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Southeast preview: Magic aiming for Finals return

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Charley Rosen

Charley Rosen is FOXSports.com's NBA analyst and author of 17 sports books, the current ones being Bullpen Diaries: Mariano Rivera, Bronx Dreams, Pinstripe Legends, and the Future of the New York Yankees and Crazy Basketball: A Life In and Out of Bounds.

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Updated Oct 12, 2009 3:31 PM ET
     
 
The Southeast Division is composed of one team that is already there, one that is almost there, two on the way up and one that is nowhere.

Atlanta Hawks

Strengths: Josh Smith's amazing, yet still unrealized, talents. Joe Johnson's reliability. The usually dependable long-range shooting of Mike Bibby. Possessed of one of the league's quickest releases, Jamal Crawford can get off a makeable shot just about any time he wishes. While his game isn't quite what it once was, Joe Smith is still a plus both on the court and in the locker room. The hopeful recovery of streaky-shooting Marvin Williams, who just might be the best athlete on the team. Weaknesses: With his quickness only a fading memory, Bibby can no longer get to the rim with any degree of regularity. The absence of any maturity pills to hasten Josh Smith's emergence into responsible adulthood. Not much is expected from Mo Evans, and not much is delivered. The bad decisions that Crawford makes, especially in clutch situations. The absence of sufficient team defense. Prognosis: The Hawks are no longer able to ruminate about their dazzling potential. Their future is now.

Charlotte Bobcats

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Strengths: Gerald Wallace is one of the best two-way players in the NBA. Flip Murray is a scoring machine. Although his skills are noticeably fading, Raja Bell still plays good defense against non-speedsters. The sky's the limit for young D.J. Augustin. Vlad Radmanovic is always a three-point threat. The quick, long-limbed defense of Tyson Chandler. The ability of Larry Brown to both educate and fire up players who are old enough to understand what's what and young enough to still be teachable. Weaknesses: V-Rad is a much better player in practice than he is when the hot lights are switched on. Since Chandler is foul prone, the backup duo of DeSagana Diop and Nazr Mohammed will be required to get more playing time than they can handle. The team has no interior scorers and limited firepower. Wallace bears too much of a burden at both ends of the floor. Gerald Henderson is the prized rookie, but, in the past, Brown has shown a disinclination to trust rookies enough to give them meaningful minutes. Prognosis: They'll routinely beat worse teams and occasionally surprise better teams at home. But improving to 41 wins is a stretch.

Miami Heat

Strengths: Every aspect of D-Wade's game. The off-the-ball dirty work accomplished by Udonis Haslem. Jermaine O'Neal's presence in the paint. The spot shooting of James Jones. Michael Beasley's potential to someday become a go-to scorer. Mario Chalmers has the ability and the opportunity to grow into a dependable starter. Weaknesses: At age 31, O'Neal has gotten old in a hurry. The profound immaturity of Beasley. The inability of anybody except Wade to unilaterally create good shots. The questionable situation at point guard. The fact that Dwyane Wade can't be cloned. Prognosis: Last season, the Heat overachieved to win 43 games. This season, it's back to reality and back under .500.

Orlando Magic

Strengths: Dwight Howard's muscle and aggressive attacks at the hoop. The incredible talents of Vince Carter. Jameer Nelson's propensity for making clutch plays. The three-pointers outside and turnaround jumpers inside unleashed by Rashard Lewis. Brandon Bass brings accurate mid-range jumpers and extremely physical play in the paint. In short stretches, Mickael Pietrus can change games with his defense and treys. J.J. Redick has learned not only how to survive, but also how to contribute. Matt Barnes can score beaucoup points off the bench. Weaknesses: Howard's offensive moves are still somewhat limited and therefore predictable. Nelson is defensively challenged. In clutch situations, Lewis frequently disappears. Pietrus often has trouble handling pressure and differentiating between good shots and bad ones. Barnes is shot-happy. Carter chokes. Prognosis: Without Hedo Turkoglu, the Magic now fields more of a traditional lineup. This translates into fewer mismatches to take advantage of. It's therefore unlikely Orlando can get past Boston and/or Cleveland and return to the NBA Finals.

Washington Wizards

Strengths: Gilbert Arenas' genius for scoring. The steady point-making skills of Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison. Mike Miller is a spot shooter deluxe. Randy Foye is a solid all-around performer on offense. In Nick Young, a blossoming star. The continued potential of Andray Blatche. Flip Saunder's zone defenses that look like man-to-man alignments, as well as his multiple offenses. Weaknesses: Arenas, Butler, Miller, Foye, Young and Blatche all need lots of ball time to be effective. Not enough defense. Not enough willing role players. Brendan Haywood and Blatche are career underachievers. Prognosis: They can't possibly be worse than last season's 19-win squad. But since they are only equipped to play offense, the best they can do is to win half of their games. Even so, their dynamic scoring will always make them dangerous opponents.
Tagged: Marvin Williams, Heat, Wizards, Joe Smith, Raja Bell, Raptors, Josh Smith, Hedo Turkoglu, Magic, Hawks, Dwight Howard, Nick Young, Bobcats, Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler, Nazr Mohammed, Dwyane Wade, Mickael Pietrus, DeSagana Diop, Jamal Crawford, Gerald Wallace

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