NBA by division: Southeast

Published: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009 7:35 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 

Stan Van Gundy has a problem — but it's one any coach would love to have. How do you keep so many All-Star players happy?

Van Gundy, who coached the Orlando Magic to the NBA finals a year ago, has one clear leader — Dwight Howard, who is simply the best center in the league. But he also has a wealth of other talented players, including newcomer Vince Carter, an eight-time All-Star.

Mix in point guard Jameer Nelson and forward Rashard Lewis and the Magic have four recent All-Stars on their starting lineup, all of whom are capable of scoring 20-plus points a night.

Carter, a Florida native, says he's happy to be home and is willing to take a supporting role for a winning team. He should be able to make a very good team even better. Orlando will easily dominate the Southeast Division and will challenge the Cavaliers and Celtics for the best record in the East.

Here is a team-by-team look at the Southeast Division in predicted order of finish:

ORLANDO MAGIC

Last season: 59-23, lost to the Lakers in NBA finals

Top player: C Dwight Howard (20.6 ppg, 13.8 rpg, 2.9 bpg)

Story continues below

Supporting cast: PG Jameer Nelson (16.7 ppg, 5.4 apg), G Vince Carter (20.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.7 apg), F Rashard Lewis (17.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg), F Matt Barnes (10.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 2.8 apg)

Bottom line: Hedo Turkoglu and Rafer Alston, key components during the Magic's magic playoff run, are gone. Still, Orlando shouldn't miss a beat. Alston was just a fill-in while Nelson recovered from injury and Carter and free agent-acquisition Barnes should more than make up for Turkoglu's scoring. Lewis will miss the first 10 games of the season due to league-imposed suspension (for testing positive for an elevated testosterone level), but Orlando has plenty of other bodies who can fill in until he comes back.Sixty or so wins and another long playoff run is likely.

ATLANTA HAWKS

Last season: 47-35, lost to Cleveland in the second round of the playoffs

Top player: G Joe Johnson (21.4 ppg, 5.8 apg)

Supporting cast: F Josh Smith (15.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.6 bpg), G Mike Bibby (14.9 ppg, 5.0 apg), F Marvin Williams (13.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg), C Al Horford (11.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg)

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

Hall mouths off about hate of Utah

As a BYU student, and one who takes all those dang calls and mail about...

Hahahahahahahahah!

Hall mouths off about hate of Utah

its just laughable seeing how bitter maxie is about last year with his 15...

Good for you...Tiger...keep it PRIVATE. It's nobody's business.

And you wonder why we like Tim Tebow so much. We also win championships and...

Seriously, if the table's were turned and the Utes won and the QB said that...

Weir to Hall of Fame

Mike Weir is a terrific man. Even though he is not LDS, he represents BYU...

Hall mouths off about hate of Utah

Right on | 12:00 p.m. Nov. 29, 2009 If ANY Ute player or fan had his family...

Hall mouths off about hate of Utah

Max Hall's actions and the true vitriol that seems to exist between students...

Hall mouths off about hate of Utah

... deserves to have him be their QB. And guess what, those of you who...

Advertisements