Continuing my analysis of the  Eastern Conference. I have already selected Boston Celts, New Jersey Nets and the Toronto Raptors as those most likely to succeed in the Atlantic Division. Now we move farther inland:

Central Division:
The second best division in the NBA behind the Southwest. All five teams are potential play-off teams,with the top three threats to make the Finals. Detroit are aging and Cleveland did nothing to improve after their surprise Conference title. Which leaves young, on-the-rise Chicago as the likely team to edge out the other two in a close race. Especially if they can get Kobe Bryant for Ben Gordon and Luol Deng or Andres Nocioni.

1) Chicago Bulls (49-52 wins):
The Bulls are only a decent interior scorer away from ruling the East (shouldn't have given away Eddy Curry!). Kirk Hinrich is one of the best all-around guards in the NBA and back court mate Gordon is a tremendous scorer and shooter. Deng and Nocioni are two fine international forwards who can shoot, play hard and defend well. Ben Wallace appears to be wearing down after years of hustle, board work and defence, and is an offensive liability. Scott Skiles is Mr. Intensity and his teams usually start slow and finish strong. This year if they start well, watch out.

'Detroit are aging and Cleveland did nothing to improve after their surprise Conference title'


2) Detroit Pistons (47-51 wins):
Aging Detroit still have a solid starting five but appears to have lost their drive and hunger after four straight wearing trips to the East finals. Pistons don't get enough slashing and scoring out of the small forward spot and are too perimeter-oriented on offence. Rasheed Wallace needs to get back inside instead of floating on the perimeter and launching treys, but he lacks the drive to bang inside anymore. Still, the back court of Hamilton and Billups is one of the league's best, but the window has closed on this hard-working group.

3) Cleveland Cavaliers (45-48 wins):
The Cavs made a great run to the Finals, then got swept by the Spurs. This year everyone will be gunning for them and they didn't do anything to help themselves in the off season. Last year, Sasha Pavlovic's insertion to the starting line-up and Daniel Gibson's outside shooting put the team over the top. Ilgauskas is a year older and the Cavs still rely too much on James, who has to improve his jumper and be more of a finisher at the end of close games than a facilitator and distributor. The Cavs still need to improve their outside shooting as well. Larry Hughes has to play up to his potential and stay injury-free.

4) Indiana Pacers (38-42 wins):
If healthy, the Pacers possess a solid front court nucleus in Jermaine O'Neal, solid southpaw Troy Murphy, talented Danny Granger and rebounder supreme Jeff Foster on the front line. Since Reggie Miller retired they have lacked good outside shooting in the back court. The big experiment is moving versatile but inconsistent Mike Dunleavy at big guard. If it works, Indiana could sneak in the play-offs.

Travis Diener was an overlooked acquisition at point guard, and could be an underrated addition. Jamaal Tinsley doesn't give the team shooting but he is a good ball-handler at the point and will be complimented by the sweet-shooting, good-passing Diener, who is heady and quick but slight. New coach Jim O'Brien is demanding and gets his teams to play defence, but he wears out his welcome, too.

5) Milwaukee Bucks (34-37 wins):
The Bucks have some talent in third-year center Andrew Bogut and shooting guard Michael Redd. If Chinese 7-0 first round pick Yi Jianlan plays up to his enormous talent, the Bucks will approach .500. He has tremendous athleticism and skill, but the young team is probably a year away from the play-offs.


SOUTHEAST:
Probably the league's worst division. Miami should win by default if they stay reasonably healthy - Shaquille O"Neal and Dwayne Wade, that is. Washington and Orlando are borderline play-off teams, with Atlanta and Charlotte still a year or two and more talent away.

1) Miami Heat (48-52 wins):
If Wade and Shaq can play at least 70 games apiece near their normal level, this division is theirs. But the team has too many other mediocre complementary players to make a serious NBA title run. If Wade's reckless style and shoulder flare up again, they will struggle to be over .500.

2) Washington Wizards (39-43 wins):
Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison give the Wizards a good and underrated trio of talented scorers. A lack of a center and a real point guard - Arenas shoots too much for that - will keep them from going far if they do make it back to the playoffs.

3) Orlando Magic (37-40 wins):
New coach Stan Van Gundy will get a lot out of the Magic and bring some spice back into the in-state Orlando-Miami rivalry against his former team. Rashard Lewis is a nice addition but not enough to offset the loss of Grant Hill and emerging Darko Milicic to free agency. Jameer Nelson is an underrated point guard, and Hedo Turkoglu is overlooked too. Dwight Howard needs to improve his foul shooting and get a back to the basket game instead of just overpowering people to become a real star.

4) Charlotte Bobcats (33-36 wins):
The Bobcats have a nice nucleus of young talent, but probable season-ending injuries to youngsters Adam Morrison and Sean May have dampened enthusiasm. Emeka Okafor is a good young power forward/center, and Raymond Felton will be a good point guard someday soon. New face Jason Richardson and Matt Carroll is an underrated two guard/small forward combo, and Primoz Brezec is a skilled 7-footer. Gerald Wallace is athletic at the small forward but injuries hurt their depth and development.

5) Atlanta Hawks (25-30 wins):
The Hawks keep adding talent slowly, and Joe Johnson is one of the best swingmen in the game. Zaza Pachulia is a solid center and rookie Al Horford will help, as will savvy southpaw rookie guard Acie Law and for Josh Smith to be more than a dunker. But the Hawks still need an infusion of more talent.

EAST ALL STAR TEAM: 1st team - C-Dwight Howard, F-Kevin Garnett, F-LeBron James,  G-Gilbert Arenas,  G-Dwyane Wade. 2nd team - C-Jermaine O'Neal,  F-Vince Carter,  F-Paul Pierce,  G-Ray Allen,  G-Kirk Hinrich. 
3rd team -  C-Shaquille O'Neal,  F-Emeka Okafor,  F-Joe Johnson,  G-Chauncey Billups,  G-Richard Hamilton. 
EAST MVP: Kevin Garnett.

EAST PLAYOFFS:
1st round - Chicago 4 Washington 2, Miami 4 New Jersey 2, Boston 4 Toronto 2, Detroit 4 Cleveland 3. Semi-finals - Chicago 4 Detroit 2, Boston 4 Miami 3.
Finals - Chicago 4 Boston 2.

Up Next: Part 3, The Western Conference.