NBA Southeast Division Preview 2006-2007

It's been back-to-back division titles for the Miami Heat, who followed up last year's crown with an impressive playoff run and an NBA Championship. With the core of last year's team returning, Miami still looks to be the favorite in the Southeast, though last year's runner-up Washington and developing Orlando will try and give chase.

Miami Heat
2005-06 Results: 52-30, 1st Place Southeast Division, NBA Champions

The Heat made essentially zero changes in the off-season; with no draft picks and no major signings, their activities were limited to brining a handful of undrafted rookies for training camp. But, coming off an NBA Championship, with Finals MVP Dwyane Wade only 24 and veterans Alonzo Mourning and Gary Payton opting to return, little change was necessary.

Heading into the 2006-07 season, Miami has to be considered a dominant favorite in the Southeast Division, and in the Eastern Conference as a whole. With Detroit hurt by the loss of Ben Wallace and New Jersey still a level behind, no Eastern Conference team has Miami's talent or playoff experience.

The only worry for the Heat is age and injuries. Shaquille O'Neal must stay reasonably healthy, and a major injury to Wade would be catastrophic. Beyond that, it's hard to see any of the Southeast contenders denying the Heat their third consecutive division title.

Projected Finish: First

Orlando Magic
2005-06 Results: 36-46, 3rd Place Southeast Division

The Magic finished strong a year ago, with a 16-6 closing stretch that brought Orlando to the brink of playoff contention. The trade that netted Detroit center Darko Milicic gives Orlando more frontcourt depth than any team in the division; Darko looked solid down the stretch a year ago, and Dwight Howard is one of the NBA's best young big men. Sharpshooter Hedo Turkoglu and young guards Jameer Nelson and rookie J.J. Redick can provide outside scoring and prevent defenses from collapsing on the Magic big men.

It's widely surmised that Orlando is saving cap room for next off-season, perhaps to go after Vince Carter or another high-priced free agent. This season, a young team built around budding superstar Dwight Howard will be entertaining and tough, but still too young and too flawed to seriously contend. The division title seems unlikely, but an over-.500 season would make Orlando an intriguing destination for next summer's crop of free agents.

Projected Finish: Second

Washington Wizards
2005-06 Results: 42-40, 2nd Place Southeast Division, lost to Cleveland in Eastern Conference 1st Round

Third-team All-NBA guard Gilbert Arenas led the Wizards to their second consecutive playoff berth a year ago, where Washington lost a hard-fought six-game series to LeBron James and the Cavaliers. In the off-season, Washington lost versatile swingman Jared Jeffries to the Knicks, but added DeShawn Stevenson from Orlando and Darius Songaila from the Bulls.

Stevenson will replace Jeffries' scoring (Jeffries averaged less than 7 points per game), but Jeffries will be missed on defense. The Wizards struggled defensively a year ago, ranking 21st in the NBA in points allowed and 23rd in opposition field goal percentage. Their defensive struggles were highlighted in back-to-back overtime losses to close out the Cleveland series, during which the Wizards simply could not make stops when they needed to.

With a lack of size and depth in the frontcourt, Washington's defensive struggles may worsen this season. There is enough offense to go around, but the defense will prevent the Wizards from reaching the 50-win plateau, and possibly a third straight playoff berth.

Projected Finish: Third

Charlotte Bobcats
2005-06 Results: 25-56, 4th Place (tie) Southeast Division

Another interesting young squad, Charlotte has stockpiled talented young players. Center Emeka Okafor, power forward Sean May, small forward Adam Morrison, and guards Raymond Felton and Gerald Wallace will be an outstanding starting five - someday.

But Morrison is a rookie (albeit the consensus pre-season pick for Rookie of the Year), May played limited minutes a year ago, and Okafor and Felton are still developing. With cap room to spend next summer, the Bobcats could get real good, real fast. This season, Charlotte fans will have to enjoy the continued growth of UNC products May and Felton, but playoff contention still seems at least a year away.

Projected Finish: Fourth

Atlanta Hawks
2005-06 Results: 25-56, 4th Place (tie) Southeast Division

Possibly the league's worst franchise, the Hawks did little in the off-season to improve their fortunes. Second-leading scorer Al Harrington went to Indiana, and first-round pick Shelden Williams won't replace him, at least this season. The addition of point guard Speedy Claxton was much-needed (but Claxton is now hurt and may miss the beginning of the season; healthy or not, he won't make Hawks fans forget the decision to bypass Chris Paul).

Atlanta has some youth, some scoring, but not enough talent and not enough defense (the Hawks ranked 26th in points allowed a year ago). If Josh Smith or Salim Stoudamire can become a dependable second option behind Joe Johnson, the Hawks may get to 30 wins. But for a franchise that hasn't won more than 35 games in nine seasons, the progress will remain entirely too slow.

Projected Finish: Fifth