In possibly the weirdest division in terms of effective Points Created, the Southeast showcases low high, disparities within team rosters, and some team leaders who have vanished.
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With the Atlanta Hawks are currently in a 1-1 draw against the 76ers in the second round, the Southeast Division still has some playoff representation; however, it caps what amounts to a huge year of change within the division.
As a result, this is currently the most confusing division in basketball, both from a metric angle and the eye test. Three teams saw first-round action, but two were in the play-in tournament and, apart from the Hawks, won a cumulative two games after game 72.
Four of the five teams need to legitimately change how they approach team structure and dynamic but have youth or cap space or both against them.
But first, we have the team that noticed this and have already started to blow it up.
Orlando Magic
- Nikola Vucevic – 47.30 ePC
- Evan Fournier – 32.57 ePC
- Aaron Gordon – 28.26 ePC
- Wendell Carter Jr. – 25.43 ePC
- Terrence Ross – 24.09 ePC
The Orlando Magic are the only team in the NBA that do not currently have a player averaging 30 ePC. Nikola Vucevic’s stellar season made the Magic the only bottom-six team with All-Star representation, but President Jeff Weltman and GM John Hammond thought, “But what if we, like, really tank?”
So, at the trade deadline, they sent Vucevic to the Bulls, Fournier to the Celtics, and Gordon to the Nuggets. Weltman and Hammond firmly closed this period of Magic history by shipping three players who had been with the organization for at least seven years in just 24 hours.
This drastic action was needed. Ever since the Dwight Howard saga, the Magic have struggled to maintain any relevancy in today’s NBA apart from Aaron Gordon in a couple of dunk contests. The rebuild has just begun and, if you are a Magic fan, I am sorry.
Charlotte Hornets
- Gordon Hayward – 36.93 ePC
- Terry Rozier – 36.65 ePC
- LaMelo Ball – 35.06 ePC
- Devonte’ Graham – 29.57 ePC
- PJ Washington – 25.79 ePC
Overall, I feel as though the Charlotte Hornets overperformed this year. While they do not have the ceiling of a true playoff contender, their floor will be higher next season. I could easily notch them in as a seven or eight seed.
Other than the Atlanta Hawks, the Charlotte Hornets were the only team in the division with at least three players above 30 ePC. After the Hornets brought the Brinks truck for Terry Rozier, he actually became decent in the 2020-21 season, notching more than 20 PPG for the first time and raising his eFG% by three points.
Additionally, Gordon Hayward finally looked like he did in Utah. Too bad he also looked like he did for most of his time in Boston when he suffered a right foot sprain that sidelined him for a month.
Finally, we were treated to another iteration of the Big Baller TM. LaMelo Ball impressed in his rookie campaign, averaging a very respectable 15/6/6 throughout the season and responding well to an increased role as the season progressed. If Ball can develop further and Hayward can play at least 65 games, then Charlotte warrants guarded optimism.
Washington Wizards
- Russell Westbrook – 54.76 ePC
- Bradley Beal – 49.55 ePC
- Thomas Bryant – 27.87 ePC
- Daniel Gafford – 24.10 ePC
- Rui Hachimura – 22.02 ePC
A Tale of Two Seasons.
Earlier in the year, I wrote an article about how the Wizards need to find some help for Bradley Beal. Little did I know, they already had, and Russell Westbrook needed some time to heal and acclimate to his new team.
Afterward, the Wizards became one of the most exciting teams in basketball.
The two-man show of Westbrook and Beal carried Washington into the playoffs, through the play-in tournament, and to a win against conference leader Philadelphia. Beal proved again he is one of the most proficient scorers in the league as he was beaten by only Stephen Curry for most points per game. The Brodie secured the title of “Mr. Triple-Double” in the history books, passing Oscar Robinson for the most in league history.
These two put the Wizards on their back. Bryant, Gafford, and Hachimura all had a decent season but need to progress further if the Wizards want to make some magic in the playoffs. Also, Davis Bertans (17.76 ePC) needs to rebound (figuratively) and continue his production from the 2019-20 season.
However, even if all these role players can do that, can we expect another historic partner performance from Beal and Westbrook?
