NBA Picks insider reports that Eastbound and down (Southeast Division) could turn out to be the most intriguing conference in the entire league.
1. Can the Heat start planning their victory parade now? Judging by the hype and media coverage that has surrounded this team ever since LeBron took his talents to South Beach, you'd think they already had that worked out. Of course, a lot of us thought the same thing in 2003 when the Lakers added Gary Payton and Karl Malone to go along with Shaq and Kobe. For as much pressure in on LeBron, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh to get it done on the floor, the real heat could be on head coach Erik Spoelstra to find the right combination to put around them.
2. Could Orlando actually derail Miami's victory train? The Magic certainly aren't afraid, that's for sure. From the moment LeBron and company put ink to paper, Dwight Howard and his mates haven't blinked. After all, his team has been to two straight Eastern Conference Finals and an NBA Finals - something LeBron can't claim. But for it to happen, the Magic need three things: Jameer Nelson playing close to 82 games, Howard developing a well-rounded offensive game and more consistency from shooters like Mickael Pietrus and J.J. Redick.
3. Will Larry Drew bring change Hawks fans can believe in? If he does it will have to be of the emotional variety. This season's roster isn't much different than what Atlanta's had in the past. The issue under Mike Woodson was a seeming lack of caring in big situations. The past two playoff seasons featured some head-scratching blowout losses with super-talent Josh Smith pouting and the re-signed Joe Johnson taking potshots at Hawks fans. They're not good enough to be an NBA pick to win the division, but they're a solid #5 or #6 seed come playoff time.
4. Can the Bobcats keep moving forward? The Bobcats may stand to be hurt the most by the rest of the Eastern Conference loading up. After making the first playoff appearance in franchise history last year, the 'Cats didn't make any major splashes in the offseason. They drafted Kansas star Sherron Collins who will likely battle with Shaun Livingston to back up D.J. Augustin. But when you're a team that barely made the playoffs then stood pat while everyone around you got better, it's hard to envision a repeat visit to the postseason.
5. Are there enough shots to go around in Washington? And no, that's not a gun joke. But with Gilbert Arenas back in action, Nick Young and the top overall pick John Wall on the floor, someone may end up disappointed with their lack of scoring opportunities. Plus without a real interior presence, don't expect to take big strides with a team full of gunners. Okay, that was a gun joke.
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