Atlantic Division Previews

[Chris]

Option A: If the Knicks start Turiaf or Mosgov and give Randolph 16-24 minutes a night as reserve.

Option B: The Knicks start Randolph and give him 28-34 minutes a night and use Turiaf/Mosgov as reserves.

Option A is a better team today (only slightly better) but I firmly believe that by the end of the regular season the Knicks would be a superior team if they choose option B.

The Knicks will be a better team come playoff time if they bring Randolph along quickly + they'll be hugely better off for their long term future.

Also, nothing could help them more in the Carmelo Anthony trade negotiations than watching Randolph put up 14/15 points and 9/10 boards (plus 3 blocks/steals) while showing flashes of potentially being a 20/10 player someday.

See, I think it has a greater chance to hinder Randolph's future to throw him out there with too much pressure too early.

I think if they take him along the right way, let him learn the system, and let him build his confidence back up coming off the bench, he could be starting within a month or two, and could be a better player in the long run for it.

In general, I like to give coaches the benefit of the doubt on these things.  Just looking at the C's, I think that is how Doc handled just about every young guy (Gomes, Perkins, Rondo, Powe), and it worked out well for all of them.  And I think the same thing could happen in NY with Randolph, if he has it in him.

Again, in general, I agree with everything you are saying and that is my outlook on the overwhelming majority of young players but in this specific instance (this player, this team) ... Randolph needs to be out on the court.

He just needs minutes. Games and minutes. Experience, as much game experience as he can get his hands on. Nothing will help him more than that.

Well, we will have to agree to disagree on this guy.  I personally just think he is not the type of player who would respond well to being forcefed minutes before he has earned them.  But that is just my opinion.

[JSD]

Philly has got some good talent on that team and now a solid coach. I think they're the clear cut #2.

I don't think their talent has improved enough to jump to the number 2 spot in the division. They only won 27 games last year and I don't think Turner and the improvement of the young guys will make a 10+ game difference.

It's somewhat by default, but I think they'll end up with the #2 slot in the Atlantic. Even though they haven't added much talent, many would agree that Philly underachieved last season under Eddie Jordan and that trading Dalembert along with his inconsistent game and bad attitude is an addition by subtraction.

To me it's more about players performing up to their potential and knowing their role on the team.

[Fafnir]

Philly has got some good talent on that team and now a solid coach. I think they're the clear cut #2.

I don't think their talent has improved enough to jump to the number 2 spot in the division. They only won 27 games last year and I don't think Turner and the improvement of the young guys will make a 10+ game difference.

It's somewhat by default, but I think they'll end up with the #2 slot in the Atlantic. Even though they haven't added much talent, many would agree that Philly underachieved last season under Eddie Jordan and that trading Dalembert along with his inconsistent game and bad attitude is an addition by subtraction.

To me it's more about players performing up to their potential and knowing their role on the team.

I think they'll miss Dalembert. For all his inconsistent play he's still better than what they'll be trotting out there in the front court.

[JSD]

Philly has got some good talent on that team and now a solid coach. I think they're the clear cut #2.

I don't think their talent has improved enough to jump to the number 2 spot in the division. They only won 27 games last year and I don't think Turner and the improvement of the young guys will make a 10+ game difference.

It's somewhat by default, but I think they'll end up with the #2 slot in the Atlantic. Even though they haven't added much talent, many would agree that Philly underachieved last season under Eddie Jordan and that trading Dalembert along with his inconsistent game and bad attitude is an addition by subtraction.

To me it's more about players performing up to their potential and knowing their role on the team.

I think they'll miss Dalembert. For all his inconsistent play he's still better than what they'll be trotting out there in the front court.

Spencer Hawes will surprise some people this season if he can get on the floor. I'm also interested in seeing that small lineup with Brand at the 5 and Young at the 4.

[Fafnir]

Philly has got some good talent on that team and now a solid coach. I think they're the clear cut #2.

I don't think their talent has improved enough to jump to the number 2 spot in the division. They only won 27 games last year and I don't think Turner and the improvement of the young guys will make a 10+ game difference.

