NBA Easern Conference 2001 Midseason Analysis

Atlantic Division
1. Philadelphia 76ers
Building upon last season's breakthrough, the Sixers have become the East's premier team. Rapper/player Allen Iverson has emerged as a legitimate MVP candidate and has become much more of a team player. The team has embraced Larry Brown's philosophies and has become a tough, blue collar bunch..
Surprise: Allen Iverson has always been an electrifying performer, but this season Iverson become a more mature player and leader.
Disappointments: Toni Kukoc has not emerged as a potent offensive complement to Iverson.
Prognosis: The Sixers will win the Atlantic with ease as long as Iverson can avoid suffering a catastrophic injury. This is actually big if because of the reckless way Iverson throws his body around on his drives to the hoop.

2. New York Knicks
The Knicks have not played as well as some people have expected them to but they are still capable of playing championship defense despite the lack of a true center.
Surprise: Marcus Camby has emerged as a consistently dominant force in the paint and CoachJeff Van Gundy no longer bitches about Camby's practice habits.
Disappointments: Chris Childs has continued to struggle at the point guard position. With injuries limiting Charlie Ward's effectiveness, Child's limitations continue to get exposed on a nightly basis. Also, the Knick have not become an effective transition offensive team as they were expected to become in Patrick Ewing's absence.
Prognosis: The Knicks have the experience, defense and firepower to challenge the Sixers for the Eastern Conference championship.

3. Miami Heat
Miami's championship aspirations suffered a major hit when center Alonzo Mourning was ruled out for the year due to a kidney ailment. However, Coach Pat Riley has kept the Heat competitive by incorporating newcomers Anthony Mason, Eddie Jones and Brian Grant into his team framework.
Surprises: Anthony Mason has stepped it up this season and has become an all-star. Brian Grant's toughness has helped lessen the loss of Mourning, although Mourning's shotblocking has gone completely unreplaced.
Disappointments: Backup point guard Anthony Carter has taken a step back this year.
Prognosis: Unless the Heat can somehow acquire a proven center, they will not have enough manpower to overtake the top two.

4. Boston Celtics
Under new head coach Jim O'Brien, the Celtics have salvaged a season that was nearly destroyed by the departed Rick Pitino. Burdened by Pitino's terrible personnel decisions, lack the talent to be a force. However, in emerging swingman Paul Pierce and power forward Antoine Walker, the Celts have enough firepower to be dangerous.
Surprises: Shooting guard Bryant Stith has resurfaced this season as a solid NBA contributor. Paul Pierce has stepped his offensive game and should now be considered the Celtics' number one option on offense.
Disappointments: Point guard Kenny Anderson's game continues to decline, leaving the Celts without options at the one spot. "Veteran All-Star" Antoine Walker posts impressive statistics but his game has not improved much since his rookie season. The Celtics are hating the multi-year contract that Pitino gave center Vitaly Potapenko in light of Potapenko's inability to develop into a legitimate NBA big man.
Prognosis: The Celtics are an undermanned squad that will probably fade in the second half.

5. Orlando Magic
After narrowly missing the playoffs last year with a CBA-style roster, Magic coach Doc Rivers was expected to contend this season due to the addition of big ticket free agents Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill and first round pick Mike Miller. Unfortunately, Hill is out for the year with a foot injury and the roster turnover has upset the amazing chemistry that last year's team possessed.
Surprises: Tracy McGrady was expected to develop into a star, but few expected him to emerge as one of the best scorers in the league. Mike Miller has shown flashes of brilliance this season and has a very bright future.
Disappointment: Hill's injury.
Prognosis: The Magic are starting to jell and will make a run for the final playoff spot by year's end.

6. New Jersey Nets
Despite Stephon Marbury's all-star status, the Nets have underachievd in Head Coach Byron Scott's first season. A season-ending injury to guard Kerry Kittles and forward Keith Van Horn's slow recovery from a broken leg have contributed to the Nets' slow start.
Surprises: 1997 second round pick Stephen Jackson has returned from overseas to become a solid NBA swingman. Jackson is athletic, handles the ball very well and can stroke the three. Free agent acquisition Aaron Williams has added rebounding and shotblocking from the power forward and center positions.
Disappointments: Power forward Kenyon Martin, the first pick overall from last June's draft, has struggled playing out of position at center. A brilliant shotblocker, Martin has had to shed the rust that accumulated during his recovery from a broken leg and does not yet have the offensive game to be a force.
Prognosis: The Nets have the talent in Marbury, Van Horn and Martin to be a much better team in the second half. If Martin and Van Horn can step up their games, the Nets will challenge for a playoff spot.

