2009-2010 NBA Atlantic Division Season Preview

Welcome to the best and most complete 2009-2010 NBA Atlantic Division Season Preview available online. The teams that make up our 2009-2010 NBA Atlantic Season Preview are the Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors.

The Atlantic Division can be renamed the Boston Celtics division, as the Big 3 are expected to run away with the division lead early. No other team in the division can match Boston’s combination of talent, depth, size, and championship experience with the addition of Rasheed Wallace.

Unfortunately, the most interesting story line in the Atlantic Division in 2009-2010 will be the speculation over what the the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets do in preparation of acquiring one of next summer’s free superstar free agents (James, Wade, Bosh). The Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers will be fighting for 2nd or 3rd place all season in a battle to win the 5tth seed in the East, which would prevent a first round matchup against Boston, Orlando, or Cleveland. The Atlantic division is never very intriguing, but over the next year or so expect a change in the balance of power, because don’t forget Boston is aging. Philadelphia and Toronto have shown promise in the near future, and New York and New Jersey have the salary cap space to attract a franchise changing player this summer. Without a doubt the 2010-2011 Atlantic Division will look very differently. Take advantage of this season Boston fans.

2009 Boston Celtics Season Preview

The Celtics started their defense of their latest NBA title playing like a well-oiled Green Machine, winning 27 of their first 29 games last season on their way to their second straight division title. But with F Kevin Garnett missing the last third of the regular season and the entire playoffs with a bum knee, Boston fell short of defending their league championship, falling to Orlando in seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Celtics were the best defensive team in the league when they won the title, and even with KG out for 25 games last year, they ranked second in the league in FG shooting, FG defense and rebounding margin at +4.5 per game. While they went 52-28 vs the point spreads in 2007-08, they still managed to go 43-39 A TS last season. This off-season Boston signed F Rasheed Wallace away from Detroit, and it’s thought he’ll fit in with this bunch of Celtics. Boston’s Big Three remains intact. However, the mileage is sneaking up on Garnett, Allen and Pierce [and Wallace is 35). PG Rajon Rondo put up great numbers in the playoffs, but then was the subject of off season trade talks. Garnett’s absence allowed F Glen Davis to gain some valuable experience. If Garnett is at 100%, and early reports indicate that might be the case, the Celtics are a threat to go all the way again. But, while a Big Three can take a team a long way, it’s the rest of the ingredients that completes the championship chowder.

(Boston Celtics +200 to win the NBA championship at BetUS)

Boston Celtics 2009 Season Preview – Boston Celtics 2009 Season Schedule

2009 Philadelphia 76ers Season Preview

The Sixers battled back from a 13-20 start last year to get to five games over .500, then lost six of their last seven games to finish at 41-41. They grabbed a quick 2-1 series lead over Orlando in the first round of the playoffs, only to lose three in a row and bow out This team still hasn’t advanced past the first round of the postseason since 2003. They didn’t do their financial backers any great favors either, going 36-44 vs the point spreads. Shooting a league-worst 32% from beyond the arc didn’t help, nor did having F Elton Brand miss 53 games in his first season with the team. This off-season, the 76ers lost PG Andre Miller to free agency, so Lou Williams, who’s never started a game since coming into the league out of high school four years ago, looks like the new man at the point. But the Sixers have some talent around him. G Andre Iguodola (19 PPG, 6 RPG, 5 APG) is proving himself as a dependable, all-around contributor, SF Thaddeus Young (15 PPG) doubled his offensive production in his second season in the league, and C Sam Oalembert can clog the middle. Philly also added SG Jason Kapono, a career 45-percent shooter from 3-point land, to bolster their perimeter attack, New coach Eddie Jordan, who guided the Washington Wizards to four straight playoff appearances, will install a Princeton-style offensive scheme, so the inexperience at the point might not be such a big problem. With a healthy Brand, Philly can and should make their third straight trip to the postseason.

