NBA team-by-team guide: Eastern Conference

Jay Asser 21:05 28/10/2014
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  • Prepare for lift-off: Cleveland have the world's best player in LeBron James.

    With the new NBA season upon us we have the lowdown on each and every team aiming to compete for honours in the Eastern Conference.

    From the key ins and outs over the course of the summer to our predictions for this year's NBA, we have you covered.

    Boston Celtics

    Coach: Brad Stevens

    2013 record: 25-57
    Star man: Rajon Rondo
    Young player to watch: Marcus Smart
    Key Ins: Evan Turner, Marcus Thornton, Tyler Zeller, Marcus Smart, James Young 
    Key Outs: Jerryd Bayless, Kris Humphries
    Strengths: Perimeter defence will be tenacious.
    Weaknesses: Consistent scoring.
    Verdict: The season will revolve around Rajon Rondo and he’s good enough to lift the young players to not finish at the bottom of the East.

    Brooklyn Nets

    Coach: Lionel Hollins
    2013 record: 44-38
    Star man: Joe Johnson
    Young player to watch: Mason Plumlee
    Key Ins: Jarrett Jack, Bojan Bogdanovic
    Key Outs: Shaun Livingston, Paul Pierce, Marquis Teague, Marcus Thornton
    Strengths: Proven veteran talent.
    Weaknesses: Age and health over the course of the season.
    Verdict: The Nets just keep getting older and older and will be fortunate to finish closer to their record last year.

    New York Knicks

    Coach: Derek Fisher
    2013 record: 37-45
    Star man: Carmelo Anthony
    Young player to watch: Iman Shumpert
    Key Ins: Jason Smith, Jose Calderon, Samuel Dalembert, Shane Larkin, Travis Outlaw, Cleanthony Early
    Key Outs: Tyson Chandler, Raymond Felton
    Strengths: Scoring firepower.
    Weaknesses: Cohesion and ball movement.
    Verdict: The triangle offence will either work or be a disaster but they should return to the playoffs

    Philadelphia 76ers

    Coach: Brett Brown
    2013 record: 19-63
    Star man: Michael Carter-Williams
    Young player to watch: Nerlens Noel 
    Key Ins: Luc Mbah A Moute, Alexey Shved, Marquis Teague, Joel Embiid, Jerami Grant, KJ McDaniels
    Key Outs: Thaddeus Young
    Strengths: Young core can develop together.
    Weaknesses: Not enough NBA quality talent on the roster. 
    Verdict: They’re aiming to be the worst team in the league and won’t have a hard time accomplishing that. 

    Toronto Raptors

    Coach: Dwane Casey
    2013 record: 48-34
    Star man: Kyle Lowry
    Young player to watch: Bruno Caboclo
    Key Ins: Lou Williams, Jordan Hamilton, Bruno Caboclo
    Key Outs: Steve Novak, John Salmons Strengths: Possess depth with deep bench.
    Weaknesses: Lacking size and defence on the wings.
    Verdict: No longer up-and-comers, they now have expectations of being a top-four team in the East and should make good on that.

    Chicago Bulls

    Coach: Tom Thibodeau
    2013 record: 48-34
    Star man: Derrick Rose
    Young player to watch: Doug McDermott
    Key Ins: Nikola Mirotic, Pau Gasol, Doug McDermott
    Key Outs: DJ Augustin, Carlos Boozer
    Strengths: Well coached and stout defensively.
    Weaknesses: Offence has always been their issue.
    Verdict: It’s all about whether or not Derrick Rose can regain his preinjury form, but just having him for a full season would be a welcomed success.

    Cleveland Cavaliers 

    Coach: David Blatt
    2013 record: 33-49
    Star man: LeBron James 
    Young player to watch: Kyrie Irving
    Key Ins: LeBron James, Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Shawn Marion
    Key Outs: Luol Deng, Spencer Hawes, CJ Miles, Anthony Bennett, Tyler Zeller
    Strengths: Three-headed monster led by the league’s best player.
    Weaknesses: On-court chemistry.
    Verdict: Ultimately, Love and Irving will decide James’ fate and they both have a lot to prove, even with the team rightly labelled as favourites.