7. Washington Wizards
Hamstrung by the mismangement of Wes Unseld, Michael Jordan has been unable to make the deals to make the Wizards competitve. After dealing with insubordination from swingman Tyrone Nesby and the drunk driving arrests of point guard Rod Strickland and forward Michael Smith, first year coach Leonard Hamilton probably wishes he was still coaching the Miami Hurricanes.
Surprises: Point guard Chris Whitney has played very well as a starter, providing quickness and long-range marksmanship. His play has made the disgruntled Rod Strickland even more expendable. Off guard Richard "Rip" Hamilton played very well filling in for Mitch Richmond and appears to have a very bright future. Much-maligned $105 Million Man Juwan Howard has bounced back from last year's nightmare to become a productive NBA forward again.
Disappointment: Rod Strickland has been the malcontent that he usually is, but now he has very little trade value because his lack of conditioning has robbed him of his explosiveness. I guess the hot dog and pizza pregame meals have finally caught up to him.
Prognosis: Now that Rod Strickland is no longer a "base year compensation" player, he will be much easier to trade. However, it remains to be seen whether any other team will want him. The Wizards are the worst team in the league and might as well start hoping the lottery ping pong balls bounce their way next summer.

Central Division
1. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks got have to a slow start due to some horrible defensive lapses, but they seem to be catching their stride.
Surprises: Guard Lindsey Hunter has been a solid contributer, providing quickness in relief of Ray Allen and Sam Cassell. All-Star forward Glenn Robinson has stepped up his rebounding and defense.
Disappointments: First round pick center Joel Przybilla has had no impact whatsoever. He's a long way from being a useful NBA player. Forward Tim Thomas has all of the tools to become an NBA star, but thus far, he has been nothing but a tease.
Prognosis: The trio of Ray Allen, Glenn Robinson and Sam Cassell can match up with virtually anyone in the East. If the Bucks can get anything at all out of their mediocre power players, they have the scoring ability to push the Sixers and Knicks. However, if Jason Caffey, Ervin Johnson and Scott Williams are not up to the challenge, the Bucks will simply be too soft to be a factor.

2. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors have survived the loss of Tracy McGrady because of the brilliance of Vince Carter and the interior toughness provided by Antonio Davis and Charles Oakley. Veteran point guard Mark Jackson has stabilized the backcourt. As long as Carter is with Toronto, they will be competitve.
Surprises: Rookie swingman Morris Peterson, who Foulshots.com considered a major draft sleeper, has provided instant offense for the Raptors.
Disappointments: Free agent signee Corliss Williamson has not fit in well with the Raptors and has not been a double-digit contributor on offense.
Prognosis: Carter makes the Raptors exciting to watch, but the lack of a solid number two option on offense limits them considerably. The acquisition of power forward Keon Clark injects much youthful athletic ability into their plodding frontcourt. The acquistion of Clark may help the Raptors hang on and get into the playoffs as a mid-level seed.

3. Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets are suffering from the instability caused by their shaky ownership situation and the loss of their best player from a year ago, Eddie Jones. However, new acquistions Jamal Mashburn and P.J. Brown have helped keep the Hornets competitive.
Surprises: Point guard Baron Davis has become an explosive all-around performer and has allowed David Wesley to move over to the off guard position to replace Jones. Jamal Mashburn has become a solid number one option on offense. Rookie center Jamal Magloire has been surprisingly effective as a reserve power player.
Disappointments: Derrick Coleman has been out of shape and ineffective for much of the season. His unwillingness to accept a reserve roll has made matters even worse.
Prognosis: The Hornets have size inside in Brown, Campbell and Coleman and scoring ability on the perimeter in Mashburn, Wesley and Davis. They'll make the playoffs for sure.

