NBA Preseason Power Rankings 2013: Eastern Conference
By Corey Young
Jun 20, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (left) and shooting guard Dwyane Wade (right) celebrate after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in game seven in the 2013 NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena. Miami Heat won 95-88 to win the NBA Championship. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
NBA PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS 2013: Eastern Conference
1. Miami Heat
It’s plain and simple spoken by the great and legendary Ric Flair “to be the man you got to beat the man, whooooo!” I truly do not care about off-season moves when it comes to Miami Heat. The managed to amnesty Mike Miller to save $30 million dollars and although he is clutch, he plays pretty sparingly for most of the season. The Heat run will be extremely hard to stop but their Achilles heel is actually the knees of Dwayne Wade. If he cannot make it through the season then Miami maybe dethroned. King James is becoming even more clutch in the fourth quarter which is scary but Wade is the key. Acquiring a big man to bang will be helpfully. It will be hard to go against Indiana or Brooklyn with King James playing the four spot.
2. Brooklyn Nets
The Nets come in at number two and looking at their offseason moves its clear to see why. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry with Joe Johnson, Brooke Lopez, and Deron Williams looks like a team that can make a deep playoff run. Maybe even a match with the Heat in the eastern conference finals. Last season Brooklyn lacked toughness, determination, clutch shooting, and tenacity. But adding those three veterans will bring all of that and more. It will take them time gel and new head coach Jason Kidd time to get the right rotation but with the talent and veteran leadership I can see them sitting pretty at the end of the season.
3. Indiana Pacers
There is no reason the Indiana Pacers won’t continue their success and be the number three seed in the eastern conference. They could use an upgrade at poitn guard however and might be in the mix to acquire the services of Rajon Rondo mid-season.