I know it is cliché, but the Boston Celtics are another year older, and another year closer to retirement. However, they are still the team to beat in the Atlantic Division. The Nets and Knicks both made improvements in the off-season. The Raptors have a lot of promising young pieces. The 76ers will again have trouble winning games.
Boston Celtics
Rajon Rondo (ADP: 16) is one of the best players in the NBA… when he is asked to play a complimentary role. His turnovers and FG% will suffer as a result of being asked to do too much for the Celtics offense this year. Rondo will be very good, but is going too early in fantasy drafts this year.
New York Knicks
Raymond Felton (ADP: 57) got traded from the Bobcats to the Knickerbockers in the offseason. These are the type of moves that can completely change a career. This will be the first time in Felton’s career that he has had legitimate offensive weapons to utilize. I am predicting 17 points, 8 assists, 1.5 threes, 1.5 steals, 4 rebounds … Felton should easily out play his ADP.
New Jersey Nets
Terrence Williams (ADP: 116) – Iguodala-lite was exactly that in his rookie campaign. In the 34 games Williams played 25 minutes or more, he averaged 13.4 points, 7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.6 threes, 0.6 steals. Those are the type of numbers you should expect from Williams in 2010-11. That will definitely surpass his ADP of 116. I would have labeled him a “super sleeper” if the Nets didn’t pay $4 billion for Travis Outlaw. Instead, Williams will just hold the label of “solid sleeper” in 2010-11.
Toronto Raptors
DeMar DeRozan (ADP: 160+) has to take it to the next level if the Raptors are going to win a reasonable amount of games this year. By reasonable, I mean over 25. The Raptors are going to be one of the highest tempo teams in the league, and someone has to score for them. This may sound ridiculous now, but I think DeRozan could challenge Bargnani as the team’s leading scorer. DeRozan got a great NBA education in his rookie season, starting 65 of the 77 games he played. Now he is ready to become an upper-tier scorer. If you are looking for points from the late rounds of your draft, DeRozan is DeMan for you.
Philadelphia 76ers
Evan Turner (ADP: 86) is getting hated on by a lot of people, and it is very surprising to me. Rookies like Turner are generally overhyped coming out of college, but that’s just not the case here. I would be happy to take a chance on Turner at any pick after 75. I would not be surprised to see 12 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, with nearly 2 steals to boot.
Complete Team-by-Team Breakdown: 2010-11 Atlantic Division Preview
