The Toronto Raptors set a franchise record with 49 wins last season to finish nine wins ahead of the Boston Celtics and win the Atlantic division. While they didn’t last long in the playoffs, the team has certainly reloaded hoping for a better result in 2015-16.
Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets both made the playoffs last season but appear – at least on paper – to be trending in opposite directions while the same can be said for the two Atlantic division teams that didn’t make the playoffs in the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks. Here is a look at the biggest hole all five teams from the NBA’s Atlantic division still have to fill heading in to the season.
Toronto Raptors: A Playmaking Point Guard
Toronto added a pair of solid two-way players in DeMarre Carroll and Luis Scola as well as a hometown product in Cory Joseph. Those moves will make them a better team at both ends of the floor. However, the Raptors owned the third-worst assist percentage a year ago and relied far too heavily on the individual scoring production of players like Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, which we saw dry up in a first-round sweep to the Washington Wizards in the playoffs.
Toronto undoubtedly upgraded with its offseason additions but they could definitely use a playmaking point guard that helps create for his teammates rather than playing two very similar guards in the backcourt at the same time in Lowry and DeRozan.
Boston Celtics: A Dominant Defensive Big Man
The Celtics missed on a number of big name free agents this summer but did add Amir Johnson and David Lee to a core that includes Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jared Sullinger, Kelly Olynyk and Tyler Zeller. The result is a roster loaded with talent that is good enough to start but will never be mistaken for elite. After making the playoffs last year, there is a good chance this team is able to at least get in once again.
The lack of superstar talent is obvious but if we are going to pick out the biggest hole in Boston’s roster, it has to be their lack of a dominant rim protector. Johnson, Olynyk, Zeller and Lee all bring similar elements to the floor but none of those four will be considered a dominant defender. The Celtics drafted rookie Jordan Mickey who averaged 3.4 blocks per game at LSU but he is likely still a year away from playing substantial minutes.
Brooklyn Nets: A Creative Point Guard
Brooklyn couldn’t afford to hold on to Deron Williams but without him, the Nets now have an obvious hole at the point guard position. Williams struggled last year but Brooklyn isn’t a better team without him as neither Jarrett Jack or Shane Larkin can be expected to step in and thrive as the team’s starting point guard. The Nets are in a tough position as a franchise that is clearly in transition and there is no doubt the point guard position is their biggest hole right now.
Philadelphia 76ers: Guards
The 76ers have loaded up with talented big men at the NBA Draft but in the process, they have ignored an obvious need for guards. The trade that sent reigning Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams to the Milwaukee Bucks didn’t help. Tony Wroten and Robert Covington have the potential to be very good but there is no doubt Philadelphia could use upgrades at both guard positions with an obvious lack of star power at the two positions.
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New York Knicks: A Pure Scoring Shooting Guard
Knicks fans might end up being thrilled their team bottomed out last season because after an impressive offseason haul, which included the additions of Robin Lopez, Arron Afflalo, Derrick Williams, Kristaps Porzingis and Jerian Grant, it’s very conceivable this team is deep enough to challenge for a playoff spot. The Knicks could still use a pure shooting guard to capitalize on some of the open looks that can be created in Derek Fisher’s version of the Triangle and while Afflalo gets a crack at the starting job this season, they could still use another pure shooter on their roster.
