Post by Boston Celtics on May 31, 2009 11:14:38 GMT
Times have never been closer in the Atlantic Division:
The once infallable New Jersey Nets, who almost clean-swept the Utah Jazz in the Finals last season, have traded-up and the look of their lineup has completely changed from last season's contenders. As a result, they've lost their dominance of the Eastern Conference and have slipped in the last few months and would've been out of playoff contention had their previous record not been propping them up.
The result has been the levelling of the Atlantic Division into one of the closest fought divisions in Dynasty Five history.
Coming out on top at the moment are the unpredictable Boston Celtics. The Celtics have luckily been scraping together wins against teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers, the only team in the Atlantic this season who aren't contending for a high playoff spot. Against the Sixers, the lead changed each quarter and the C's were lucky to come away with a mere two point win. The net result has seen the Celtics take the lucky lead at the top of the Division, and therefore automatically slot into 3rd posiiton ahead of Eastern teams with better records such as the Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons.
Recent 'flukey' wins have propped up the Celtics above their Division rivals, such as the double-overtime win against the Toronto Raptors a few days ago.
The Raptors have been on a slide as of late, losing against the surging Cavaliers twice in the space of a few games which seem reminiscent of the exact opposite of the Celtics luck. Brandon Roy is not firing like he should be and the Raptors have lost ground to the Celtics, whilst the Nets and Knicks are a mere 0.007% behind them.
The Knicks mid-season trades have turned them into an Eastern Powerhouse. The pairing of Dwyane Wade and Yao Ming, two of the most formidable forces in the league, has led to what some are calling a new golden era for New York Knicks basketball. The days of Walt Frazier or Patrick Ewing are flooding back to Madison Square Garden and much of the success has to be handed to GM Donny Walsh.
A mere 0.023% separates the top four teams in the Atlantic, all vying for that coveted 3rd seed in the East. Will the Celtics continue their luck? Will the Raptors and Nets begin a resurgance? Or will the new look Knicks take everyone by surprise? One thing is for sure, Philadelphia only want Blake Griffin.
The once infallable New Jersey Nets, who almost clean-swept the Utah Jazz in the Finals last season, have traded-up and the look of their lineup has completely changed from last season's contenders. As a result, they've lost their dominance of the Eastern Conference and have slipped in the last few months and would've been out of playoff contention had their previous record not been propping them up.
The result has been the levelling of the Atlantic Division into one of the closest fought divisions in Dynasty Five history.
Coming out on top at the moment are the unpredictable Boston Celtics. The Celtics have luckily been scraping together wins against teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers, the only team in the Atlantic this season who aren't contending for a high playoff spot. Against the Sixers, the lead changed each quarter and the C's were lucky to come away with a mere two point win. The net result has seen the Celtics take the lucky lead at the top of the Division, and therefore automatically slot into 3rd posiiton ahead of Eastern teams with better records such as the Atlanta Hawks and Detroit Pistons.
Recent 'flukey' wins have propped up the Celtics above their Division rivals, such as the double-overtime win against the Toronto Raptors a few days ago.
The Raptors have been on a slide as of late, losing against the surging Cavaliers twice in the space of a few games which seem reminiscent of the exact opposite of the Celtics luck. Brandon Roy is not firing like he should be and the Raptors have lost ground to the Celtics, whilst the Nets and Knicks are a mere 0.007% behind them.
The Knicks mid-season trades have turned them into an Eastern Powerhouse. The pairing of Dwyane Wade and Yao Ming, two of the most formidable forces in the league, has led to what some are calling a new golden era for New York Knicks basketball. The days of Walt Frazier or Patrick Ewing are flooding back to Madison Square Garden and much of the success has to be handed to GM Donny Walsh.
A mere 0.023% separates the top four teams in the Atlantic, all vying for that coveted 3rd seed in the East. Will the Celtics continue their luck? Will the Raptors and Nets begin a resurgance? Or will the new look Knicks take everyone by surprise? One thing is for sure, Philadelphia only want Blake Griffin.