Bonus: The Washington Wizards’ Anzejs Pasecniks had the lowest ePC in the entire league for the 2020-21 season with a -9.73 ePC. He played just one game for six minutes, had one offensive rebound, one assist, two personal fouls, and five turnovers.
Miami Heat
- Jimmy Butler – 55.69 ePC
- Bam Adebayo – 44.58 ePC
- Tyler Herro – 25.99 ePC
- Kendrick Nunn – 24.18 ePC
- Goran Dragic – 23.11 ePC
The reigning Eastern Conference champs had a hard crash down to earth after overperforming in bubble basketball. Due to COVID-19 protocols, Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Kendrick Nunn, Goran Dragic, and other players were placed on the Health and Safety Protocol list on January 11. As a result of missing most of their key players, the Heat started the season 6-12 and were never able to fully recover.
Jimmy Butler continued to cement his superstar status as he recorded career highs in total rebounds, assists, steals, and eFG%. However, the coronavirus severely hampered his early season after a bout with the disease left him 12 pounds lighter and in desperate need of strength and conditioning training.
Tyler Herro played hero ball a little too much this year after his success in the bubble playoffs, often settling for lackluster and inefficient shots. However, no number took a significant hit, but he will need to pick and choose his shots better if he wants to be an integral part of the offense (which we know is possible).
The Miami Heat are already over the salary cap for next season, and that does not include Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn, or newly acquired Victor Oladipo. The Heat need to acquire a third 30 ePC guy, but owner Micky Arison and President Pat Riley have their hands tied.
Atlanta Hawks
- Trae Young – 49.70 ePC
- Clint Capela – 38.12 ePC
- John Collins – 31.79 ePC
- Bogdan Bogdanovic – 29.78 ePC
- De’Andre Hunter – 25.96 ePC
Another tale of two seasons, but the Hawks are still writing their story. After a rough start to the year, the return of Bogdan Bogdanovic from injury coincided with a stretch that saw the Atlanta Hawks as one of the NBA’s hottest teams.
Despite long-term injuries suffered by Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter, young team leader Trae Young gained Bogdanovic and Clint Capela in the offseason. Bogdanovic gave Atlanta a second primary ballhandler, and his ePC does not show his value fully. Capela bolstered a defense in dramatic need of some extra power. In his first season with the team, the Hawks went from having the worst defense in the league to being in the top half (ranked 12).
I have a full Atlanta Hawks article here (https://pine-sports.com/post/773/), written midway through the season, that better describes the production of Young, Capela, and Bogdanovic, specifically.
While this season’s success largely depends on the health of Joel Embiid, there is a slight possibility the Hawks may be in only their second conference finals since the 1970 season.
In possibly the weirdest division in terms of effective Points Created, the Southeast showcases low high, disparities within team rosters, and some team leaders who have vanished.
---
With the Atlanta Hawks are currently in a 1-1 draw against the 76ers in the second round, the Southeast Division still has some playoff representation; however, it caps what amounts to a huge year of change within the division.
As a result, this is currently the most confusing division in basketball, both from a metric angle and the eye test. Three teams saw first-round action, but two were in the play-in tournament and, apart from the Hawks, won a cumulative two games after game 72.
Four of the five teams need to legitimately change how they approach team structure and dynamic but have youth or cap space or both against them.
But first, we have the team that noticed this and have already started to blow it up.
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are the only team in the NBA that do not currently have a player averaging 30 ePC. Nikola Vucevic’s stellar season made the Magic the only bottom-six team with All-Star representation, but President Jeff Weltman and GM John Hammond thought, “But what if we, like, really tank?”
So, at the trade deadline, they sent Vucevic to the Bulls, Fournier to the Celtics, and Gordon to the Nuggets. Weltman and Hammond firmly closed this period of Magic history by shipping three players who had been with the organization for at least seven years in just 24 hours.
This drastic action was needed. Ever since the Dwight Howard saga, the Magic have struggled to maintain any relevancy in today’s NBA apart from Aaron Gordon in a couple of dunk contests. The rebuild has just begun and, if you are a Magic fan, I am sorry.
