2009-10 Outlook
For the Celtics to put up 62 wins a season ago despite the injury woes and lack of depth they possessed was remarkable, almost as impressive as the title run they made the season prior. Missing Kevin Garnett for most of the second half of the season, Boston did more than hold its own and was extremely competitive in the Eastern Conference Finals loss to Orlando. One of the good things that developed for the Celtics was the improvement of players like Glen Davis. Now, with Rasheed Wallace in the mix to add post presence in the playoffs, a healthy Celtics team is clearly a threat to the East title again.

Sportsbook.com odds to win NBA Title: +500
Sportsbook.com Regular Season Win Prop: Over/Under 58
StatFox Steve's Take: As much as I like the Celtics and the addition of Wallace, 58 is an extremely high number for a team relying so heavily on aging vets. Pass.

NEW JERSEY NETS
Head Coach: Lawrence Frank
Conference: Eastern
Division: Atlantic (2008-09: 3rd)
2008-09 Regular Season Record: 34-48 SU (-3.9 ML Units), 43-38 ATS

StatFox Outplay Factor Rating: -2.7 (#21 of 30)
StatFox Power Rating: 94 (#16 of 30)

2008-09 Reg. Season Stats & Ranks
Category: Team (Off) (Rank), Opp (Def) (Rank)
Scoring: 98.1 (20), 100.5 (17)
Scoring Margin: -2.4 (21)
Points Per Possession: 1.297 (15), 1.330 (23)
Field Goal Pct.: 44.8% (24), 46.3% (19)
3PT Field Goal Pct.: 37.6% (9), 39.1% (29)
Free Throw Pct.: 77.9% (12), 76.2% (10)
Rebound Differential: -1.59 (25)
Assists/Game: 20.0 (26), 21.9 (23)
Turnovers/Game: 12.4 (9), 12.8 (20)

2008-09 Situational Records: W-L (Pct)
Overall ATS: 43-38 (53%)
at Home ATS: 20-20 (50%)
on Road ATS: 23-18 (56%)
vs. East ATS: 31-20 (61%)
vs. West ATS: 12-18 (40%)
vs. Division ATS: 10-5 (67%)
as Favorite ATS: 11-12 (48%)
as Underdog ATS: 32-26 (55%)
in Playoffs ATS: 0-0 (0%)
Over-Under: 42-39 (52%)

Offseason Player Movement
Additions: PG Rafer Alston, PF Tony Battie, SG Courtney Lee, SG Terrence Williams
Subtractions: SG Vince Carter
Projected Starting Lineup: • F Sean Williams • F Yi Jianlian • C Brook Lopez • G Courtney Lee • G Devin Harris 

Top StatFox Team Power Trends

2009-10 Outlook
At one point last season, the Nets were at .500, 19-19. From there, they finished 15-29, no where near the playoff picture. The lone bright spot to emerge from the season-ending fade was the play of PG Devin Harris, who is quickly becoming a star in this league. For '09-10, he will be joined in the backcourt by Courtney Lee, now famous for his missed NBA Finals Game 2 lay up. He is certianly more than that however, and could be a dynamic contributor for the Nets immediately. Since May, the franchise saw the departure of Vince Carter, the lone mainstay still left from the finals teams of the mid-decade.

Sportsbook.com odds to win NBA Title: +10000
Sportsbook.com Regular Season Win Prop: Over/Under 28
StatFox Steve's Take: This Nets' team lost 29 of 44 games down the stretch of '08-09 with the bulk of the roster it will take into this season in place. Leaning UNDER.