(Philadelphia 76ers +2500 to win the NBA championship at BetUS)

Philadelphia 76ers 2009 Season Preview – Philadelphia 76ers 2009 Season Schedule

2009 New Jersey Nets Season Preview

The Nets were still in the hunt for a playoff spot last February, sitting at 24-27 in a conference in which a 39-43 team eventually made it. But New Jersey lost 21 of last 31 games to finish with a second-straight 34-48 season. They did manage, though, to go 43-38 vs the point spreads last year, despite ranking 23rd in rebounding margin at -1.6 pg. Then, this off-season, they traded 20 PPG man Vince Carter to Orlando. So, over the course of just the past few seasons, this team has gone from a serious contender in the Eastern Conference to one of the also-rans. And yet, there is hope. PG Devin Harris (21 PPG, 7 APG) is emerging as one of the best at his position in the league. C Brook Lopez (13 PPG, 8 RPG, 2 BPG) is coming off a good rookie campaign. And guys like G Chris Douglas-Roberts, F Yi Jianlian and F Josh Boone appear capable of providing support and production. The Carter trade brought them G Courtney Lee, who did some good things in the playoffs last spring as a rookie for the Magic. And they nabbed G/F Terrance Williams out of Louisville with the 11th pick in the draft. New Jersey remains one of the youngest teams in the league. Hamstrung a bit by contracts at the moment, the Nets may sacrifice this season for a chance at infusing some free-agent talent next summer. So, in a couple of years, Brooklyn might get a nice team.

(New Jersey Nets +3500 to win the NBA championship at BetUS)

New Jersey Nets 2009 Season Preview – New Jersey Nets 2009 Season Schedule

2009 Toronto Raptors Season Preview

Toronto Raptors Season Preview The Raptors won the Atlantic Division in 2007, made the playoffs in 2008, and were expected to contend for another postseason berth last year. But a month into the season, with Toronto hovering around .500, they dumped coach Sam Mitchell, the NBA’s Coach of the Year just two seasons earlier. Injuries and uncertainty ruled the remainder of the Raptors’ season, as they finished 3349 and out of the playoffs. F Jermaine O’Neal, Toronto’s big off-season addition last summer, missed a good part of the first half of the season, and then was traded to Miami. In the end, the Raptors went just 33-47 against the point spreads, the third-worst ATS mark in the league. With Toronto games averaging 201 total points, 11th-most in the league, no team played more overs last season than the Raptors’ 47. And yet, despite last season, this team has potential. PG Jose Calderon led the league with a 4.2/1 A/TO ratio last year. F Chris Bosh is a consistent 20/10 man. F Andrea Bargnani, the top overall pick in the draft three years ago, is coming off his best NBA season so far [15 PPG, 5 RPG). The Raptors signed F Hedo Turkoglu, who played a big part in Orlando’s advancing to the NBA Finals last spring, and G Jarrett Jack, who’s coming off his most productive season last year with Indiana. So head coach Jay Triano, the Canadian who guided the Raptors to a 2540 finish after Mitchell’s firing last season, has tools to work with as Toronto gears up toward a return to the playoffs.

(Toronto Raptors +2500 to win the NBA championship at BetUS)

Toronto Raptors 2009 Season Preview – Toronto Raptors 2009 Season Schedule

2009 New York Knicks Season Preview

New York Knicks Season Preview In their first season under coach Mike D’Antoni. the Knicks went 32-50 and missed the playoffs for the fifth straight season. But that was nine wins better than in 2007-08. Statistically, New York didn’t impress, ranking 28th in FG shooting. 28th in FG defense and 22nd in rebounding margin at -2.6 PG. And yet they went 47-34 vs the point spreads, the third-best ATS mark in the league. Also, even though Knicks games averaged 213 total points per last year, third-most in the league, the O/Us only went 37-45. This off-season, New York missed out on getting any of the bigger-name free agents, and they were uncertain about what to do with two of their bigger producers of last year. PG Nate Robinson (17 PPG) provides excitement, but can be a headache, and, as of late August, had not yet been re-signed. F David Lee (16 PPG, 12 RPG) was in the same situation. F Al Harrington (21 PPG) is one piece of the puzzle, and G’s Chris Duhon and Larry Hughes and F Wilson Chandler fill three other spots. C Eddy Curry, who played three games last year, still tops the depth chart in the middle. New York also used two first-round draft picks on PF Jordan Hill, at #8 overall, and PG Toney Douglas, last year’s ACC Defensive POY at #29. But it’s hard to say whether this team is better talent-wise now than it was last April. The Knicks haven’t made the playoffs since 2004, and they’ll need some help to break that streak this season.