The Toronto Raptors want to make it four-straight Atlantic Division titles this season, but that’s obviously far from a sure thing with the much-improved Boston Celtics and a revitalized New York Knicks squad both looking very capable of dethroning the reigning division champs or even in reaching the playoffs. Read on below and get to know more about each team in this division.
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2016-17 NBA Atlantic Division Preview
Toronto Raptors (-105)
Fresh off their winningest campaign in franchise history, the Raptors, including their fans, are expecting better results. They’re not just aiming to retain the Atlantic Division title, but the team is seeking revenge on LeBron James and the Cavaliers, who spoiled their first-ever appearance in the Eastern Conference finals last season.
Toronto, as always, will be headlined by its dynamic backcourt duo of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, who jammed together to the tune of 44.7 PPG, 9.2 RPG and 10.4 APG a year ago. But those two will need others like Jonas Valanciunas and DeMarre Carroll to improve this season.
Valanciunas, in particular, is going to be asked to play a more significant role, especially at the defensive end since Bismack Biyombo is now playing for the Magic. The 24-year-old center averaged 12.8 PPG, 9.1 RPG and 1.3 BPG last year.
The Raps are priced at +1,500 to finish atop of the Eastern Conference and at -115 to win more than 50 regular-season games.
Boston Celtics (-110)
The Celtics are ready to make another leap forward. Sure, they lost some key pieces in Evan Turner and Jared Sullinger from last year’s 48-win squad, but they answered those losses with some big-time splashes in four-time All-Star center Al Horford and the third overall pick of this year’s draft Jaylen Brown during the summer.
Well, these additions don’t make Boston immediate title contenders, but it probably puts them one more star closer from becoming one. In the meantime, the Celtics can buckle up for another strong season with Isaiah Thomas as their main man. The 5-foot-9 point guard averaged a team-high and career-best of 22.2 PPG last season. He and Horford could eventually turn out to be one of the league’s top tandems and the recipe for a potential 50-plus win season.
New York Knicks (+900)
With Phil Jackson deciding to speed up the rebuilding process in New York via the off-season acquisitions of Derrick Rose, Joachim Noah and a few more proven veterans, a postseason appearance is more than a possibility for the Knickerbockers this year.
Plus, there’s also a new head coach in town, Jeff Hornacek, who finds himself in a situation of figuring out how to optimally utilize a talented roster that also features the likes of Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis.
Health, however, poses as the most crucial hurdle for the Knicks in the upcoming season. All of the hype and noise they made in the off-season will turn to dust if they can’t stay away from injuries. But if they do, then you can expect this team to win more than 40 regular-season games at least.
Brooklyn Nets (+25,000)
Brooklyn fans are going to wear “Linsanity” shirts while they go through another rebuilding season.
Jeremy Lin, who was the Nets’ most notable signee this past summer, will be teaming up with Brook Lopez as both hope to keep the squad competitive and respectable. Other than those two, there’s really no telling where the offense will come from. The Nets, as mentioned earlier, are focused on rebuilding, so player development is the main priority for them. They are priced at -120 to win just 21 regular-season games.
Philadelphia 76ers (+10,000)
There are many reasons why it’s going to be fun to watch the Sixers this season. Of course, it would be farfetched to see them compete for the postseason, but you can expect them to stop losing games by a landslide thanks to the injections of some fresh bloods in the forms of this year’s first overall pick Ben Simmons and a pair of 2014 lottery picks in Joel Embiid (3rd) and Dario Saric (12th).
The pro debut of Ben Simmons, however, will have to wait due to an unfortunate foot injury. Nonetheless, the Sixers, who finished with the worst overall record a season ago, have nowhere to go but up, and witnessing them win at least 24 regular-season games wouldn’t be too surprising.
Writer’s Prediction
Order in the standings:
- Boston Celtics (UNDER)
- Toronto Raptors (UNDER)
- New York Knicks (OVER)
- Philadelphia 76ers (OVER)
- Brooklyn Nets (UNDER)
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