The Beast of the East

By Justin Albers
Basketballss132002@yahoo.com
CLEVELAND- With the NBA Draft behind us and trade rumors calming down, it is time to take a look at the new Eastern Conference. After a night filled with trades and surprises, the East has a different look; and different contenders.
When we arrive at the 2007-08 playoffs next year, the Eastern Conference could be represented by several teams that haven’t been there in years. Of this year’s playoff teams Toronto, Detroit, Cleveland, and New Jersey have done nothing to improve their chances. Sure the Nets re-signed Vince Carter, but neither he nor Jason Kidd or getting any younger, and Mikki Moore is also a free agent. Toronto let Morris Peterson slip away and have not added anyone to complement a very talented Chris Bosh. Cleveland is still yet to add anyone to take some of the pressure off of LeBron James and Detroit is becoming old news.
The teams that have helped themselves significantly so far include the Magic, Bobcats, Celtics, and Hawks. Orlando slid into the playoffs as an eight seed a year ago, swept by the Detroit Pistons in the first round. Dwight Howard is a heck of a player, and after adding Rashard Lewis, this team becomes a true contender. The Magic will be a five seed at worst next season.
Michael Jordan is desperate to win now, and he showed that on draft night. After trading the draft rights to Brandon Wright for Jason Richardson, he was highly criticized by almost every professional sports analyst in the country. But he made the right move. The Bobcats have a roster full of young kids that have never proven themselves, and with a star like Richardson, this team is a solid big man away from being up there in the East. If they could become part of the Kevin Garnett deal, who knows what could happen.
The Hawks are in a similar situation. With a dominant player like Joe Johnson, this team is only a big man away from being a top team in the East. They had a great draft with Al Horford and Acie Law, and now they have to convince Amare Stoudamire that he wants to be a part of this new era in Atlanta Hawks basketball. I see the Hawks as a playoff team next season regardless, either a seven or eight seed.
Finally, the Celtics. Boston has a golden opportunity to get back to the playoffs if they can land a solid inside presence. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen provide a great scoring duo, Rajon Rando is a fantastic defender who also has the ability to get in the paint, and Al Jefferson is a rising star in this league. If they could come up with Kevin Garnett, the Celtics would be a top four team in the East, no questions asked.
So as the off-season rolls on, the “Beast of the East” remains unclear. A lot of it could depend on how the Kevin Garnett saga comes to an end. But one thing is for sure; it is going to be one crazy year.