing the reigns over to Jrue Holiday.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 25, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions

These reporters are smarter than me, Im not on some high horse, but lets look at what they said about the Magic last season too..

my thoughts, magic is a small market, and they didnt like them before either. Its understandable tho, and its always great to read all these "pro"predictions. Just remember they mean absolutley nothing to the teams/players playing, or else the Magic would’ve been out of the 1st/2nd round, swept out of the last 2 rounds.. I value very few opinions, I just take them all in together for a total picture and add it to what I know and the few I really read know. More times than not, us fans who really watch every game (and I like to try to scout/read plays/D in my llimited knowledge) and real knowlegeable people (like Ben, E) are right, esp. when considering last season.
Given that, I say this Doolitle’s opinon is understandable to a certain point because Magic are not seen in action for 20 games or so yet. If Vince blows up the Magic…. lol sorry, holding back laughter.. the team is so stacked in depth- Barnes, Pietrus, Bass can all be starters and the other Magic core (Lewis, Nelson, Dwight) pretty much garantuee a 3 seed hold. So when I read a prediction on something worse than that (not concerning Doolittle here tho, he hasnt said that), then I actually LOL.

by derekk on Jul 23, 2009 9:27 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah I wish they'd stop

Carter is not our centerpiece. Dwight is. Nelson is our assasin at the end of games, barring injury, I think we will see a great all around game from Carter, who has always wanted to just play a team game, while everyone demanded that he take over and win the game by himself. That is why he fits with us now, we are team oriented, we don’t need guys that want to shoot every shot, it goes to whoever gets the look.

by Eric9321 on Jul 23, 2009 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, projecting standings using statistics is tricky business.

Basketball Prospectus projected the Magic to win 43 games last year, if I’m not mistaken, so it goes both ways. The prediction isn’t an end-all, be-all type of deal. It just provides a barometer of what may occur.

I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.

"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone

by erivera7 on Jul 24, 2009 4:50 AM EDT up reply actions