It's somewhat by default, but I think they'll end up with the #2 slot in the Atlantic. Even though they haven't added much talent, many would agree that Philly underachieved last season under Eddie Jordan and that trading Dalembert along with his inconsistent game and bad attitude is an addition by subtraction.

To me it's more about players performing up to their potential and knowing their role on the team.

I think they'll miss Dalembert. For all his inconsistent play he's still better than what they'll be trotting out there in the front court.

Spencer Hawes will surprise some people this season if he can get on the floor. I'm also interested in seeing that small lineup with Brand at the 5 and Young at the 4.

I don't see how their current roster can defend the paint in any way shape or form.

[JSD]

Philly has got some good talent on that team and now a solid coach. I think they're the clear cut #2.

I don't think their talent has improved enough to jump to the number 2 spot in the division. They only won 27 games last year and I don't think Turner and the improvement of the young guys will make a 10+ game difference.

It's somewhat by default, but I think they'll end up with the #2 slot in the Atlantic. Even though they haven't added much talent, many would agree that Philly underachieved last season under Eddie Jordan and that trading Dalembert along with his inconsistent game and bad attitude is an addition by subtraction.

To me it's more about players performing up to their potential and knowing their role on the team.

I think they'll miss Dalembert. For all his inconsistent play he's still better than what they'll be trotting out there in the front court.

Spencer Hawes will surprise some people this season if he can get on the floor. I'm also interested in seeing that small lineup with Brand at the 5 and Young at the 4.

I don't see how their current roster can defend the paint in any way shape or form.

Alright... I'm not predicting much from the 76ers outside of finishing below .500, grabbing (at most) the 7th seed and beating out the Knicks by 2 or 3 games for the 2nd best record in the Atlantic.

[Celtics18]

BOS
NYK
PHI
TOR
NJN

I'm hoping that the Atlantic division is improved this year.  I think that both New York and Philly have a good shot at being playoff teams. 

I see Turiaf and Amare as the starters up front for the Knicks with Randolph and Mozgov representing a good young backup pair of bigs.  They'll have their ups and downs, but I'm not into the idea of force feeding minutes.  I expect one of Gallinari or Chandler to blossom on the wing, if not both.  Felton will be a steady point guard for them.  Douglas and Walker should provide decent minutes as well.

Philly's more of a question mark for me.  They have some talent, but who knows if Doug Collins can figure out how to make that mismash work.  They seem to like Holiday and have him plugged in as the point guard of the future.  I would go with Iggy at the 2, Young at the 3, and Brand and, either Speights or Hawes up front. 

Alot of people seem to be picking New Jersey as their dark horse.  I don't see it.  I actually think Toronto has more talent.  Bargnani is pretty much universally acknowledged as the poster boy for Euro Soft, but that kid's got a world of talent.  I think he has the strength and athleticism to improve his defense and rebounding, and I expect somewhat of a breakout year for him.  I don't think the Raptors will make the playoffs, but I wouldn't be surprised if they mustered up 30-35 wins.

[Chris]

Philly has got some good talent on that team and now a solid coach. I think they're the clear cut #2.

I don't think their talent has improved enough to jump to the number 2 spot in the division. They only won 27 games last year and I don't think Turner and the improvement of the young guys will make a 10+ game difference.

It's somewhat by default, but I think they'll end up with the #2 slot in the Atlantic. Even though they haven't added much talent, many would agree that Philly underachieved last season under Eddie Jordan and that trading Dalembert along with his inconsistent game and bad attitude is an addition by subtraction.

To me it's more about players performing up to their potential and knowing their role on the team.

I think they'll miss Dalembert. For all his inconsistent play he's still better than what they'll be trotting out there in the front court.

Spencer Hawes will surprise some people this season if he can get on the floor. I'm also interested in seeing that small lineup with Brand at the 5 and Young at the 4.

I am with you on Hawes.  If he can get healthy, I think he and Brand are going to compliment each other very well in Collins' system.  I think Collins is going to go back to more of a inside-out, slower paced game, and those guys will both benefit from it. 

My problem with Philly is their perimeter game.  I don't think Holliday is really ready to lead a team yet, Iguodala and Turner both replicate each other as versatile wings who can't shoot (which will be even more rough in a half-court game), and Young doesn't even pretend to want to defend.