"Experts" aren't sold on Celtics winning the Atlantic

[Roy H.]

http://espn.go.com/nba/preview2011/story/_/page/Predictions1112-Atlantic/nba-atlantic-champion-predictions



Celtics: 17 votes; Knicks: 11 votes; 76ers: 2 votes

Seriously?  The Sixers?

[Fafnir]

Celtics: 17 votes; Knicks: 11 votes; 76ers: 2 votes

Seriously?  The Sixers?

I guess if you think Amar'e and KG are both going to have serious injury issues that could be your prediction. Plus the natural inclination for analysts to be contrarian at times.

[Chris]

http://espn.go.com/nba/preview2011/story/_/page/Predictions1112-Atlantic/nba-atlantic-champion-predictions



Celtics: 17 votes; Knicks: 11 votes; 76ers: 2 votes

Seriously?  The Sixers?

I'm not sold on them winning the Atlantic either.  I think they are as dangerous as any team in the league when they are healthy, but if I am playing the odds, I think I would take the Knicks, to have a better regular season record, just because they are more likely to stay healthier. 

As for the Sixers...well, they have a lot of young legs, and two guys in Holiday and Evans, who could potentially make a leap this year that would make them incredibly dangerous.  I wouldn't put money on them, but I also wouldn't be surprised at all if they are very good this year.

[dmny5000]

http://espn.go.com/nba/preview2011/story/_/page/Predictions1112-Atlantic/nba-atlantic-champion-predictions



Celtics: 17 votes; Knicks: 11 votes; 76ers: 2 votes

Seriously?  The Sixers?

I expect the sixers to be pretty good but they wont win the division. I'm not worried about the Knicks in the playoffs but in the regular season I expect them to rack up some wins. They still aren't up on the next level though imo.

The Celtics would have to have some serious injury problems to not take down the division.

[snively]

Maybe they think Evan Turner will make the leap this year.

[Fafnir]

Well lord knows the post Melo trade knicks were scary!

(wait they went .500 and then were swept in the playoff?)

I mean I think Chandler is better than Billups, but I don't think its that much of an upgrade.

[kozlodoev]

So the experts say that winning the Atlantic is likely, but probably won't be a slam dunk. What's inaccurate about that?!

[KP43]

that's what they said in '08 aswell.. hmmm 

[Chris]

Well lord knows the post Melo trade knicks were scary!

(wait they went .500 and then were swept in the playoff?)

I mean I think Chandler is better than Billups, but I don't think its that much of an upgrade.

Well, its not just Chandler.  

It is Melo for the whole year (we have seen many times over how tough it is to integrate guys midseason).  

It is the ripple effect of having a real center who will protect the rim.  They no longer need to have Jarred Jeffries playing crucial minutes.

Fields is also a year older, and ready for more responsibility.

And (this is the part that scares me), if Davis can get his back right, he is a VERY good player, when he is motivated...and he will be very motivated in NY.  

I also think you are underselling them getting swept in the first round last year.  Yes, they got swept, but it was one of the closest sweeps I have ever seen, with multiple games going down to the buzzer...and they played much of the series with Amare out or playing hurt, and with Billups on the sidelines.

If they were healthy, that could have been a very different series...and they are better now.

[Donoghus]

I'm not sold on it, either.  The condensed schedule and its affects on a team of the Celtics nature worries me.

They're a more dangerous playoff team than they are regular season team.

[Fafnir]

Well lord knows the post Melo trade knicks were scary!

(wait they went .500 and then were swept in the playoff?)

I mean I think Chandler is better than Billups, but I don't think its that much of an upgrade.

Well, its not just Chandler.  

It is Melo for the whole year (we have seen many times over how tough it is to integrate guys midseason).  

It is the ripple effect of having a real center who will protect the rim.  They no longer need to have Jarred Jeffries playing crucial minutes.

Fields is also a year older, and ready for more responsibility.

And (this is the part that scares me), if Davis can get his back right, he is a VERY good player, when he is motivated...and he will be very motivated in NY.  

I also think you are underselling them getting swept in the first round last year.  Yes, they got swept, but it was one of the closest sweeps I have ever seen, with multiple games going down to the buzzer...and they played much of the series with Amare out or playing hurt, and with Billups on the sidelines.

If they were healthy, that could have been a very different series...and they are better now.

I don' think Melo/Amar'e are going to help each other play well no matter how long they have together. Both are ball stoppers who iso it up, I don't see that changing too much.

If Davis can become a playmaker for them again, maybe.

As for the sweep, okay so it was closer than a sweep usually implies. But they still were basically a .500 team both before and after the trade.

[Snakehead]

I don't agree with the Knicks picks but I'm okay with it and would not be surprised if they came together well and beat us out for the Atlantic title.

But the 76ers picks?  Seriously?  I don't get the sudden hype.



Looking at all the picks, does anyone but myself find it really strange that no one thinks anything of Memphis' chances this year?  They lost Battier, but still have TA as that defensive presence and now they will have Gay, who at minimum is their second best player, and they are young and improving just like OKC is.  I don't get it.  I like Memphis chances to win the West qutie a bit.

I also think the Clips have a decent chance.  Hype pick, I am aware, but Blake is the best player CP3 has played with and I think this Clippers team is also the most talented.  He has done more with less.

[Fafnir]

Looking at all the picks, does anyone but myself find it really strange that no one thinks anything of Memphis' chances this year?  They lost Battier, but still have TA as that defensive presence and now they will have Gay, who at minimum is their second best player, and they are young and improving just like OKC is.  I don't get it.  I like Memphis chances to win the West qutie a bit.

A lot of people are picking Memphis to finish highly in the West this season.

Losing Darrel Arthur (who was their third big man) really hurts though. They'll have to find someone to take his minutes to contend.

[RyNye]

I just don't see the Knicks pulling it off. The only way they could win the division is for a COMPLETE change of team personality. D'Antoni would have to start coaching defense (which he hasn't done in a 20 year career), Melo and Amare would have to change their respective styles of play (and in 9 year careers neither has shown any inclination to do so), Baron Davis would have to shake off serious injury and motivation issues and play like he did several years ago, Tyson Chandler would have to play consistently (although he did well last season, he has not shown consistency over his career), and Landry Fields and other random role players would have to have career seasons.

If D'Antoni, Melo, and Amare don't change, the Knicks simply are not that good of a team. Melo hurts his team more than he helps it (once again, why did Denver do so much better AFTER the trade than before?). Amare is good, but injury prone and inefficient anyway. And D'Antoni is an idiot.

I think the Knicks will surprise people this year in not living up to the hype. They will rack up regular season wins against bad teams, but I doubt they make it deep into the playoffs. The Celtics need to be bit by the injury bug to lose the division (though, granted, that isn't exactly a farfetched scenario).

[pearljammer10]

i love how many people think the Clippers are going to take the division.... i like the thunder this year. i go thunder bulls finals.