    Detroit Pistons

    Coach: Stan Van Gundy
    2013 record: 29-53
    Star man: Andre Drummond
    Young player to watch: Spencer Dinwiddie
    Key Ins: DJ Augustin, Caron Butler, Jodie Meeks, Spencer Dinwiddie
    Key Outs: Rodney Stuckey, Charlie Villanueva
    Strengths: Size and rebounding.
    Weaknesses: Perimeter shooting and floor spacing.
    Verdict: Van Gundy will work his magic and the offence will be better, but their individuals' talents simply don't mesh well. 

    Indiana Pacers

    Coach: Frank Vogel
    2013 record: 52-26
    Star man: Paul George
    Young player to watch: Solomon Hill
    Key Ins: CJ Miles, Damjan Rudez, Rodney Stuckey
    Key Outs: Lance Stephenson, Evan Turner
    Strengths: Defensively sound.
    Weaknesses: Offence was already lacking with George so the struggles will only continue.
    Verdict: George's injury leaves Roy Hibbert in the unfavourable position of shouldering the load and a rebuild should be the move.

    Milwaukee Bucks

    Coach: Jason Kidd
    2013 record: 15-67
    Star man: Brandon Knight
    Young player to watch: Giannis Antetokounmpo
    Key Ins: Jerryd Bayless, Kendall Marshall, Jared Dudley, Jabari Parker
    Key Outs: Carlos Delfino, Ramon Sessions, Ekpe Udoh
    Strengths: Young players will be nothing if not exciting.
    Weaknesses: Built for the long term so immediate success isn't coming.
    Verdict: After having the worst record last year, the Bucks' future looks encouraging.

    Atlanta Hawks 

    Coach: Mike Budenholzer
    2013 record: 38-44
    Star man: Al Horford
    Young player to watch: Dennis Schroder
    Key Ins: Kent Bazemore, Adreian Payne, Thabo Sefolosha
    Key Outs: Gustavo Ayon, Lou Williams
    Strengths: Horford’s return from injury is a major boost and they stretch the floor as good as any team.
    Weaknesses: Still without the big-time star they've tried so hard to land.
    Verdict: Always middling and another early playoff exit looms.

    Washington Wizards

    Coach: Randy Wittman
    2013 record: 44-38
    Star man: John Wall
    Young player to watch: Otto Porter
    Key Ins: Paul Pierce, DeJuan Blair, Kris Humphries
    Key Outs: Trevor Ariza, Trevor Booker
    Strengths: Wall and Bradley Beal form one of the best backcourts in the league.
    Weaknesses: Injury and age question marks plague frontcourt.
    Verdict: Retained most of their core and Pierce will fit in perfectly, but it’s hard to imagine a ceiling higher than a berth in the conference finals.

    Orlando Magic

    Coach: Jacque Vaughn
    2013 record: 23-59
    Star man: Victor Oladipo
    Young player to watch: Elfrid Payton
    Key Ins: Channing Frye, Ben Gordon, Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton, Evan Fournier
    Key Outs: Arron Afflalo, Jameer Nelson
    Strengths: Young core will grow together and show flashes.
    Weaknesses: Too young and undeveloped to make a mark right now.
    Verdict: Have to take the next step out of constant rebuilding at some point, but it won’t be this year.

    Miami Heat

    Coach: Erik Spoelstra
    2013 record: 54-28
    Star man: Dwyane Wade
    Young player to watch: Shabazz Napier
    Key Ins: Luol Deng, Danny Granger, Josh McRoberts, Shabazz Napier
    Key Outs: LeBron James, Rashard Lewis
    Strengths: Still pack a punch with Chris Bosh and (a healthy) Wade.
    Weaknesses: Were the worst rebounding team last year.
    Verdict: For the first time in years, Miami doesn't have to deal with the title-or-bust expectations.

    Charlotte Hornets

    Coach: Steve Clifford
    2013 record: 43-39
    Star man: Al Jefferson
    Young player to watch: Noah Vonleh
    Key Ins: Lance Stephenson, Marvin Williams, Noah Vonleh, PJ Hairston
    Key Outs: Ben Gordon, Josh McRoberts, Luke Ridnour, Chris DouglasRoberts
    Strengths: Solid on defence and turnover averse.
    Weaknesses: Limited offensively on the wings.
    Verdict: Surprised last season and could take another step forward with an improved roster. 

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