4. Indiana Pacers
The defending Eastern Conference champion Pacers have been a disappointment thus far in Isiah Thomas' rookie season as a head coach. However, the offseason losses of starters Rik Smits, Dale Davis and Mark Jackson have been very difficult to overcome.
Surprises: Center Jermaine O'Neal has exploded in his first season as a starter and looks like he is ready to become a dominant NBA force. Despite being left off the All-Star team, swingman Jalen Rose has solidified his status as an NBA superstar.
Disappointments: Power forward Austin Croshere was expected to step up this season as Dale Davis' replacement after a stellar performance in the playoffs last year. However, Croshere has struggled with his shot and has not looked like a legitimate starting power forward.
Prognosis: In Reggie Miller, Travis Best and Jalen Rose, the Pacers have the experience and talent to match anyone on the perimeter. If Croshere can bounce back in the second half, the Pacers will step up. They have the talent to beat anyone in the Eastern Conference if they start clicking.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers
Coach Randy Wittman's team is almost completely devoid of talent and has not been able to replace the contributions of even a grossly overweight Shawn Kemp. Losing center Zydrunas Ilgauskas to yet another foot injury has made replacing Kemp even more impossible. Point guard Andre Miller has continued his ascent to stardom, but he does not have the scoring ability to carry a team by himself.
Surprises: Newly acquired Clarence Weatherspoon has been a rebounding force.
Disappointments: Talented but overweight Robert Traylor has struggled playing out of position at center. First round pick center Chris Mihm has shown flashes, but he is not ready to replace Ilgauskas yet. Jimmy Jackson, who the Cavs acquired in exchange for point guard Brevin Knight, looks washed up.
Prognosis: The Cavs do not have the scoring ability to make a run at the playoffs. Unless either Traylor or Mihim can step up, the second half will be a very long one for the Cavs.

6. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons were not a very good team with Grant Hill, but without Hill, they are just plain ugly. Jerry Stackhouse has all the shots he every wanted and he is taking full advantage of this opportunity to shamelessly gun by making a run at the NBA scoring title.
Surprises: C/F Ben Wallace has been a rebounding and shotblocking force. Unfortunately, he has no offensive game beyond putbacks and dunks. Journeyman guard Dana Barros has provided solid scoring punch off the bench.
Disappointments: Free agent signee Joe Smith has hardly looked like he was worth anything close to the penalty that the Timbewolves incurred by trying to circumvent the salary cap to sign him.
Prognosis: This team is headed for the lottery, however, Jerry Stackhouse will remain content if he wins the scoring title.

7. Atlanta Hawks
For Atlanta head coach Lon Kruger, it must be all about the benjamins. Why else would Kruger leave an absolutely loaded Illinois Fighting Illini squad to take over a team with one of the most depleted rosters in the NBA? Still, the Hawks have some exciting young talent in guards Jason Terry and DerMarr Johnson, and valuable trade bait in All-Star center Dikembe Mutombo.
Surprises: Undersized off guard Jason Terry has developed into an explosive scorer in his second season. Freed from the responsbilities of running the team from the point position after the acquisition of point guard Brevin Knight, Terry can now concentrate on putting points on the board. Lorenzen Wright has bounced back from his disastrous first season with the Hawks and has made significant contributions inside the paint. Unheralded forward Roshown McLeod has chipped in a steady 10 points per game.
Disappointments: Forward Alan Henderson once appeared to have a very bright future in the league, but his game has stagnated in recent years. He has shown no improvement this season and is an inadequate starting NBA power forward.
Prognosis: This season is obviously a lost cause, but if Kruger can continue to develop young guards Johnson and Terry, the season will not be a total waste. If the Hawks can deal Mutombo to a contender for substantial value, they should definitely do it.

8. Chicago Bulls
All of "genius" GM Jerry Krause's wheeling and dealing has added up to the worst record in the Eastern Conference. Power forward Elton Brand has emerged has a solid 20 and 10 guy, but he gets virtually now help from his teammates or coach Tim Floyd, who is forced by Krause to keep the vaunted triangle offense, despite the fact that it is not well-suited for the current personnel on the team.
Surprises: Guard Ron Mercer was an afterthought in the free agent market, but has been a solid 20 ppg scorer for the Bulls. Second round pick Khalid El-Amin has outperformed many point guards picked higher than him in the draft. Power forward Michael Ruffin has been tough on the boards.
Disappointments: Lottery pick point guard Jamal Crawford has made absolutely no impact thus far this season. Fellow lottery pick Marcus Fizer has shot the ball poorly and looks like a classic tweener. Free agent signee Brad Miller has not been as effective a center for the Bulls as he was last season for the Hornets.
Prognosis: The Bulls have a solid core of young talent in Brand, Mercer and Ronald Artest.
This season is a total disaster, but if they can add a top player in next June's draft (Eddie Griffin? Yao Ming? Jason "I'm Staying for Four Years" Williams?) and a couple of savvy veterans the Bulls will be ok. However, they must be careful not to antagonize Brand, who could bolt after his contract expires at the end of next season.