Atlantic division – Beast or Bust?
What was once called the ‘titanic’ division – and for good reason – can no longer claim to be the worst division in the east(league). In years past, New York, Brooklyn, Toronto, Boston and Philadelphia were the dregs of the league so much so that in 2004, the year after the creation of the division, the New York Sun wrote a piece questioning whether that year’s Atlantic Division was going to be in fact, the worst division in history. 10 years later, Grantland supposed that the division was only one Kyle Lowry slip in the shower from again being the worst division in history and detailed the haplessness of the division over the previous 10 years.
It was curious then that in 2003, the year the division was created, the NBA board of governors had considered using realignment to address East-West parity issues in the wake of the Spurs casual curb-stomp of the New Jersey Nets in the 2003 Finals, then the lowest-rated NBA Finals ever. “In the end, the committee decided unanimously that it was not a good idea,” Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik, now retired, told the New York Times in 2003. “The ultimate conclusion was based on the view that these things are cyclical and that you can’t predict what will be a good series.” From 2003 through 2014, the cycle didn’t really change things for the Atlantic division. They started badly and stayed that way, rightly earning the moniker, the ‘titanic’ division.
Fast forward 7 years and the Atlantic division’s time has finally come. The Raptors won a championship, the Nets are the defacto number one in the power rankings, Philly is well respected even without Ben Simmons, New York is coming off it’s first play off performance in many years and Boston remains dangerous.
Who saw that coming? Other than Russ Granik, of course. It all started in 2006 with the Boston Celtics. Savvy moves brought them Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to compliment Paul Pierce and the Celtics broke out and won a championship and a powerhouse team that would remain a contender for several years.
Next it was the Raptors who woke from their slumber and began building a team that would win a championship in 2018-2019. Kyle Lowry infused DeMar DeRozan before Masai Ujiri pulled the trigger on a huge Demar trade which landed the services of Kawhi Leonard for one year and it was enough to bring their championship drought to an end.
While Toronto was building organically, Philadelphia was building through the draft with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons and several other first round picks that would become trade fodder. While they haven’t made it click to a finals, they have been highly regarded.
While still not feared by .500 plus teams, the Knicks have stumbled along making more mistakes than good moves but, in the process, gathered enough talent to guarantee a pulse. Not that anyone expects them to be a force again this year, but maybe.
But perhaps the greatest surprise is the Nets, who gave up much of their future in 2013 for Boston’s aging stars. Already given their all in Boston, the Nets languished from the start and were not much more than a laughing stock for several years. The, beginning in 2016 new GM Sean Marks began a series of moves that brought new hope to the Nets before lightening struck: both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving pledged to join the team. The lightening struck again and James Harden decided he also wanted in. Just like that, they became the darlings of the association with potential to be a dynasty. But we shall see.
So there you have it, from least to beast, from worst to first. So no matter which NBA team you support, there is hope. Unless you cheer for Sacramento of course.