NBA Predictions - Atlantic Division

1.Boston Celtics
61-21 (previously 67-15)

Believe it or not, the Celtics actually UNDERACHIEVED last season. they should've won 68 games (according to my edition of Pythagorean Wins*).

The champs had a very vanilla offseason. Basically, the only things they did was let go of James Posey and add Darius Miles (signing miles actually made their team WORSE. he was THAT bad last year).

This offseason they got 6.9 wins worse, but again, they should've won 68 games last season.

In conclusion, the celtics shoul go 61-21 this upcoming season.

2.Philadelphia 76er's
52-30 (previously 40-42)

The 76er's underachieved by 1 game last season. They should've been an even 41-41.

Philly had an eventful offseason. They acquired Elton Brand, Royal Ivey, Kareem Rush, Theo Ratliff, and Donyell Marshall all in free agency. In addition to that, they drafted Maressee Speights out of Florida. They traded Rodney Carney and Calvin Booth to Minnesota, and released a flurry of meaningless players.

Overall, they improved 11 games this offseason, and should've gone 41-41 last year.

In conclusion, the Sixers should go 52-30 next season.

3.Toronto Raptors
44-38 (previously 41-41).

Last year the Raptors underachieved badly. They should've been 50-32.

The NBA's candian representative made a bonehead move this offseason, basically trading 7.4 wins contributed last season for a piece that averages 5.8 wins contributed on healthy years. On top of this, they lost Delfino (the 5th most contributing player on last year's team) to Europe. They didn't make any spectacular free agent signings. They did NOT have a good offseason.

The Raptors made themselves worse this summer. 5.8 wins worse to be exact. However, they should've won 50 games last year.

In conclusion, even though the Raptors worsened their team, they should exceed last years actual win total by 3 games.

4.New Jersey Nets
33-49 (previously 34-48)

The Nets were overachievers last season. They were supposed to win only 27 games.

New Jersey had a very, VERY eventful offseason. They added 8 players (most noticeably Brook Lopez, Yi Jianlian, Keyon Dooling and Eduardo Najera) and lost 5 (most noticeably Richard Jefferson).

The Nets improved during the summer by 6 games, but should've won only 27 last winter.

In conlusion, even though New Jersey got better, they should be one win worse than their actual record last year.

5.New York Knicks
24-58 (previously 23-59)

As bad as the team at Madison Square was last season, they actually managed to do better than they were supposed to. They should've gone 20-62.

New York added 4 players (most noticeably Chris Duhon and Danilo Gallinari) and lost 3 (most noticeably Renaldo Balkman).

Due to their lack of releasing players and making smart acquisitions, the Knicks improved themself by 4 wins this offseason.

In conclusion, the New York Knickerbockers should win 24 games this season.

*- The formula for pythagorean wins is,

82 x (team pts^14/ (team pts^14 + opp. pts^14)

My version of pythag wins doesnt use team pts and opposing pts, but instead uses Team O.Rating and Team D.Rating.