Writer roundup: Has the balance of power shifted in the East?

[BDodgers at aol.com]

Writer roundup: Has the balance of power shifted in the East?
 
ESPN.com






 



 
Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in Boston. Zach Randolph in New York. Rashard 
Lewis in Orlando. Say what you want about the weak Eastern Conference, but it has 
definitely improved this summer. So, has the balance of power shifted in the 
East? Our experts chime in with their early thoughts: 
1. Does the addition of KG and Ray Allen make the Celtics a postseason lock? 
Henry Abbott, TrueHoop: Yes, which is really just a comment on the weak 
Eastern Conference. Rajon Rondo might prove me wrong, but I think they're a bona 
fide point guard away from being a truly important team. I assume Chicago, 
Detroit, Boston, Cleveland, Miami, Toronto, and probably New Jersey will make the 
postseason, barring injury or unpredictable bizarreness.  
John Hollinger, ESPN.com: I hesitate to use the word "lock" because injuries 
can ravage almost any team out of the blue, especially one as thin as the 
Celts. But under reasonable scenarios, yes, they're a lock.
Marc Stein, ESPN.com: C'mon. They're a lock for 50-plus wins and my favorites 
to win the East. I know a lot of folks are comparing this trio to the 
ill-fated Atlanta triumvirate in the late 1980s (Dominique Wilkins, Moses Malone and 
Reggie Theus) or Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen in 
Houston. But those comparisons overlook the fact that the East of today is insanely 
weak. 
David Thorpe, Scouts Inc.: Lock? No, they are now so thin that any injury to 
one of the big three spells doom. It is more than likely that they make it in, 
but far from definite unless a few more additions are made. 
Ric Bucher, ESPN The Magazine: In a conference where one All-Star can get you 
to the Finals, having 2 1/2 certainly assures a playoff berth and a shot at 
the Finals.  
 
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2. Any particular player(s) you think the Celtics should target to fill the 
roster?
Abbott: It's tough because they are over the cap, can't be in the mood to 
move a lot of draft picks, and need someone who is ready to win now. They'll have 
to gamble on someone else's rejects. I'm sure they're looking at all kinds of 
free agents who have been playing in Europe, the CBA and the D-League. 
Hollinger: Wang Zhizhi. Don't laugh. The C's need minimum wage guys who can 
make open shots. Wang has shot 38.5 percent on 3s for his career and averages 
nearly a point every two minutes. I really don't understand why he's not in the 
NBA, and he'd be perfect on this team. 
Stein: Everything I'm hearing suggests that the Celtics are targeting only 
minimum-salary guys at this stage because KG, Allen and Pierce will cost more 
than $56 million alone. So they probably can't get Brevin Knight or any of the 
top remaining free agents. 
Thorpe: I like Sarunas Jasikevicius from a personnel standpoint. He is a born 
leader who excels at passing and shooting (and winning).  
Bucher: It's a little late in the game for finding a veteran point guard, 
which they desperately need, but both Austin Croshere and P.J. Brown would help 
fill out the front line and can contribute without needing touches -- which 
will be in short supply. 
 
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