Charlotte Hornets
Overall, I feel as though the Charlotte Hornets overperformed this year. While they do not have the ceiling of a true playoff contender, their floor will be higher next season. I could easily notch them in as a seven or eight seed.
Other than the Atlanta Hawks, the Charlotte Hornets were the only team in the division with at least three players above 30 ePC. After the Hornets brought the Brinks truck for Terry Rozier, he actually became decent in the 2020-21 season, notching more than 20 PPG for the first time and raising his eFG% by three points.
Additionally, Gordon Hayward finally looked like he did in Utah. Too bad he also looked like he did for most of his time in Boston when he suffered a right foot sprain that sidelined him for a month.
Finally, we were treated to another iteration of the Big Baller TM. LaMelo Ball impressed in his rookie campaign, averaging a very respectable 15/6/6 throughout the season and responding well to an increased role as the season progressed. If Ball can develop further and Hayward can play at least 65 games, then Charlotte warrants guarded optimism.
Washington Wizards
A Tale of Two Seasons.
Earlier in the year, I wrote an article about how the Wizards need to find some help for Bradley Beal. Little did I know, they already had, and Russell Westbrook needed some time to heal and acclimate to his new team.
Afterward, the Wizards became one of the most exciting teams in basketball.
The two-man show of Westbrook and Beal carried Washington into the playoffs, through the play-in tournament, and to a win against conference leader Philadelphia. Beal proved again he is one of the most proficient scorers in the league as he was beaten by only Stephen Curry for most points per game. The Brodie secured the title of “Mr. Triple-Double” in the history books, passing Oscar Robinson for the most in league history.
These two put the Wizards on their back. Bryant, Gafford, and Hachimura all had a decent season but need to progress further if the Wizards want to make some magic in the playoffs. Also, Davis Bertans (17.76 ePC) needs to rebound (figuratively) and continue his production from the 2019-20 season.
However, even if all these role players can do that, can we expect another historic partner performance from Beal and Westbrook?
Bonus: The Washington Wizards’ Anzejs Pasecniks had the lowest ePC in the entire league for the 2020-21 season with a -9.73 ePC. He played just one game for six minutes, had one offensive rebound, one assist, two personal fouls, and five turnovers.
Miami Heat
The reigning Eastern Conference champs had a hard crash down to earth after overperforming in bubble basketball. Due to COVID-19 protocols, Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Kendrick Nunn, Goran Dragic, and other players were placed on the Health and Safety Protocol list on January 11. As a result of missing most of their key players, the Heat started the season 6-12 and were never able to fully recover.
Jimmy Butler continued to cement his superstar status as he recorded career highs in total rebounds, assists, steals, and eFG%. However, the coronavirus severely hampered his early season after a bout with the disease left him 12 pounds lighter and in desperate need of strength and conditioning training.
Tyler Herro played hero ball a little too much this year after his success in the bubble playoffs, often settling for lackluster and inefficient shots. However, no number took a significant hit, but he will need to pick and choose his shots better if he wants to be an integral part of the offense (which we know is possible).
The Miami Heat are already over the salary cap for next season, and that does not include Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn, or newly acquired Victor Oladipo. The Heat need to acquire a third 30 ePC guy, but owner Micky Arison and President Pat Riley have their hands tied.
Atlanta Hawks
Another tale of two seasons, but the Hawks are still writing their story. After a rough start to the year, the return of Bogdan Bogdanovic from injury coincided with a stretch that saw the Atlanta Hawks as one of the NBA’s hottest teams.
Despite long-term injuries suffered by Cam Reddish and De’Andre Hunter, young team leader Trae Young gained Bogdanovic and Clint Capela in the offseason. Bogdanovic gave Atlanta a second primary ballhandler, and his ePC does not show his value fully. Capela bolstered a defense in dramatic need of some extra power. In his first season with the team, the Hawks went from having the worst defense in the league to being in the top half (ranked 12).
I have a full Atlanta Hawks article here (https://pine-sports.com/post/773/), written midway through the season, that better describes the production of Young, Capela, and Bogdanovic, specifically.
While this season’s success largely depends on the health of Joel Embiid, there is a slight possibility the Hawks may be in only their second conference finals since the 1970 season.
Share your best bets!