McGraw’s Eastern Conference rankings
Bulls beat writer Mike McGraw ranks the Eastern Conference contenders:
1. Miami Heat
Last year: 58-24
Players added: SF Shane Battier
Players lost: PG Mike Bibby, C Zydrunas Ilgauskas, C Jamaal Magloire
Outlook: Heat is still the team to be as long as the Power Trio stays intact, but the team still has questions at PG (Mario Chalmers) and C (Joel Anthony).
2. Bulls
Last year: 62-20
Players added: SG Richard Hamilton
Players lost: SG Keith Bogans, C Kurt Thomas
Outlook: If chemistry and cohesion counts for anything in the condensed lockout season, the Bulls should be in good shape with just two new players (Hamilton and rookie Jimmy Butler).
3. Boston Celtics
Last year: 56-26
Players added: PF Brandon Bass, G Keyon Dooling, PF Chris Wilcox
Players lost: SF Jeff Green (illness), PF Glen Davis, C Shaquille O’Neal, C Troy Murphy, C Nenad Krstic
Outlook: The Celtics traded Davis and Kendrick Perkins; Green will miss the season with a heart issue. Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are now 36, 35, and 34, respectively. A recharge seems unlikely.
4. Philadelphia 76ers
Last year: 41-41
Players added: None
Players lost: SG Jason Kapono
Outlook: The Sixers have some promising young players and made almost no changes. Maybe the biggest question is whether Doug Collins can push this group beyond its potential.
5. New York Knicks
Last year: 42-40
Players added: C Tyson Chandler, PG Baron Davis, PG Mike Bibby
Players lost: PG Chauncey Billups
Outlook: Chandler is a nice addition, but don’t forget his career averages are 8.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. Everyone in the backcourt is either over the hill or brand new.
6. Indiana Pacers
Last year: 37-45
Players added: PF David West, G George Hill
Players lost: SG Brandon Rush, PF Josh McRoberts, PG T.J. Ford, SG Mike Dunleavy
Outlook: As evidence by last year’s first-round playoff series against the Bulls, Indiana has potential to be pesky, and coach Frank Vogel is intriguing. Even with West and Hill, though, Pacers still lack a few pieces.
7. Atlanta Hawks
Last year: 44-38
Players added: SF Tracy McGrady, PF Vladimir Radmanovich, SG Willie Green
Players lost: SG Jamal Crawford
Outlook: The Hawks made it to the second round of the playoffs, but can they really take another step forward with this group? Emergence of PG Jeff Teague will help.
8. Orlando Magic
Last year: 52-30
Players added: PF Glen Davis, SG Larry Hughes
Players lost: PG Gilbert Arenas
Outlook: This team seems defeated already, since all-star C Dwight Howard wants out. Orlando was in the Finals three years ago, but things changed quickly.