Atlantic Division Weak?

[gar]

Ok, now that we are firmly ensconced in 2nd place it is time to admit it. The Atlantic Division sucks. We cannot go into the playoffs as a wild card out of the Atlantic. Is win it or go home. Philly is a novelty; but we need to show some staying power.

[mqtcelticsfan]

Ok, now that we are firmly ensconced in 2nd place it is time to admit it. The Atlantic Division sucks. We cannot go into the playoffs as a wild card out of the Atlantic. Is win it or go home. Philly is a novelty; but we need to show some staying power.

I don't think I follow. The only difference between winning the Atlantic or not would be home court advantage. If Philly beat us out for the Atlantic, we'd still be the same exact team.

[pearljammer10]

Yes the atlantic is weak this year. Philly is playing well, the knicks cant seem to put things together, the Nets are just god god awful and the raptors are in the same d league boat as the nets. We should turn it around and be able to compete with the 76ers for first place in the division.

[PosImpos]

Atlantic is weak every year, but it's especially weak this year.

[raynman]

We have a good chance of winning the Atlantic.. Philly's having a good start, but most of their wins was against bad teams.. i saw in their game against Miami that they will not be able to keep this up.. Knicks will still be the team we swept last year, even if they change the coach.. NJ will still suck, even if they get Dwight.. Raptors, well, we might just call them Tank-a-saurus Wrecks!

[Celtics18]

I think that by the end of the season the Atlantic division could be one of the strongest in the league. 

[Q_FBE]

I think that by the end of the season the Atlantic division could be one of the strongest in the league. 

Interesting, what makes you say that?

[MBz]

Atlantic is weak every year, but it's especially weak this year.

Yeah it's been bad for about 5-7 years now.

[vinnie]

Philly has beaten a lot of dregs: The Wizards 3 times, the Kings, Raptors, Pistons, Suns, Hornets and Warriors. They also have beaten the Hawks, Pacers and Bucks, who are not horrible. Also, the Celts lost to Phoenix and the Hornets.

They have lost to the Heat, Nuggets, Knicks, Jazz and Blazers.

As for the Atlantic being the strongest division by the end of the year, I don't get it. New Jersey and Toronto will continue to be horrible, and the best team are not going to be that great.

[anthony83]

We must try to win the division, is difficult but not impossible, I hope the Sixers lower the level, I do not think they can withstand well the whole season.

The Knicks improved, presumably (with the Knicks all possible).

[Celtics4ever]

Knicks have been on a losing streak no?  Or had some recent losing streaks.

http://espn.go.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/ny/new-york-knicks

They have lost six in a row.

[greenpride32]

They have lost to the Heat, Nuggets, Knicks, Jazz and Blazers.

Aside from the Nuggets the rest are road losses.  PHI also played MIA pretty tough in the playoffs last year.  The team is 8 deep (Williams, Holiday, Hawes, AI, Brand, Young, Turner, Meeks); mostly younger guys so they can fill up all the minutes.  I don't think they're a title contender, but they are certainly one of those teams you don't want to face in the playoffs. 

[Celtics18]

I think that by the end of the season the Atlantic division could be one of the strongest in the league. 

Interesting, what makes you say that?

Philly's much improved.  I think we are going to come on and finish comfortably above .500.  I think the Knicks suck, but I think they will catch up to themselves and at least be a playoff team. 

Maybe I overstated my point.  The Atlantic won't be dominant, but will be very solid with 3 likely playoff teams.