For the second straight year, the Atlantic Division is the worst division in the NBA. Last season, the only team to make the playoffs was the New Jersey Nets. Likely, that scenario will repeat itself as New Jersey appears to be the only team in the division with a playoff quality roster.

1. New Jersey Nets

The New Jersey Nets have the strongest talent core in the division with Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter. Even though Kidd will be 34 in March, he is still among the best point guards in the NBA and does enable his teammates to perform at an optimal level. Richard Jefferson continues to develop his all-around game and Nenad Krstic and Jason Collins are healthy. This is the best starting five in the Atlantic Division and one of the best in the Eastern Conference.

I expect Vince Carter to have a career year. Carter has an option in his contract in which he can opt out of the final 2 years of his current deal and test the free agent market. Last season, Carter led the Nets in scoring averaging 24.2 points per game. It would be reasonable to expect that with his extra motivation, along with the desire of the Nets' coaching staff to run more, that he could average 26-27 points per game.

Another aspect of the Nets that is quite underrated is the team's unwavering commitment to defense. Opponents shot under 44 percent from the field last season and the team allowed the sixth fewest amount of points scored against them. Clearly, the players and coaching staff understand the importance of defense in creating a winning atmosphere.

The one major concern for the Nets is their bench. However, I expect the bench to perform competently. Although Clifford Robinson turns 40 in December, he can definitely provide some outside shooting off the bench. The Nets did receive bad news when they found out that Eddie House, a free agent acquisition from Phoenix, would need knee surgery for a torn meniscus. House had a career year in Phoenix last season in an up-tempo offense, and the Nets do intend to become more up-tempo this season. However, the Nets made a great late first round pick in the draft in June by selecting Connecticut's Marcus Williams. The point guard came from a winning atmosphere in college and will benefit from being Jason Kidd's understudy. At the same time, the Nets will benefit from Williams being able to spell Kidd some rest during the regular season and keep him fresh for the grueling postseason.

2. Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers failed to trade Allen Iverson this summer, and did not make any other significant off-season personnel moves. The team finished last season 38-44 and there isn't reason to think they'll improve.

The 76ers will go as far as Allen Iverson and Chris Webber take them. Although Iverson averaged 33 points per game last season, his highest points per game output since the 2001-2002 season, he is 31 and just completed his 10th NBA year. Many observers wonder how much more abuse Iverson can take on his slight frame and still perform at a future Hall of Famer level.

Chris Webber is not the same player he was before his knee injury in the 2003 playoffs, and he has struggled in the past to fit into the Sixers offensive scheme. However, those struggles do appear to be behind him and he should be able to score about 18 points per game while hitting the boards hard. Defense, however, is another story.

A key factor in the Sixers’ success this year will be the development of Andre Iguodala. The swingman is entering his third season in Philadelphia and has developed a reputation for being a bit passive on the offensive end; understandable, as it can be difficult to get enough touches with Iverson and Webber dominating the basketball. It is essential for Igoudala to demand the ball more on the offensive end and generate more trust amongst his teammates in his ability to produce measurable results on the offensive end.

3. Boston Celtics

The Celtics have an eclectic mix of veterans and young talent, and this mixture doesn’t appear to be one that will produce quality results on the court.

Paul Pierce is one of the few known players on the Celtics. The star had a fantastic season last year for the Celtics, compiling his highest scoring average since the Celtics reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2002. It is even more amazing to think that Pierce achieved this level of success last season with an injured elbow, which appears to now be healthy. However, Pierce no longer fits with the Celtics. He is a veteran with playoff experience on a team that does not figure to contend this season. Pierce may be better served by being traded to a contending team for some young pieces that may better fit the Celtics’ current development scheme.

Wally Szczcerbiak is the other veteran presence on this team. He struggled with injuries but hopes to return to previous glory as a great pure shooter. Backup minutes will go to Gerald Green, who was an absolute steal in the latter part of the first round in 2005.

When a team is young and rebuilding, it is important that they draft well. The Celtics selected Randy Foye with the 7th pick and immediately traded him to Portland for Sebastian Telfair, an undersized point guard who hasn't developed his outside shot. However, Telfair may thrive in a more up-tempo offense, and the Celtics do intend to run more this season. They also added Rajon Rondo, a better defender than Telfair who has a great shot at major minutes.

In addition, Delonte West is a more than adequate point guard, and can start should Telfair fail in Boston. Though it's expected West will be a combo guard and get plenty of minutes at the two.

The Celtics made a shrewd move in adding center Theo Ratliff, an excellent defender and shot blocker. His shot blocking abilities should translate into numerous fast break opportunities that Telfair can lead for the Celtics. He and young developing center Kendrick Perkins will man the middle.

The most important factor to watch for the Celtics is to watch how the young players develop. If Telfair, West, Perkins, Rondo, Green and Al Jefferson progress nicely this season, the Celtics may be able to surprise a lot of teams. If not, the Celtics could easily have a top five pick in the 2007 NBA draft.

4. Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors hired GM Bryan Colangelo away from the Phoenix Suns, and they expect the use Phoenix’s blueprint in building this team. This team wants to run, as evidenced by the decision to trade forward Charlie Villanueva for speedy point guard TJ Ford.

Chris Bosh is the centerpiece of this team, and he has improved his field goal percentage, free throw percentage and points per game average in each of his three seasons in the NBA. He should continue to develop.

Morris Peterson had a career year last season and fits in nicely with the scheme to run more. In addition, the Raptors used the first pick in the June draft to select Italian forward Andrea Bargnani, whose style of play has been compared to Dirk Nowitzki. Bargnani, Bosh and Ford should be the foundation of this team for years to come.

A big concern for the Raptors is the center position. Like Colangelo’s Phoenix Suns of the past, the team lacks a quality big man. Rasho Nesterovic never resembled a quality NBA center in his three years in San Antonio. He was signed in the summer of 2003 in San Antonio to replace future Hall of Famer David Robinson. Although filling Robinson’s shoes would be an arduous task, Nesterovic was a disappointment by any standard.

5. New York Knicks

The Knicks were an embarrassment to the city of New York last season, finishing 23-59. Legendary coach Larry Brown feuded with his team, and was fired acrimoniously after only one season at Madison Square Garden. Owner James Dolan hired GM Isiah Thomas to coach the mismatched roster pieces he put together. Dolan has made it clear that he expects Thomas to have the team demonstrate marked improvement, or he will be fired at season’s end.

The Knicks have a roster of poor shooters, even poorer passers, poor defenders and a poor sense of team cohesion. In addition, many of these players are veterans with very undesirable contracts. Stephon Marbury has never been a great teammate, as evidenced by his self-induced departure from Minnesota and the Suns’ resurgence once he no longer was in Phoenix. Also key is Jamal Crawford, a shooting guard who can’t shoot or pass and Steve Francis, who like Marbury is a scorer in a point guard's body.

Quentin Richardson is an undersized small forward who has never been a good shooter.

Eddy Curry, once known as Baby Shaq, has played more like baby Sam Bowie in his first five years in the NBA.

The best thing for the Knicks this season would be to have a terrible season. The Knicks are in desperate need to rebuild. However, they've absorbed long, bad contracts and Chicago has the option to switch picks with the Knicks in the next Draft. So, the rebuilding process will be long and arduous, but the Knicks organization needs to begin a true rebuilding process, something they have refused to do.

Send David Mitchel an e-mail at david_mitchel@insidehoops.net