The Atlantic Division with the Nets, Raptors, 76ers, Knicks and Celtics may be the most anticipated division. All five teams have made major or minor enhancements to their lineups this summer. , every team hopes to make a breakthrough next season.
Today I bring you the Atlantic Division team preview! The 76ers still remember that two years ago, when the 76ers were upset and eliminated by the Eagles in the Eastern Conference semifinals, Simmons was faced with unprecedented doubts, not only from the sidelines, but also from the 76ers. teammate. So much so that last season, Simmons directly missed a whole season of games on the grounds of injury and mental health. Even if he was traded to the Nets in the middle of the season, he did not play a game in the end. Although fans scoffed at Simmons’ performance in the playoffs the previous year, after the team’s standoff with Simmons last season, the team’s overall strength inevitably declined to a certain extent. Simmons’ top defensive skills can still help the team very well.
In the middle of the season, the 76ers traded for James Harden from the Nets with Simmons as the main chip. This transaction instantly gave the Nets the strength to impact the championship, and the combination of Harden and Embiid’s inside and outside line is also full of reverie. It is a pity that due to previous injuries, Harden, who was transferred to the 76ers, was in decline, and it has been difficult to return to his peak state. The 76ers finally returned in the playoffs and regretted ending the season. In the offseason, the 76ers continued to build their team around Harden and Embiid. Under the condition that the main frame is almost unchanged, the old Rockets such as Tucker, Harrell and House have been signed in succession. They have all used Harden as teammates and have a good tacit understanding. They are very suitable to play next to Harden. Being able to sign in the free agency market will definitely help the team. But on the contrary, wouldn’t the growing growth of the Rockets be one of the reasons for the outbreak of conflicts within the team when the team’s record fluctuated? Of course, in the new season, the combination of Harden and Embiid will continue to lead the 76ers to the championship. No matter how bad Harden’s state was before, as a former MVP player, James Harden, who is still at his peak athlete age, is entirely likely to play MVP-level performance again. For the 76ers this season, the championship will be their goal.
Team rating: Pot 1 (championship group) Raptors In 2019, under the leadership of Leonard, the Toronto Raptors won the first O’Brien Cup in team history and wrote a new history. Now, in the post-Leonard era, the Raptors are also completing their rebuilding step by step. After picking up rookie Barnes with the No. 6 pick last season, the Toronto Raptors have plenty of options on the front line. After Lowry left, VanVleet, the sixth man of Zeng Jin’s team, took up the banner on the backline and led the Raptors forward together with Siakam.
Barnes in his rookie season also showed excellent adaptability. Relying on his excellent physical fitness, Barnes often takes on the heavy responsibility of defending the opponent’s arrows. On the offensive end, Barnes also showed a certain degree of potential, and even let people see the shadow of the early stage card. I believe that over time, Barnes, who has gradually improved on the offensive end, will be able to perform beyond imagination. In the offseason, the Raptors almost kept their main rotation players, and it was difficult for them to attract stars to join them in Toronto. Working hard to develop the players they’ve drafted while retaining the main roster is how they gradually get back to the top. In the new season, under the leadership of Coach Nurse, the Raptors with no changes in the lineup may have better chemistry. But in the case of other competitors becoming stronger, whether the Raptors have the strength to break out of the siege from the Eastern melee, we will wait and see.
Team rating: Pot 4 (playoff group) Knicks Two years ago, after the team recruited Randle and Rose one after another, under the leadership of coach Thibodeau, the New York Knicks finally returned to the playoffs. . Before that, we were almost forgetting that the Knicks were once one of the big teams in the league. However, last season, with the basic lineup unchanged, French defender Fournier joined the team. In theory, it should help the team’s perimeter strength, but instead it shows a side that does not fit well with Randle. After leading the team into the playoffs the previous year, Randle did not advance but retreated in the second year. While struggling on the court, the Knicks missed the playoffs last season.
Although Randle slumped last season, Barrett’s improvement is obvious to all as the season progresses. The performance of 20 points per game has also gradually realized the strength of its third flower. In the offseason, the team signed the Mavericks guard Brunson, who performed well in the playoffs last season, at a price close to the maximum salary, which is almost the largest signing for the Knicks in recent years. Although it failed to attract top stars to join, it also strengthened the team’s strength. In the new season, if Brunson can play last season’s playoff-like performance, the Knicks may be very competitive in the East. However, if the team’s main player Randle’s attacking style of holding the ball does not change, it will be difficult for Brunson to play a greater role, and it may be difficult for the Knicks to make a breakthrough in the new season.
Team rating: Pot 4 (playoff group) Nets When Durant and Irving both joined the Nets, the prospects for the Nets with superstars were bright. Subsequently, James Harden was acquired in the transaction with the Rockets. The Nets, which gathered the Big Three, seemed to have announced the championship in advance through the historical level of offensive efficiency at the time. However, things are changeable. In the past two years, whether it is Harden’s injury, Irving’s truce and later Durant’s trade turmoil, the luck of the Nets seems to be eroded a little bit. There were only a handful of games where the Big Three merged and the disintegration was announced. Although the Simmons obtained has outstanding defensive strength, for a player who has serious shooting problems and has not played for a year, there is also a question mark about his strength after his return.
In the turbulent end of last season, the Nets offseason encountered Durant’s departure from the team. To a certain extent, it can even be said that if it wasn’t for Gobert’s transfer that led to a rise in the trading market, perhaps Durant would have gone to his new owner to report. In the end, with the efforts of Tsai and Nash, Durant decided to stay and continue to lead the Nets to the championship with Irving. After successfully leaving the star after the transfer turmoil, the Nets have already completed the biggest task of the offseason. In the new season, the Nets will usher in the comeback of Simmons. Whether the new Big Three can have enough chemical reaction will determine how far the Nets can go next season. For Irving, who is in contract year, as long as he can play seriously, he will still be the top guard in the league. How to make a chemical reaction between the Big Three, the price is the primary issue of Nash’s new season.
Team rating: The second pot (playoff team group) The Celtics are one of the finals teams last season. The Celtics have become the top team in the East under the leadership of the double third overall. The well-rounded Tatum even has the hope of attacking the regular season MVP. Last season, despite the unfavorable start of the regular season, the team caught up in the second half of the season, from the play-off team at the beginning to the second place in the Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, he also fought hard battles one after another, passing the Nets, Bucks and Heat in a row. It is no exaggeration to say that this is almost the strongest opponent that can be encountered. This also reflects the strong overall strength of the Celtics.
In the offseason, Stevens showed his talent as a general manager. First, Brogdon was obtained from the Pacers in the form of change for the whole, and then Griffin and Gallinari were obtained, which strengthened the team’s lineup in a targeted manner. However, Gallinari’s sudden injury was unexpected. Lowe’s injury last season still plagued him, which also caused him to miss the first half of the season. More importantly, the team coach Uduka was involved in a serious team scandal, and the team announced that it would be suspended for one year. The absence of the head coach will also cast a shadow over the team’s performance in the new season.
In the new season, the Celtics who have strengthened their lineup will continue to make an impact on the championship. For the backline with Smart, Brogdon and White, they can have sufficient rotation. After Lowe’s return from injury, coupled with the arrival of Horford and new aid Griffin, the Green Army will still be competitive in the East.
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