2012-2013 NBA Odds and Picks: Southeast Division Predictions – Miami Heat the Favorite: Last season, the Southeast Division produced three playoff teams, including the eventual champion Miami Heat. It will be hard pressed to repeat in 2012-13 as postseason regulars Atlanta and Orlando saw their best players depart in free agency. With the Heat as loaded as ever, the Southeast Division could end up becoming the most top heavy in the Eastern Conference and possibly the NBA. In fact, it is debatable whether or not the division will even get two teams in the playoffs. With that in mind, here is a look at how the Southeast Division shakes out of for the 2012-13 NBA season.
2012-2013 NBA Vegas Odds and Picks: Southeast Division Predictions
1. Miami Heat
Honestly, Miami could run out LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and a couple of fans and win this division. Instead, the Heat have key contributors Mario Chalmers, Shane Battier and Udonis Haslem back from last year’s team. Not to mention that they added some serious perimeter firepower in Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. With James, Wade and Bosh attacking the basket and forcing constant double teams, the last thing this team needed was more shooters. You can’t crown them NBA champions just yet, but go ahead and give them the division.
2. Atlanta Hawks
While Joe Johnson was massively overpaid, he will be missed in Atlanta. The Hawks now have to find a new go-to scorer in clutch spots, as well as a second scoring option to support Josh Smith. That being said, this team still has some quality parts. Al Horford is a steady performer in the post, and Jeff Teague showed a lot of promise at the point guard spot. Meanwhile, offseason additions of Anthony Morrow, Lou Williams, Kyle Korver and Devin Harris will provide some perimeter scoring and depth off the bench. Yes, the Hawks lost their best player in Johnson, but they replaced him with enough quality pieces to remain in the playoff conversation.
3. Washington Wizards
An injury to point guard John Wall is far from ideal, but the Wizards appear to be heading in the right direction after some rough years. They have seriously upgraded their frontcourt by adding Nene Hilario and Emeka Okafor, and the added some perimeter punch by drafting Bradley Beal. Meanwhile, second-year players Jan Vesely and Chris Singleton and third-year players Trevor Booker and Jordan Crawford are all improving and should contribute quality minutes. The playoffs aren’t in the picture just yet, but depending on the development of Beal and Vesely, the Wizards could approach the .500 mark.
4. Charlotte Bobcats
Whether or not rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist becomes a star remains to be seen, but he certainly isn’t going to do enough to transform a Charlotte team that just set the record for worst winning percentage into any kind of a contender in 2012-13. Outside of Kidd-Gilchrist, second-year players Kemba Walker and Bismack Biyombo are the team’s most promising players, and both have a lot of developing left to do. Ben Gordon and Ramon Sessions were decent offseason additions, but both are better suited as role players rather than guys that have to carry the load. The Bobcats still have a long way to go.
5. Orlando Magic
Orlando basically traded away Dwight Howard for nothing, leaving behind a roster that is just plain ugly. The Magic are going into the 2012-13 season with Glen Davis and Jameer Nelson as their main scoring options, and that isn’t a good thing. On the plus side, they are going to have a lot of ping pong balls in next year’s draft lottery. Orlando needs to hope that all the cap space that was freed up in the offseason leads to some big free agent signings down the road.
2012-13 Odds to Win NBA Southeast Division
Miami Heat -2000
Atlanta Hawks +1800
Orlando Magic +8000
Washington Wizards +8500
Charlotte Bobcats +25000
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