Call it the Atlantis Division no more. Last season the best team in the Eastern Conference’s regular season, the Boston Celtics, came from the Atlantic Division. And with the Toronto Raptors getting their group back together and the Sixers and Nets revving up their rebuilds, the NBA’s Northeast Corridor feels like it’s finally turning a corner.
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DIVISION PREDICTION
Team On The Rise
Philadelphia 76ers — The process is paying off with a nice haul of young talent.
Team On The Decline
New York Knicks — With the trade of Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks are just starting their rebuild.
Top Player
Kyrie Irving, Boston Celtics – Boston made a bold move in trading for one of the NBA’s brightest young stars.
Player On The Rise
Kristaps Porzingis, New York Knicks — The 7-foot-3 multi-talented Knicks big man recently turned 22 years old.
Top Coach
Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics — The Boston coach is among the NBA’s elite, and puts his players in the best positions to be successful.
Coach On The Hot Seat
Jeff Hornacek, New York Knicks — Was hired by Phil Jackson, and with Jackson gone and the team rebuilding, suddenly finds himself in a new situation.
Top Rookie
Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers — Was the prize of the 2016 NBA Draft, and after sitting out last season with injuries, should make an immediate impact in Philadelphia.
Lang Whitaker has covered the NBA since 1998. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here or follow him on Twitter.
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