Community writer, Mercury53, is starting a series of articles where he will feature the different divisions of the NBA. Today we are releasing his Atlantic Division preview. Be sure to stop by our forums and share your predictions and thoughts on division.
*Teams are ordered in prediction they will finish the season.
 | 1) Boston Celtics – Last year’s champions are poised to make another big run at the title this year. Back are the big three and even though they are aging, any one of them can fill it up on nightly basis. Rondo is improving and so is Kendrick Perkins. However, the loss of James Posey will hurt this team when they make their playoff run. I see them getting to the Eastern Conference Finals, only to be knocked out. |
 | 2) Philadelphia 76ers- Who could have believed when Allen Iverson departed, the team would only get better. Well with great play from Andre Miller and Andre Iguodola it was all-possible. Now the Sixers have All-Star Elton Brand to help them in the frontcourt, along with rising star Samuel Dalembert. This is team is young and hungry for the post season, and this year they will make it. |
 | 3) Toronto Raptors – Chris Bosh and Jermaine O’Neal. This is pair that a couple years ago I would have taken to win the title. Yet O’Neal is injury prone and getting older. Even if O’Neal can stay healthy this team just doesn’t have the talent in the other areas of the floor. Andrea Bargnani is talented but inexperienced and Jose Calderon just isn’t quite there yet. This team will make the playoffs but Canada will wait another year for a title. |
 | 4) New Jersey Nets – Vince Carter used to be the face of the Toronto Raptors, and now he is the face of the Nets. With Kidd and Richardson long gone he has the spotlight on him. His team is young but talented. Devin Harris is a good point and will only get better as time goes on. Yi Jianlian is high draft pick and if he can work out for the Nets they have a bright future. However, the future is a ways away for New Jersey and so are this season’s playoffs. |
 | 5) New York Knicks – I was ready to grant this team fourth but the trades they recently pulled off tell me they really don’t care about this year. The Knicks are making a run all right, a run at 2010. This is when LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are free agents and the Knicks are looking to score. However, this year’s team is pretty poor. Quintin Richardson, Cuttino Mobley and Al Harrington can scores points, but not consistently enough to win ball games. Look for the Knicks to be bottom feeders once again. |
