A look at the Eastern Conference

Starting with southeast -

1. Atlanta – Some say Zaza Pachulia is a serviceable center. Sure, when he’s playing alongside KG. Or Amare Stoudemire. But that’s never gonna happen. They actually had a chance to get Amare. But the owners were busy battling in court so they passed. Idiots. Hey, at least they took another forward in the draft.

This is their team for the next season:

1. Acie Law/ Anthony Johnson/ Tyronn Lue/ Speedy Claxton
2. Joe Johnson/ Salim Stoudamire
3. Marvin Williams/ Josh Childress
4. Josh Smith/ Al Horford/ Shelden Williams
5. Zaza Pachulia / Lorenzen Wright/

They’re still young, lots of potential, they may pan out … around 2011. Maybe.

2. Charlotte Bobcats – Now, this team is loaded. Just look at them:

1. Raymond Felton/ Jeff McInnis
2. Jason Richardson/ Matt Carroll
3. Gerald Wallace/ Walter Hermann / Adam Morrison
4. Sean May /Othella Harrington/ Jared Dudley
5. Emeka Okafor/ Primoz Brezec

Yes I believe they should use Emeka as their starting center, especially if Sean May ever gets through a season without injuries. The league has become faster and well, shorter. We see a bunch of PF playing center nowadays (Tim Duncan, Amare Stoudemire, KG to name a few).

The only problem I see with this team is the back-up PG position. McInnis hasn’t been effective in ages. And they had a good back-up in Brevin Knight. I will never understand why they released him. They should just jettison Adam Morrison for a capable back-up PG, if there are any takers. I guess they can fool someone into taking him with the ol’ story about potential. They’re pretty much set at SF with Wallace and Hermann (who by the way played brilliantly last season).

3. Miami – Celtics got KG and Allen, Orlando got Lewis, NY got Zach Randolph, even Milwaukee got Yi and Desmond Mason. And who did Miami get? That’s right – they got Smush Parker. Plan a championship parade in Miami, now.

4. Orlando – not much to feel giddy about this season except for Stan the Man and an improved Dwight Howard. They have stiffs at center (Foyle and Battie), 3 average point guards (Arroyo, Dooling and Nelson) and no one at shooting guard unless JJ Reddick explodes. In a good way, I mean.

So unless they go small ball and start Howard at the 5, Lewis at the 4, Hedo at the 3 (his natural position), somebody at the 2 (JJ or one of the point guards I guess) and Nelson/Arroyo at the 1 - I really don’t see them doing much damage in the East.

5. Washington – same old wizards. No defense, 2 stiffs at center who hate each other, no defense, not enough Darious Songaila and no defense yet again.

Smile, we got throught the worst.