Fifty Peso Previews NBA 2011-12: Southeast Division

Atlanta Hawks

Major Additions: Tracy McGrady, Jerry Stackhouse
Major Subtractions: Jamal Crawford


     The Hawks decided to keep the nucleus of their team, gaining McGrady while losing 6th man Crawford, in the hopes that yet another year of playing together will finally be "it" for this team that has played together for years.  The Hawks, however, are still a team that struggles mightily against good defensive teams.  Unless Josh Smith decides to completely reach his potential and Joe Johnson defies father time, the Hawks may be doomed to yet another loss in the playoffs.


Fearless Forecast: Eliminated in the playoffs (2nd round)

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Fifty Peso Previews: 2010-11 NBA Southeast Division

     First of all, many thanks to those who voted and supported me as I competed for Lifestyle Network's CLash of the Toque-en Ones.  I've made it to the top 2 finals and I have one more showdown to win before I realize my 25-year dream of having my own cooking show.


     Now, it's time to continue my long-delayed NBA 2010-11 Season Previews, this time featuring the NBA's Southeast Division. As usual, we're honored to have hitmaker Toto Sorioso providing our teams' theme songs for the year.


Atlanta Hawks 

Major Additions: Josh Powell, Etan Thomas
Major Subtractions: None

Improving every season for the past 5, it would seem the Hawks should go for a title run this season.  Their line up is young and talented and most of the core players have been signed up for the long haul.  Somehow, though, the Hawks won't make it any farther this year.  Their offense remains stagnant at times and one has to remember that both playoff appearances by the Hawks in the past two years ended in ugly, 4-game sweeps.  They need to show added maturity and unselfishness if they don't want to be known as just a good regular season team.  


Fearless Forecast: Eliminated in the playoffs (2nd round)
Toto's Theme Song: GIve Me One Reason (Tracy Chapman)


Charlotte Bobcats

Major Additions: None
Major Subtractions: Raymond Felton


Bobcats fans must be ready to be masochists.  Despite new owner Michael Jordan's proclamations about wanting to win, the Bobcats have not added to their roster which barely made the playoffs for the first time last year.  Then, they went ahead and let starter Raymond Felton go to the Knicks.  It looks to be a tough year for the Bobcats and it will be a struggle yet again to make the playoffs.


Fearless Forecast: Eliminated in the regular season
Toto's Theme Song: Love the Way You Lie (Eminem feat. Rihanna)


Miami Heat

Major Additions: Lebron James, Chris Bosh, Mike Miller
Major Subtractions: Michael Beasley


All talk has been on the Heat and their trio of superstars, with many predicting immediate multiple championships and challenging the Bulls' 72-10 win loss record.  It's been a rough start for Miami and it's not all about needing time to gel.  The Heat are very thin up front and in the playoffs that may be exposed, like the way the Celtics have done, twice already.  The Heat need tougher play underneath or they will come up short.  They will dominate the regular season but they need to handle their business down low if they want to challenge history.


Fearless Forecast: At least Conference semi-finals 
Toto's Theme Song: The Club Can't Handle Me Ryt Now (Flo Rida feat. David Guetta)


Orlando Magic

Major Additions: Chris Duhon
Major Subtractions: None


Orlando had a great record last year but disappointed many by losing to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.  Instead of blowing up the team, the Magic decided to give the team one more year together.  Will the added year make them play better?  What the Magic needs is stepped up play from both VInce Carter and Rashard Lewis as Dwight Howard cannot do it alone.  Once those two step up and not disappear like last year, the Magic can go all the way to the Finals once again.


Fearless Forecast: At least Conference Semi Finals
Toto's Theme Song: Magic (B.O.B.)


Washington Wizards

Major Additions: John Wall, Yi Jian Lian, Kirk Hinrich
Major Subtractions: None


What a mess the Wizards were last year.  This year, with a new face to the franchise, the Wizards can probably look forward to a less chaotic year.  Winning, however, will not be as automatic.  Wizards need their mercurial but talented players Gilbert Arenas and Andray Blatche to buy into Coach Flip Saunders' system if they want bring the Wizards to playoff contention, which is definitely easier said than done with these two guys.


Fearless Forecast: Eliminated in the regular season
Toto's Theme Song: Reset (Charice)

Delusions

     I don't smoke, I have never and will never get near illegal drugs (take that Floyd Mayweather!) and I hardly drink anymore.  That's why it's hard to imagine that I would ever get moments of insanity or delusion.  These sports developments, however, had me second guessing myself a bit.

• We all know about the top 4 teams of the NBA's Eastern Conference, and it's already quite a surprise that Atlanta is third, not Boston.  The real clincher?  Take a gander at the fifth and sixth seed.  Perennial whipping boys Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Bobcats are deep into the playoff race and they seem to settling in.  Wow.

•  Say goodbye to Purefoods. After winning the PBA Philippine Cup Championship, the Tender Juicy Giants are changing names.  While it's tough to not see the name Purefoods in the roster of PBA teams, what really takes the cake is the name they're changing into.  From now on (hopefully only this conference), they will be known as the B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados.  That's right.  That's the name.  That's a big mouthful.  Of livestock feed.  Goodness.

