NBA training camps have officially gotten underway, and my body is slowly stabilizing itself from the withdrawals it annually experiences when the NBA Finals conclude in June. My fellow junkies in hoop got a little reprieve while keeping up with the Redeem Team capturing the gold in Beijing. But it just ain’t the same as the phenomenon of NBA action. Plus, I don’t get to write my No Bitchassness Allowed reports. So for the next few days, Sportaphile’s NBA report will be giving our in-depth analysis of each team, by division. Consider this the training camp edition.

Today we look at teams in the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic division. (Last year’s record)

(66-16). Never say never. I never in 1,000 years could have imagined myself rooting for the Boston Celtics. But this past spring, if loving them was wrong, I sure as hell wanted to be charged with the crime. I have a love for KG and won’t take the space to go on about the glory of the 2008 NBA FInals. Going into this season it’s the champs who hold the top spot (even without my guy James Posey) until a team is bold enough to beat them down and take it. That is no easy task, so as of right now, I have the Celtics in the Finals until further notice. My Finals pick will be posted on Opening Night of the NBA season.

(34-48) The Nets drew the line in the sand this summer and traded Richard Jefferson. In exchange, they got Yi Jianlian, who will undoubtedly expand the team’s marketing reach in China, but will not have that same impact where it counts–on the court. I do believe that the Nets scored a keeper in Chris Douglas-Roberts, though, who will be playing with a certified chip on his shoulder after being dissed in this year’s draft. CDR and Devin Harris should really push the rock once they get in sync but it’s truly shit or get off the pot time for Vince Carter in New Jersey as far as I’m concerned. Overall, the Nets aren’t making any noise this year.

(23-59) We always hear so much about the New York Knicks. And all eyes will again be on the Knicks as the curtains go up on the Donnie Walsh-Mike D’Antoni era at Madison Square Garden. So many unanswered questions with the state of affairs in NY, but one answer remains consistent: they will be the same underachieving, overpaid Knicks, with or without Marbury. But I am really looking forward to seeing Patrick Ewing, Jr. play for the Knicks. Talk about a kid’s dream come true. But, when late April gets here, I am certain that the Knicks season will be over.

(40-42) The Philadelphia 76ers had the best off season in my eyes. They might be the Omar Little of the NBA because they straight jacked Elton Brand like the Co-Op’s shipment. They pulled together an impressive showing in the playoffs and now have a deadly starting five anchored by Brand. They pose the biggest threat to challenge for the East. If the Celtics are the Barksdales, then the 76ers might be like Marlo’s crew in Season 3 of The Wire. Paul P, there’s a new crew trying to open up shop. You better watch your block. The Sixers will definitely win 55+ games.

(41-41) A change of scenery can work wonders on a player’s productivity. Jermaine O’Neal better have a monster season; I mean, he was only out of the lineup in Indiana for what seemed like forever. But will his knees hold up for the haul of a season? If yes, bringing him in at center, along with finally settling on Jose Calderon as the team’s point guard, should be the missing parts that solve the enable Bosh and the Raptors to pose a genuine threat deep in the playoffs. The only thing is that just like the Raps got better, the Atlantic division got that much deeper this summer.