NBA Atlantic: Eastern Conference

Posted by Tom Blaz on 10/31/2012 | 1 Comments

Tags: Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Amare Stoudamire, Jason Kidd, Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler, Brook Lopez, Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, Andrew Bynum, Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, Andrea Bargnani, Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan

As we roll into the 2012-'13 NBA season, we're going to take you through an overview of each of the six divisions. Who are key newcomers? Who are notable for your fantasy team? Last season was brutal with a late and sudden December start to an abbreviated season. We continue our previews with the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Does Boston have another run left? How improved is Brooklyn with a healthy Brook Lopez and the addition of Joe Johnson? Are the Knicks ready for a run with the best front court in the Eastern Conference? And is Andrew Bynum durable enough to provide the post presence to support the perimeter rich Sixers? Toronto... in a case of the rich getting richer, one of first round picks that Oklahoma City received in the James Harden deal is going to be a Raptors lottery pick.

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Predicted Order Of Finish

1) Boston Celtics- The big three is now the big two with Ray Allen's departure to South Beach. Rajon Rondo, actually replaces Allen in the new "Big Three" remaining one of the most effective point guards in the Association and now benefitting from some youthful depth in the backcourt. Shooting guard Courtney Lee and combo guards Jason Terry and Leandro Barbosa join the rotation with Avery Bradley available as well when he recovers from injury. From a fantasy standpoint, if Rondo improves his shooting/scoring, he could join Chris Paul as the top ball handling option in the league. Kevin Garnett mans the middle, Doc Rivers extending his career by moving him over from power forward. Brandon Bass is an effective power forward with a deadly stroke at the elbow with Jeff Green healthy again after missing all of last season. Boston is prepared to give Garnett proper rest during the regular season with veterans Darko Milicic and Chris Wilcox available. Paul Pierce had a strong exhibition season and looks primed for a big season. I really like the C's draft picks Fab Melo and Jared Sullinger, the future front court in Beantown.

2) Brooklyn Nets- The debut of the beautiful new Barclays Center will be delayed as the opener between the Nets and New York Knicks has been postponed due to Hurricane Sandy. Brooklyn was hoping to have Dwight Howard as the centerpiece of their new crib, but "settled" for  Joe Johnson. A healthy Brook Lopez will man the middle, giving the Nets one of the top young big men in the Eastern Conference. Reality TV star Kris Humphries was brought back and is a banger at power forward and compliments Lopez nicely. New Jersey was in desperate need of a backup "big", so they took a chance on Andray Blatche. Stretch power player Mirza Teletovic will work in relief of Humphries. Gerald Wallace isn't the fantasy gem at small forward he once was, but brings numbers across the board and can still fill a stat sheet. Jerry Stackhouse and Josh Childress are backup wings and servicable off the bench. The franchise player in Brooklyn is point guard Deron Williams. Williams is elated with the developments, especially new backcourt partner Joe Johnson. Brooklyn now features one of the best fantasy backcourts in the Association. MarShon Brooks was a fantasy surprise as a rookie and provides quality depth behind Johnson. Williams figures to log upwards of 40 minutes per game, so backups C.J. Watson and Tyshawn Taylor will see limited PT.

3) New York Knicks- Will the Knicks be more coordinated in the front court after a season together? Power forward Amare Stoudamire will be sideline until Christmas with continued knee ailments, so we may not know the answer to that until the early Spring. New York was fortunate that Tyson Chandler stayed healthy for the most part last season and will need durability again this year, especially with Amare's problems. Everything will run through Carmelo at the three, arguably the top offensive player in the Association. The Knicks have the oldest backup front court in NBA history with Marcus Camby, Kurt Thomas and Rasheed Wallace. Steve Novak is lights out from beyond the arc and will fill that important role again this season. In a huge surprise, New York let Jeremy Lin go, despite "Linsanity" that took the City by storm last Winter. Ancient Jason Kidd was brought aboard with Raymond Felton back for another tour of duty and probably the majority of the minutes at the point. J.R. Smith was wisely retained, the mercurial shooting guard has range and can score at the rim like no other two guard in the league. Depth is limited behind J.R., with Ronnie Brewer and combo guard Iman Shumpert the top options off the pine.

4) Philadelphia 76ers- The Sixers were loaded with swingmen last season, plenty of two's and three's and small forwards to go round. Philly moved their best option of the bunch, Andre Iguodola, in a multi-player, multi-team deal to get center Andrew Bynum. If Bynum can remain healthy, which he isn't now and is a huge "if", the move is a perfect fit for Philadelphia. With free agent power forward Elton Brand gone to Dallas, the Sixers are simply sliding last season's center, Spencer Hawes, over to the four. Kwame Brown is the big, veteran body that will backup both. Philly has a pair of young power players with nice upside in Lavoy Allen and Arnett Moultrie, but in a best case scenario, their minutes will be limited. Dorell Wright is the only "natural" small forward on the roster, but Thadeus Young has made it clear that he wants to play the three. Last season's super sub, Evan Turner is actually projecting to start at small forward, but expect plenty of minutes for all three. Jason Richardson is the new shooting guard, replacing "Iggy" with Nick Young providing firepower of the bench. Jrue Holiday emerged down the stretch and in the post season and is one of the top young point guards in the Association. Holiday figures to log heavy minutes, but when he needs a breather, veteran Royal Ivey and local favorite Maalik Wayns provide relief.

5) Toronto Raptors- The Raptors are in for a long season as the Atlantic Division is very talented this season and figures to be a dogfight among the "other" four teams. Andrea Bargnani is the Raptors best player and also a quality fantasy asset. Undersized at center in recent seasons, Bargnani is moving down to power forward this season which should suit him much better. A former number one overall pick, Bargnani has excellent range and is a big time scorer. Last season's first rounder Jonas Valanciunas has arrived and takes over at center. Selected fifth overall in the '11 draft, Jonas will contribute immediately on the boards, but may be a work in progress on the offensive end. Aaron Gray is a adquate seven footer off the bench, along with overachieving Amir Johnson and underachieving Ed Davis. Rookie Quincy Acy is the future at small forward with veteran Linas Kleiza providing more immediate help. The Raptors have a strong and deep backcourt, let by starters Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. Lowry is a fantasy gem, while DeRozan is human highlight film. Jose Calderon is arguably the top backup point guard in the Association and figures to be moved prior to the trading deadline. Landry Fields arrives from the Knicks, where he has been a starter and provides excellent depth. The player to keep an eye on in fantasy circles is rookie Terrence Ross. Selected eighth overall out of the University of Washington, Ross has big time fantasy potential as a scorer, three point shooter, rebounder and ball hawk.

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Tom Blaz is a writer for Fantasy Alarm and co-owner of The Recruiting Eagle a website focusing on Auburn University Athletics.