Is the Current Atlantic Division the Worst in NBA History?
January 2nd 2007 07:08
The biggest news in the NBA today is of course the return of the good ol’ leather ball. Huzzah! NBALOUD and various other sources have harped on enough
about the old microfiber ball so we won’t give this topic a run on today’s post.
Instead we’re going to focus on the Eastern Conference, or as many wags have dubbed it, the ‘Leastern”. With the new year having come and gone now would be a useful time to get into an in-depth analysis of how bad the East really is starting and finishing with the Atlantic.
It may be a stretch to label the whole conference as the most horrible half of all time but one can make a sound argument that the Atlantic is probably the most woeful division that has ever existed. No, it hasn’t always been like this with storied franchises such as the Celtics, 76ers, Knicks and Nets featuring in this division. Hell, some of the most beloved teams in the history of the game are from the Atlantic, but something has gone amiss this season.
It’s now 2007 and the Toronto Raptors have the “best” record in the division at 13-18. They are five games under .500! Want to know what the worst bit is? If this trend continues, Toronto, or any other team that tops the Atlantic will garner a playoff spot on the virtue of finishing on top! That is just pure insanity.
Perhaps the most sobering numbers of all is the combined record of the whole division: 57-97.
Can we find a silver lining amongst all this horrendous ineptitude? Let’s analyse the situation for each team on an individual basis shall we.
Toronto Raptors
There’s Chris Bosh and er, nothing else. Bosh is probably the sorriest looking superstar in the NBA this season putting up a huge effort for the Raptors, while his teammates are terrible.
Toronto has poor perimeter shooters which doesn’t cut it when you’re trying to play Phoenix Suns style basketball. The best they can hope for is for some decent draft picks in the upcoming lottery which is going to be one full of talent.
Actually, that could be the prognosis for every team in the Atlantic: Hope to hell for Greg Oden.
New Jersey Nets
NBALOUD actually hopes that the Nets will be the one team from this division that will end up with a winning record. Because how bad is it going to look when the “best” team from this division clinches a playoff spot with a sub .500 record, while numerous other teams miss out with superior records. Just a thought.
The bigger question is what is wrong with this Nets team? They had a good last season, brought back all their players and are playing in a conference that has gotten worse. It should be raining ice-cream for Jersey!
Vince looks disinterested, while Jason Kidd is up there with Chris Bosh, busting his hump off and getting no love in return.
New York Knicks
What hasn’t been said about this Knicks team? Isiah Thomas is reaping what he sowed with this joke of a team. The most overpriced and underachieving team that has ever existed, while their home crowd jeers at them on a regular basis.
Outlook: No salary cap space or valuable trade assets that will ever turn this team into a winner in the foreseeable future.
Still, they’re only one game off from clinching a playoff spot!
Boston Celtics
Paul Pierce is out hurt and the Celts are getting screwed by the changing of the ball. At least the Celtics can take solace in the fact that they might actually have some decent young talent in Sebastian Telfair and Gerald Green to name two, but they’re still sucking.
Oh, and at least they aren’t the Knicks either.
Philadelphia 76ers
For the past 50 years or so Allen Iverson has been the Sixers best player and now that he is gone who takes that mantle? The candidates are the other AI and Ashton Kutcher!
Let’s just cut to the chase and give out this prognosis for Philly: draft picks, please. Pretty please, with sugar on top.
How about one last interesting fact concerning the whole Eastern Conference: Detroit is the only team with a winning road record, while no other team comes close – the West? Five, with a sixth on a .500 road record.
Chris Bosh probably is about to go postal in Toronto. (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
Instead we’re going to focus on the Eastern Conference, or as many wags have dubbed it, the ‘Leastern”. With the new year having come and gone now would be a useful time to get into an in-depth analysis of how bad the East really is starting and finishing with the Atlantic.
It may be a stretch to label the whole conference as the most horrible half of all time but one can make a sound argument that the Atlantic is probably the most woeful division that has ever existed. No, it hasn’t always been like this with storied franchises such as the Celtics, 76ers, Knicks and Nets featuring in this division. Hell, some of the most beloved teams in the history of the game are from the Atlantic, but something has gone amiss this season.
It’s now 2007 and the Toronto Raptors have the “best” record in the division at 13-18. They are five games under .500! Want to know what the worst bit is? If this trend continues, Toronto, or any other team that tops the Atlantic will garner a playoff spot on the virtue of finishing on top! That is just pure insanity.
Perhaps the most sobering numbers of all is the combined record of the whole division: 57-97.
Can we find a silver lining amongst all this horrendous ineptitude? Let’s analyse the situation for each team on an individual basis shall we.
Toronto Raptors
There’s Chris Bosh and er, nothing else. Bosh is probably the sorriest looking superstar in the NBA this season putting up a huge effort for the Raptors, while his teammates are terrible.
Vince Carter has that sinking feeling with the Nets. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Actually, that could be the prognosis for every team in the Atlantic: Hope to hell for Greg Oden.
New Jersey Nets
NBALOUD actually hopes that the Nets will be the one team from this division that will end up with a winning record. Because how bad is it going to look when the “best” team from this division clinches a playoff spot with a sub .500 record, while numerous other teams miss out with superior records. Just a thought.
The bigger question is what is wrong with this Nets team? They had a good last season, brought back all their players and are playing in a conference that has gotten worse. It should be raining ice-cream for Jersey!
Vince looks disinterested, while Jason Kidd is up there with Chris Bosh, busting his hump off and getting no love in return.
New York Knicks
What hasn’t been said about this Knicks team? Isiah Thomas is reaping what he sowed with this joke of a team. The most overpriced and underachieving team that has ever existed, while their home crowd jeers at them on a regular basis.
Outlook: No salary cap space or valuable trade assets that will ever turn this team into a winner in the foreseeable future.
Let's hope that Sebastian Telfair doesn't emulate his cousin's NBA career. (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
Still, they’re only one game off from clinching a playoff spot!
Boston Celtics
Paul Pierce is out hurt and the Celts are getting screwed by the changing of the ball. At least the Celtics can take solace in the fact that they might actually have some decent young talent in Sebastian Telfair and Gerald Green to name two, but they’re still sucking.
Oh, and at least they aren’t the Knicks either.
Philadelphia 76ers
For the past 50 years or so Allen Iverson has been the Sixers best player and now that he is gone who takes that mantle? The candidates are the other AI and Ashton Kutcher!
Let’s just cut to the chase and give out this prognosis for Philly: draft picks, please. Pretty please, with sugar on top.
How about one last interesting fact concerning the whole Eastern Conference: Detroit is the only team with a winning road record, while no other team comes close – the West? Five, with a sixth on a .500 road record.
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