NEW YORK KNICKS
Head Coach: Mike D'Antoni
Conference: Eastern
Division: Atlantic (2008-09: 5th)
2008-09 Regular Season Record: 32-50 SU (-10.2 ML Units), 47-34 ATS

StatFox Outplay Factor Rating: -2.7 (#22 of 30)
StatFox Power Rating: 94 (#16 of 30)

2008-09 Reg. Season Stats & Ranks
Category: Team (Off) (Rank), Opp (Def) (Rank)
Scoring: 105.2 (4), 107.8 (28)
Scoring Margin: -2.6 (22)
Points Per Possession: 1.291 (19), 1.332 (24)
Field Goal Pct.: 44.5% (28), 48.0% (28)
3PT Field Goal Pct.: 36.0% (20), 35.1% (6)
Free Throw Pct.: 78.4% (10), 75.8% (6)
Rebound Differential: -4.37 (28)
Assists/Game: 21.2 (11), 21.6 (22)
Turnovers/Game: 13.9 (19), 13.9 (10)

2008-09 Situational Records: W-L (Pct)
Overall ATS: 47-34 (58%)
at Home ATS: 21-20 (51%)
on Road ATS: 26-14 (65%)
vs. East ATS: 27-24 (53%)
vs. West ATS: 20-10 (67%)
vs. Division ATS: 6-9 (40%)
as Favorite ATS: 10-13 (43%)
as Underdog ATS: 37-21 (64%)
in Playoffs ATS: 0-0 (0%)
Over-Under: 37-45 (45%)

Offseason Player Movement
Additions: PF Jordan Hill, PF Darko Milicic, SG Sun Yue
Subtractions: SF Quentin Richardson, PF Chris Wilcox
Projected Starting Lineup: • F David Lee • F Wilson Chandler • C Eddy Curry • G Larry Hughes • G Chris Duhon 

Top StatFox Team Power Trends

2009-10 Outlook
While not a playoff season in New York, Knicks' fans had to be pleased with the effort and improvement shown by their team in the first year of the Mike D'Antoni era. His up-tempo style brought a welcomed change to the Garden, as New York finished 4th in the NBA in scoring at 105.2 PPG, and also rewarded their backers with a 47-34 ATS mark. They played particularly well on the road and against the Western Conference, teams that D'Antoni was familiar with from his days in Phoenix. Looking ahead to '09-10, only subtle changes can be found, which should help build continuity, a phrase that had been lost on this franchise for many years prior.

Sportsbook.com odds to win NBA Title: +10000
Sportsbook.com Regular Season Win Prop: Over/Under 30.5
StatFox Steve's Take:: I like this team a lot more than their rivals across the river the Nets, and feel they are much better than the 2.5 wins that oddsmakers separate them by. OVER.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
Head Coach: Eddie Jordan
Conference: Eastern
Division: Atlantic (2008-09: 2nd)
2008-09 Regular Season Record: 41-41 SU (-10.6 ML Units), 36-43 ATS

StatFox Outplay Factor Rating: -0.3 (#16 of 30)
StatFox Power Rating: 92 (#23 of 30)

2008-09 Reg. Season Stats & Ranks
Category: Team (Off) (Rank), Opp (Def) (Rank)
Scoring: 97.4 (22), 97.3 (11)
Scoring Margin: +0.1 (15)
Points Per Possession: 1.287 (20), 1.289 (14)
Field Goal Pct.: 45.9% (10), 46.2% (18)
3PT Field Goal Pct.: 31.8% (30), 36.7% (17)
Free Throw Pct.: 74.5% (25), 78.2% (25)
Rebound Differential: +2.66 (6)
Assists/Game: 20.1 (24), 21.9 (25)
Turnovers/Game: 13.5 (14), 14.9 (3)

2008-09 Situational Records: W-L (Pct)
Overall ATS: 40-45 (47%)
at Home ATS: 20-21 (49%)
on Road ATS: 20-24 (45%)
vs. East ATS: 26-29 (47%)
vs. West ATS: 14-16 (47%)
vs. Division ATS: 6-10 (38%)
as Favorite ATS: 19-26 (42%)
as Underdog ATS: 20-19 (51%)
in Playoffs ATS: 4-2 (67%)
Over-Under: 41-42 (49%)

Offseason Player Movement
Additions: PG Jrue Holiday, SF Jason Kapono, C Primoz Prezec
Subtractions: PG Andre Miller, C Theo Ratliff
Projected Starting Lineup: • F Elton Brand • F Thaddeus Young • C Samuel Dalembert • G Andre Iguodala • G Lou Williams 

