Southeast Division

1. ORLANDO MAGIC — The Magic made it back to the NBA Finals last season, but after a flurry of offseason moves it seems like the team desperately wants a title. The team watched Hedo Turkoglu sign with Toronto, and traded Rafer Alston and Courtney Lee for Vince Carter. Carter should fill the offensive hole left by Turkoglu, but he also adds more versatility on the glass and in the lane. With Dwight Howard anchoring both ends of the floor, the Magic have plenty of talent to make another title run.

2. ATLANTA HAWKS — Joe Johnson had a great regular season last year, but in the postseason he was not anything spectacular. With Mike Bibby and Johnson in the backcourt, and Al Horford and Josh Smith down low, the Hawks have a solid squad. Individually, each player needs to bolster his output for the Hawks to take the next step in the playoffs.

3. MIAMI HEAT — Dwyane Wade is a top-five player, but he can’t carry a team alone. Jermaine O’Neal and Michael Beasley need to show up and have decent seasons. Mario Chalmers had a surprising rookie year and shows a lot of promise in the backcourt. The Heat have potential but I see an early exit in the playoffs.

4. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS — This is a team that will just plain struggle. They are a team really lacking direction. They have Tyson Chandler who provides some defense in the paint, and Gerald Wallace and Raymond Felton as anchors for the team. The team has always struggled and its lineup is just unimpressive. Expect another long year for this team.

5. WASHINGTON WIZARDS — A truly rough season for the Wizards last year was due in part to Gilbert Arenas’ injury. Their improvement this season relies solely on his recovery. If he can get back to his 25-points-a-night form, then the Wizards can pick up at least 10 more wins this season, not particularly impressive after a 19-win season. If Arenas is sub-par, then close your eyes, Wizards fans.