• In a doubles exhibition match with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, "legends" Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, armed with aging bodies and wireless mics, proceeded to have a highly uncomfortable, supposedly funny and good-natured ribbing that turned into a horrible PR nightmare.  What started as a funny Sampras imitation of Agassi turned into Agassi calling Sampras a cheapskate and Pete serving a ball straight into Agassi.  What's worse than two great tennis players in an immature bickering match?  Two RETIRED former great players in an immature bickering match in a charity event.  Yeesh.

• Manny Pacquiao is surely the biggest sports icon in our country today.  Maybe ever.  So what does it say that the best and most comprehensive story on the Philippines' National Fist was written by an American (Andrew Corsello) for the American GQ magazine?  Don't believe me?  Read the article here.

Fifty Peso Previews: NBA's Southeast Division

Rounding out the NBA's Eastern Conference is the Southeast Division, home of the defending Eastern Conference Champs, the Orlando Magic.  Are the Magic the only good team in this conference?

Atlanta Hawks

Last Season: Eliminated in the playoffs (2nd round) by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Key New Additions: Jamal Crawford, Joe Smith
Projected Starters: Mike Bibby, Joe Johnson, Marvin Williams, Josh Smith, Al Horford

     The Hawks got a huge monkey off their backs when they got to the playoffs since the Mutombo era two seasons ago.  Since then, the Hawks, despite their ownership woes, seem to want to do better.  Re-signing their vital cogs Smith and Bibby was definitely a sign that the Hawks want to compete this year, and compete they certainly will.  With the addition of the streak shooting Crawford to an already respectable bench, look for the Hawks to be an even better scoring team.  Their biggest chance for success though will depend on their defense and Mike Woodson is all over that.  The question mark will be Josh Smith, since his dynamic defensive abilities to block, steal and rebound (when he wants to) will be the key to making the Hawks a credible defensive team.  If Smith somehow works well with Woodson (with no drama this time), then the Hawks will have a chance to actually be threats in the playoffs, rather than get swept again in the second round.

Fearless Forecast: Eliminated in the playoffs (2nd round)

Charlotte Bobcats

Last Year: Failed to make playoffs
Key New Additions: Tyson Chandler, Flip Murray
Projected Starters: Raymond Felton, Raja Bell, Gerald Wallace, Boris Diaw, Tyson Chandler

Part owner Michael Jordan is as good a basketball executive as he was a baseball player.  His moves have left the Bobcats with an uneven line up over the years, and the trades pulled off last season and over the summer not only failed to correct that, but they also left the Bobcats older and more injury-prone.  Trading the oft-injured Emeka Okafor for an even more oft-injured Tyson Chandler is the final nail on the coffin of the Bobcats' playoff chances. This mish mash of a team may play some good games throughout the season by virtue of versatile stars Wallace and Diaw, but it really doesn't look good for the Bobcats and its coach Larry Brown.  If they do any significant strides towards the playoffs, then Brown deserves a Nobel prize because they are a lost cause.

Fearless Forecast: Eliminated in the regular season.

Miami Heat

Last Season: Eliminated in playoffs (1st round) by the Atlanta Hawks
Key New Additions: Quentin Richardson
Projected Starters: Daequan Cook, Dwayne Wade, Michael Beasley, Udonis Haslem, Jermaine O"Neal

For a team trying to convince Dwayne Wade to stay with them next year, the Miami Heat sure didn't do much.  Acquiring Quentin Richardson doesn't do much to augment the Heat, as their bench continues to be very weak.  Moving Beasley to small forward will help  their starters' offensive sets, but don't be surprised if Wade contends for another scoring title, and the Heat get eliminated from the playoffs.  Filipino American coach Erik Spoelstra must find help for Wade if he wants the Heat anywhere near playoff contention.

Fearless Forecast: Eliminated in the regular season

Orlando Magic

Last Year: Lost in the Finals to the L.A. Lakers
Key New Additions: Vince Carter, Matt Barnes, Jason Williams, Brandon Bass
Projected Starters: Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, Mikael Pietrus, Brandon Bass (for the 1st 10 games), Dwight Howard

     In what could only be described as an arms race, the Magic responded to the Cavs' and Celtics' improvements by acquiring talent.  Lots of it.  With ownership willing to shed dough, the Magic's revamped line up features a team two deep at every position and trouble for all opponents.  The Magic now possesses more three point shooters, a legitimate power forward (with power), and an end game scorer in Carter.  While the Cavs feel entitled enough to print their finals tickets already, the Magic seem to be the ones destined for another crack at the title.

Fearless Forecast: At least Eastern Conference Finals

Washington Wizards

Last Year: Failed to make playoffs
Key New Additions: Randy Foye, Mike Miller
Projected Starters: Gilbert Arenas, Mike Miller, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, Brendan Haywood

     The Wizards, marred by a myriad of injuries, especially on superstar Arenas, have had a miserable last season.  This year, things are looking up for Washington as Arenas is supposedly fully healthy.  To further add flame to their already potentially red-hot offensive trio of Arenas, Butler and Jamison, they have traded for sharp shooter Miller and combo guard Randy Foye.  What makes all this explosive is the hiring of new coach Flip Saunders, one of the league's most innovative offensive coaches.  That's why Wizards fans are optimistic, as this year promises a high scoring playoff year for the Wizards.  Look for the Wizards to reclaim their 5th spot in the playoff race.

Fearless Forecast: Eliminated in Playoffs (2nd round)