NBA Season Preview Panel: Atlantic Division Voting

Welcome to the official HoopsHabit NBA season preview panel, where 32 of our writers got together to put their proverbial pens to paper, voting on the winners in each division, the conference winners, the NBA champs and each of the six major individual awards. We’ll be rolling out a new column each day throughout October to show the results of our voting and how we see the 2014-15 NBA season shaking out.

Today’s column focuses on the Atlantic Division. A year ago, the upstart Toronto Raptors were the class of the division, finishing at 48-34 behind solid years from Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas. Not far behind were the veteran Brooklyn Nets, who finished 44-38, good for sixth in the conference. It was fitting that the two best teams in the division would face off in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, with the Nets winning a Game 7 in Toronto.

The New York Knicks (37-45), Boston Celtics (25-57) and Philadelphia 76ers (19-63) brought up the rear in what was widely considered the worst division in basketball.

With a new year brings new hope, as Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks brought in some fresh faces, the Nets got Brook Lopez back from injury and the Celtics and Sixers….well, let’s just say they’re contractually obligated to play 82 games this regular season.

Our official winner, based on 32 votes:

Here’s what Joshua Howe had to say about choosing the Raptors:

"The way I see it, it’s a fairly simple answer. The 76ers are laughable, the Nets are still undergoing shock therapy from the 2013 offseason and the Celtics are just hoping Rajon Rondo doesn’t murder somebody in the locker room. The only real threat to the reigning Atlantic champs, the Raptors, are the Knicks. If they can manage to turn Phil Jackson‘s triangle offense into a real threat with the pieces they have, then who knows what could happen. But the Raps brought back pretty much the same team they had last season when they took the division title, except now they’re a little better. Expect to see another banner in Toronto by the end of the season."

Here’s D’Joumbarey Moreau’s reasoning behind choosing the Knicks:

"Last season was one of the worst for the New York Knicks in franchise history, not in record but definitely in spirit. There was a lot of hope in the mecca of basketball last season and a lot of expectations were not met, finishing the year with a 37-45 record. This year the Knicks are a much better team than the previous because of the moves made in the front office (signing Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher) and the roster moves made on the court (bringing Cleanthony Early, Jose Calderon, Shane Larkin and Samuel Dalembert in). The Knicks secured the stability they lacked with their terrible point guard by trading for point guard Jose Calderon. They also have a rising young star in Tim Hardaway Jr, and they brought in young talent that will thrive playing in the triangle offense in Shane Larkin and Cleanthony Early. In addition, the Knicks have the best player in the Atlantic Division in Carmelo Anthony, who once again will be a top five scorer. Last season against the two top teams (Toronto & Brooklyn) in the Atlantic Division the Knicks finished with a 5-3 record. If they buy into what head coach Derek Fisher is preaching the Knicks should win the Atlantic."

Who do you guys see winning the Atlantic Division and why?