Top StatFox Team Power Trends

2009-10 Outlook
The shoulder injury suffered by prized acquisition PF Elton Brand early was the defining moment in Philadelphia's 2008-09 campaign. Not only did it temper expectations, but it caused several other changes down the road. After finishing 41-41, HC Tony DiLeo was replaced by Eddie Jordan, who didn't exactly win fans over in his stint in Washington. The team also lost PG Andre Miller in the offseason, the so-called backbone & leader of the starting five. Replacing him will be job #1, filled by Lou Williams. Between Brand and Andre Iguodala, the 76ers have a nice 1-2 punch, but beyond that, there isn't enough to compete for more than just a low-tier playoff berth.

Sportsbook.com odds to win NBA Title: +6000
Sportsbook.com Regular Season Win Prop: Over/Under 41
StatFox Steve's Take:: This team won 41 games but has since lost it most important player in Miller. There is no Derrick Rose or Chris Paul waiting in the wings to replace him. UNDER.

TORONTO RAPTORS
Head Coach: Jay Triano
Conference: Eastern
Division: Atlantic (2008-09: 4th)
2008-09 Regular Season Record: 33-49 SU (-18.2 ML Units), 33-46 ATS

StatFox Outplay Factor Rating: -2.9 (#23 of 30)
StatFox Power Rating: 93 (#21 of 30)

2008-09 Reg. Season Stats & Ranks
Category: Team (Off) (Rank), Opp (Def) (Rank)
Scoring: 99.0 (16), 101.9 (20)
Scoring Margin: -2.8 (23)
Points Per Possession: 1.280 (22), 1.315 (22)
Field Goal Pct.: 45.8% (13), 46.5% (21)
3PT Field Goal Pct.: 37.1% (12), 36.7% (16)
Free Throw Pct.: 82.4% (1), 78.4% (26)
Rebound Differential: -1.56 (23)
Assists/Game: 22.4 (5), 23.0 (27)
Turnovers/Game: 12.8 (10), 12.8 (22)

2008-09 Situational Records: W-L (Pct)
Overall ATS: 33-46 (42%)
at Home ATS: 16-23 (41%)
on Road ATS: 17-23 (43%)
vs. East ATS: 22-30 (42%)
vs. West ATS: 11-16 (41%)
vs. Division ATS: 7-9 (44%)
as Favorite ATS: 15-16 (48%)
as Underdog ATS: 18-28 (39%)
in Playoffs ATS: 0-0 (0%)
Over-Under: 46-35 (57%)

Offseason Player Movement
Additions: SG Marco Belinelli, SG DeMar DeRozan, PF Reggie Evans, PG Jarrett Jack, C Rasho Nesterovic, SF Hedo Turkoglu
Subtractions: SF Jason Kapono, PF Shawn Marion, SG Anthony Parker
Projected Starting Lineup: • F Chris Bosh • F Hedo Turkoglu • C Andrea Bargnani • G DeMar DeRozan • G Jose Calderon  

Top StatFox Team Power Trends

2009-10 Outlook
Well, suffice to say that the plan to team Jermaine O'Neal with Chris Bosh in the frontline for the Raptors backfired. He was out of Toronto and off to Miami as quickly as it takes to get back through customs. On that note, Shawn Marion didn't work out either. In fact, not much did go right for Toronto in 2008-09. After getting out to a 3-0 start, the Raptors then lost 20 of 29 games to quickly fall from the playoff picture in the East. At five different times, they lost five or more games in a row. Things have improved since April though, and there will be a distinct foreign flavor to Toronto in '09-10. Names like Turkoglu, Nesterovic, and Belinelli will make this team better.

Sportsbook.com odds to win NBA Title: +7500
Sportsbook.com Regular Season Win Prop: Over/Under 40.5
StatFox Steve's Take: I think Toronto could be one of the most improved teams in the league, as they've replaced selfish players with foreign-made team contributors. OVER for me.