| Eastern Conference Camp Primer |
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Last season's record: 30-52 (5th in Southeast)
Key additions: Al Horford (No. 3 pick in draft), Acie Law IV (No. 11)
Key camp question: Who will be their point guard?
Speedy Claxton, Tyronn Lue, Anthony Johnson and rookie Law each will get a shot at the job. Claxton is the best of the bunch, but he has been injury-prone. Lue and Johnson are capable veterans, but perhaps more suited as backups. Law has the most potential, but still has to learn the NBA game. |
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Last season's record: 24-58 (5th in Atlantic)
Key additions: Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, James Posey, Eddie House
Key losses: Al Jefferson, Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, Gerald Green
Key camp question: Are Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins ready to be starters?
With Garnett and Allen joining Paul Pierce, the Celtics appear poised to contend in the East. But Boston is hoping second-year point guard Rondo and fifth-year center Perkins can hold down two key positions.
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Last season's record: 33-49 (4th in Southeast)
Key additions: Coach Sam Vincent, Jason Richardson, Jared Dudley (No. 22)
Key losses: Coach Bernie Bickerstaff, Brevin Knight
Key camp question: Can Richardson take on the role of go-to guy?
The Bobcats hope the 6-foot-6 shooting guard, acquired in a trade with the Warriors, can provide the clutch late-game scoring the team has lacked. But Richardson must find a way to blend in without disrupting the chemistry of a young team on the rise.
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Last season's record: 49-33 (3rd in Central)
Key additions: Joe Smith, Joakim Noah (No. 9)
Key losses: P.J. Brown
Key camp question: Will Smith be an improvement at power forward?
To replace the 37-year-old Brown, the Bulls pried the 12-year veteran Smith away from the Sixers with a mid-level free-agent deal. They're hoping Smith, 32, can provide similar blue-collar work on defense and the boards, but with a little more offensive production.
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Last season's record: 50-32 (2nd in Central)
Key additions: Devin Brown
Key potential losses: Anderson Varejao, Sasha Pavlovic
Key camp question: Can they avoid a hangover from last year's Finals sweep?
After making no significant roster changes, LeBron James & Co. must find a way to improve from within. It won't help matters if they lose Varejao and/or Pavlovic, both of whom were unsigned restricted free agents as of Monday.
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Last season's record: 53-29 (1st in Central)
Key additions: Jarvis Hayes, Rodney Stuckey (No. 15), Arron Afflalo (No. 27)
Key losses: Chris Webber
Key camp question: What do they do about their hole in the middle?
Webber filled in ably as a Band-Aid last season, but the Pistons are expected to let the 34-year-old walk as a free agent. They're hoping third-year power forward Jason Maxiell can continue his progress, allowing Rasheed Wallace, Antonio McDyess and Nazr Mohammed to share center duties.
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Last season's record: 35-47 (4th in Central)
Key additions: Coach Jim O'Brien Travis Diener, Kareem Rush
Key losses: Coach Rick Carlisle
Key camp question: Will O'Brien be able to change the culture?
The veteran head coach was hired in part to bring stability and discipline to a locker room rocked by controversies the past three seasons. After last year's Stephen Jackson strip-club incident, the Pacers would settle for a quiet training camp.
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Last season's record: 44-38 (1st in Southeast)
Key additions: Smush Parker, Penny Hardaway
Key losses: Jason Kapono, James Posey, Eddie Jones
Key camp question: What kind of shape will Shaq be in?
With Dwyane Wade expected to miss all of camp and the first two weeks of the season to recover from knee and shoulder surgeries, Shaquille O'Neal will be the center of attention. Everybody will want to see if the 35-year-old giant is serious about getting the Heat back to the top.
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