The 2013-14 NBA training camps have officially opened their doors and players will begin arriving shortly for what will be a meet-and-greet first few days as the new players meet their new teammates. With training camp comes hope and optimism as teams look all shiny and new. Unfortunate thing for many is that once the regular season tips off, the sheen will wear off and the ugly spots will become evident.
The class of the league remains the Western Conference as the competition is fierce and all eight playoff spots will be hotly contested. With the West boasting many of the top teams, they still must look up at the reigning NBA Champion Miami Heat. With so much parity among the teams in the Western Conference the East has typically been viewed as the Miami Heat and everyone else.
The competitive gap closed greatly last season and into this offseason as teams made significant moves to bolster their lineups. Miami remains the class of the East; however, they are no longer the clear cut easy to choice to be the Conference representative for the finals.
Let’s take a look at the Conference and see how the competition stacks up. Here is eDraft’s 2013-14 NBA Power Rankings - Eastern Conference.
Miami Heat - The Heat remain the class of the Conference and as the reigning two-time NBA Champions they will certainly have teams gunning for them. Good thing they have plenty of firepower themselves and with it they will secure a top-seed come playoff time.
Indiana Pacers - The Pacers certainly closed the gap on Miami last season and with the return of Danny Granger, the maturation of Paul George and the addition of Luis Scola they have themselves a championship contending roster. Key to Indiana’s success if Roy Hibbert as he must be the playoff-force that he is during the regular season.
Brooklyn Nets - With another roster upheaval and the addition of the former Boston Celtics trio of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry the expectations are as high as the salary-hit in Brooklyn. The Nets biggest problem will boil down to team chemistry and lack of coaching experience. Still a force; however, they just aren’t at contender stage yet.
Chicago Bulls - The Bulls could conceivably be the second-ranked team in the Conference; however, that success depends entirely on the return of Derrick Rose. So goes Rose so goes the Bulls and while he can be electric and at times the best player in the league, it will take every bit of his talent to get the Bulls to the NBA Finals.
New York Knicks - The Knicks are again a middle-of-the-pack type team in the East. They failed to make any significant roster upgrades, they lost key-bench players and Amare Stoudemire remains a health concern and J.R. Smith is going to miss at least a month of regular season action. Throw in the Carmelo Anthony free-agent distraction and this could be a disastrous season for Knicks fans.
Atlanta Hawks - The Hawks did just enough in the offseason to compete for a lower playoff seed. Good thing for them that the East is so weak as their record in the West would have them on the outside looking in. Paul Millsap playing along side Al Horford will create a strong frontcourt, but it isn’t enough to propel the Hawks any higher than the sixth seed come playoff time.
Cleveland Cavaliers - The Cavaliers have a lot to be hopeful about. They have an exciting point guard in Kyrie Irving and newly-minted first overall draft pick in Anthony Bennett and a newly signed Andrew Bynum. Throw in a returning Anderson Varejao, a more experienced Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters and this Cavs team will turn some heads. Expect the Cavaliers to make a triumphant return to the playoffs this season.
Detroit Pistons - Joe Dumars is fighting to keep his job and the desperation was creating quite a stink. In an effort to mask the unpleasant odour of consistent defeat; Dumars went out and got Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings. The lineup looks impressive on paper; however, the on-court success will be harder to come by. I have the Pistons making the playoffs but just barely and only due to the lack of viable competition.
Orlando Magic - The Magic have a plethora of young ballers who will one day mature into legitimate NBA studs. Unfortunately that year isn’t going to come this season. The youthful exuberance will look fantastic on some nights and absolutely painful on others. The Magic are committed to taking a slow approach in developing their talent and with that approach comes another season of NBA lottery Draft pain.
Washington Wizards - The Wizards have a solid defense that is near top in the league, their offense is practically anemic. John Wall must stay healthy and Bradley Beal needs to get better in a hurry. Expectations are high in Washington and it looks like another season of disappointment in D.C.
Toronto Raptors - Despite a commitment to re-branding the franchise, there are only so many ways to package a poor product. Steps have certainly been taken to get better as Rudy Gay and Jonas Valanciunas are franchise building blocks. Bad contracts have been shed and salary-cap flexibility is right around the corner. Until such time; however, the losing ways continue in T.O.
Charlotte Bobcats - The Bobcats are getting better, slowly, bit by bit. The added Al Jefferson is what I think was a really good get. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Kemba Walker are solid but the roster is thin and the talent level remains low. Bobcats will shed their name at the end of the season and with it perhaps better success will be attained with another lottery pick and the Hornets moniker.
Boston Celtics - The Celtics have taken a huge fall from grace as they really have their work cut out for them this season. A new Head Coach and an uncertain return date for Rajon Rondo will make for some early season ugly losses. If the losses continue to pile up it could spell the end of Rondo in Beantown.
Milwaukee Bucks - The Bucks are coming off a season that saw them get the eighth seed in the playoffs. They could only hope for a first-round playoff loss in four straight this season. Their roster is depleted and has too many weaknesses. The Bucks seem fully committed to being awful this season and I do foresee that as being a very attainable goal for them.
Philadelphia 76ers - The 76ers will undoubtedly be the worst team in the league this season. They traded away Jrue Holiday and with that pressed the franchise reset button. They certainly did this with a goal in mind and that is too land a top-three lottery pick. Any one of the top talents in the 2014 NBA Draft have the potential to be that franchise defining player...or at least the Sixers are hoping so.