TEAM TO BEAT:

Miami Heat is yet the team to beat on Southeast division. Even after the heartbreak first round elimination last season on last second, Miami is the major treat on this division and conference. Mixing the new and the old Miami have now the mastermind "The Professor" Gm Proid as their new GM after Tmac’s departure. Starting lineup Randolph, Gay, Beal and Walker can make 15 or more points per game, off the bench Nate Robinson can bring some gas while Garnett and Pierce can bring their experience to help this team to become a winner team.


KEY STORY LINE:

Can Atlanta Hawks finally make the playoffs? After few years of Derrick Rose as their corner stone and yet fail to make a playoff appearance, Atlanta has a new face. D Wade and Chris Bosh. The new gm is now anger to win, and he has the best starting lineup of the conference to do so. Can this win now strategy survive the most competitive conference of the NLL?

FIVE BEST PLAYERS:

1-   Heat SF Rudy Gay

Rudy Gay is the new acquisition of Miami Heat. Rudy is on his last year contract and will prove himself even more to make another millionaire deal in Miami. It`s quite easy for him even on really bad nights he could make 15 points per game. On Heat super scoring squad Rudy will be almost unstoppable.

2-   Hawks PF Chris Bosh

Bosh this year join up his good friend D Wade in Atlanta, to finally make Atlanta`s playoffs dream possible. Despite the terrible performance on preseason with only 7 points per game and terrible shooting we all now Bosh is a real superstar and will return to normal.

3-  Hawks C Al Jefferson

Atlanta Big Al came to Atlanta on march and will make a unstoppable duo with Chris Bosh inside of the paint. Last season Big Al made 17 points per game in 20 games, Unable to give any help to playoffs fight, this year Big Al has company

4-   Wizards SF Gordon Hayward

Gordon has to do a miracle in Washington.  Bring this team back to light. Gordon has a amazing future but the Wizards as a team have a lot to prove.

5-   Hawks PG Kyle Lowry

After Philadelphia and Brooklyn Kyle Lowry somehow end up in Atlanta. This year with way better team Kyle can bring his speed and outside game will give however don`t respect Atlanta a lot of trouble.

SLEEPER(S):

Magic with Embid and Rubio out and Hornets without nobody relevant to carry the load are candidates this year once again to stay out the playoffs. A very small chance still are on the hands of the former champs Wizards. They have a strong lineup with Gordon Hayward, Sullinger and Thomas and off the bench they have the explosive guard, Brandon Jennings. If gm Darko follows Johnny Walker`s “stay calm, keep walking, philosophy, they can slowly make a surprise appearance on this year playoffs.

BREAKOUT STAR:

Brandon Jennings on preseason showed that he is once again a offensive force in this league. Last year Brandon was really out of his normal shooting only 34% and making  almost 7 points less than he made one year ago in Orlando. He spent almost half of the season on the bench and became a problem for gm Darko to solve. On this preseason Brandon is back on track, he was 24 points per game  and 6 assists in 9 games. But yet with Isaiah Thomas coming Jennings was once again benched to the start of the season. Is time to prove himself on the real season.

BEST NEWCOMERS:

D. Wade for leaving the Brooklyn Nets to Atlanta Hawks if he stays healthy Atlanta will fight for the 7^th or 8^th seed on the East. Isaiah Thomas from West side to help the Wizards to breathe some air this season.  And of course Rudy Gay from Chicago to Miami Heat will certainly maintain Heat reign on this division.

PREDICTIONS:

It’s easy to say Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks will fight for the division title and the 4^th spot on the playoffs. One of this two will have 50 wins or more the other one will fight for the 7^th or 8^th seed. On third place Wizards need to do an amazing job to even make the 8^th seed. On other hand not much can tell about Magic and Hornets, they will once again fight for the best draft pick next season.