2010 Eastern Conference capsules

(In predicted order of finish)

1. Orlando Magic

Coach: Stan Van Gundy (4th season)

Last year: 59-23

Newcomers: PG Chris Duhon, SF Quentin Richardson, PF Malik Allen, C Daniel Orton

Outlook: No team is better in the preseason than the Magic, which has won 21 straight exhibition games. Orlando will be playing in a new arena but using the same formula – C Dwight Howard, defense and outside shooting. SG Vince Carter is in the final year of his contract and might be more motivated than usual.

2. Miami Heat

Coach: Eric Spoelstra (3rd season)

Last year: 47-35

Newcomers: SF LeBron James, PF Chris Bosh, SF Mike Miller, SG Eddie House, C Zydrunas Ilgauskas, PF Juwan Howard

Outlook: This is a team that needs no introduction. The top three of SG Dwyane Wade, James and Bosh probably represent an unprecedented collection of talent. The supporting cast might have issues, though, especially with interior defense. SF Mike Miller will be out until January with a wrist injury.

3. Boston Celtics

Coach: Glenn “Doc” Rivers (7th season)

Last year: 50-32

Newcomers: C Shaquille O’Neal, C Jermaine O’Neal, SG Delonte West, PG Avery Bradley

Outlook: Just when it appeared the “Big Three” had rolled over the hill, the Celtics came alive to reach Game 7 of the Finals. By knocking off Cleveland in the second round, the Celtics helped create the Miami monster. Now can their aging stars, plus Shaq, step up and beat the Heat?

4. Bulls

Coach: Tom Thibodeau (1st season)

Last year: 41-41

Newcomers: PF Carlos Boozer, SG Ronnie Brewer, SG Kyle Korver, PG C.J. Watson, SG Keith Bogans, C Omer Asik, C Kurt Thomas, PF Brian Scalabrine

Outlook: The Bulls completed a thorough roster makeover this summer, adding height, outside shooting and a new coach to the mix. The final product won’t be available for viewing until Boozer recovers from a broken hand next month.

5. Atlanta Hawks

Coach: Larry Drew (1st season)

Last year: 53-29

Newcomers: PF Etan Thomas, PF Josh Powell, SG Jordan Crawford

Outlook: The Hawks forked over a ridiculous number of dollars to keep free-agent SG Joe Johnson. Whether that hefty investment makes them Finals contenders remains to be seen. This is essentially the same team that barely beat the short-handed Bucks in the playoffs.

6. Milwaukee Bucks

Coach: Scott Skiles (3rd season)

Last year: 46-36

Newcomers: SF Corey Maggette, PF Drew Gooden, SF Chris Douglas-Roberts, PG Earl Boykins, PG Keyon Dooling, PF Jon Brockman, C Larry Sanders

Outlook: The Bucks collected some scorers during the summer. Can those players be taught Scott Skiles’ brand of defense? Maggette and SG John Salmons missed most of the preseason with injuries, while C Andrew Bogut spent the summer recovering from his nasty post-dunk fall.

7. Charlotte Bobcats

Coach: Larry Brown (3rd season)

Last year: 44-38

Newcomers: PG Shawn Livingston, C Kwame Brown

Outlook: The Bobcats reached the playoffs for the first time and not much has changed, outside of PG Raymond Felton leaving for New York. D.J. Augustin will step in at point guard. Ex-Bull Tyrus Thomas led the Bobcats in scoring at 14.4 points during the preseason.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers

Coach: Byron Scott (1st season)

Last year: 61-21

Newcomers: PG Ramon Sessions, SF Joey Graham

Outlook: The Cavs didn’t do much during the summer besides compose a nasty letter to Miami defector LeBron James and burn some jerseys. They’ll be hoping PG Mo Williams and PF Antawn Jamison can bring enough to challenge for a low playoff seed. The defense was excellent in the preseason.

9. New York Knicks

Coach: Mike D’Antoni (3rd season)

Last year: 29-53

Newcomers: PF Amare Stoudemire, SG Raymond Felton, PG Roger Mason, PF Anthony Randolph, PF Ronny Turiaf, SG Kelenna Azubuike

Outlook: After going to so much trouble opening cap room, the Knicks landed Stoudemire and Felton, while trading PF David Lee to Golden State. There still are plenty of flaws to the roster, such as questionable point guards and no true center. New York will have more money to spend next year, though, when C Eddy Curry’s contract finally ends.

10. Detroit Pistons

Coach: John Kuester (2nd season)

Last year: 27-55

Newcomers: SF Tracy McGrady, C Greg Monroe

Outlook: The Pistons pointed to a spate of injuries as the reason they fared so poorly last season, but this is still a strange mix, with too many guards, no true point and weak interior defense. Second-year SF Austin Daye shot well from long-range in the preseason. Memo to Bulls fans: McGrady played a grand total of eight minutes in exhibition games.

11. Philadelphia 76ers

Coach: Doug Collins (1st season)

Last year: 27-55

Newcomers: SF Andres Nocioni, C Spencer Hawes, SF Darius Songaila, SG Evan Turner

Outlook: The Sixers went for broke by hiring Collins as head coach after the Bulls said no thanks. There has to be some concern about Collins missing time last week due to the aftereffects of a concussion he reportedly suffered in May. Turner, a Chicago-area native, should be fun to watch, but the Sixers don’t have a reliable player to lean on.

12. Washington Wizards

Coach: Flip Saunders (2nd season)

Last year: 26-56

Newcomers: PG John Wall, SG Kirk Hinrich, SF Yi Jianlian

Outlook: After moving most of their veterans last season, the Wizards have an interesting mix, with No. 1 pick Wall and ex-Bull Hinrich in the backcourt. Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee bring some intriguing talent to the inside positions. SF Josh Howard could return from a knee injury at midseason. More than anything, Washington needs some adult behavior from PG Gilbert Arenas.

13. Indiana Pacers

Coach: Jim O’Brien (4th season)

Last year: 32-50

Newcomers: PG Darren Collison, SF James Posey, SF Paul George

Outlook: The Pacers have been stuck in steady mediocrity for three years. They finally came up with a bold move late in the summer by acquiring Collison from New Orleans and sending C Troy Murphy to New Jersey. Collison should help, because T.J. Ford clearly wasn’t the answer.

14. New Jersey Nets

Coach: Avery Johnson (1st season)

Last year: 12-70

Newcomers: C Troy Murphy, SF Travis Outlaw, PG Jordan Farmar, SG Anthony Morrow, PF Joe Smith, PF Derrick Favors

Outlook: The Nets whiffed on the big free agents and settled on some low-priced additions. The primary goal now is to beat the Knicks to a trade for Denver’s Carmelo Anthony.

15. Toronto Raptors

Coach: Jay Triano (3rd season)

Last year: 40-42

Newcomers: SG Leandro Barbosa, SF Linas Kleiza, SF Julian Wright, C David Andersen, PF Ed Davis

Outlook: Last year’s plan of building a team that would convince Chris Bosh to stay in Toronto was a miserable failure. So landing high in the draft lottery this season sounds like a smarter idea. Top draft pick Davis is recovering from knee surgery.