NBA 2008-2009 Season Assessments - Eastern Conference

With his newly minted Melting Pot Thoughts t-shirt in hand (specifically for all members who contribute to the livelihood of this blog) my boy NYSTOM is back in the house with some of his assessments for the season. I told you guys that he's the stat guy and with that in mind, he has put together a listing for all 30 teams. This listing provides his take on the MVPM (most valuable player per minute), LVPM (least valuable player per minute), his sleepers on each team and starters. It's all some mumbo jumbo to me (at times), but you take a look and digest. Let us know what you think.


Legend:
Most value per minute/least value per minute = only regular rotation guys; doesn’t include guys who rarely or never get off the bench
NYSTOM sleeper candidates = players who will have significantly better stats than last season
NYSTOM starters = *not* necessarily the best players at each position for each team, but instead a projection of who will start the most games over the course of the year and/or will be starting by the end of the year, for whatever reason (e.g., injuries and decisions by teams to get more firepower off of bench)

Atlanta Hawks:
MVPM---Zaza Pachulia, Joe Johnson, Ronald Murray
LVPM---Maurice Evans
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Al Horford
NYSTOM starters---Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, Zaza Pachulia, Acie Law, Joe Johnson

Boston Celtics:
MVPM---Kevin Garnett, Eddie House, Paul Pierce
LVPM---Brian Scalabrine
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Leon Powe
NYSTOM starters---Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Kendrick Perkins, Eddie House, Ray Allen

Charlotte Bobcats:
MVPM---Gerald Wallace, Adam Morrison, Jason Richardson
LVPM---Alexis Ajinca
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Adam Morrison
NYSTOM starters---Emeka Okafor, Gerald Wallace, Nazr Mohammed, Raymond Felton, Jason Richardson

Chicago Bulls:
MVPM---Tyrus Thomas, Derrick Rose, Drew Gooden
LVPM---Demetris Nichols
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Drew Gooden
NYSTOM starters---Tyrus Thomas, Luol Deng, Aaron Gray, Derrick Rose, Larry Hughes

Cleveland Cavaliers:
MVPM---LeBron James, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Delonte West
LVPM---Sasha Pavlovic
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Delonte West
NYSTOM starters---Ben Wallace, LeBron James, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Daniel Gibson, Delonte West

Detroit Pistons:
MVPM---Arron Afflalo, Chauncey Billups, Rodney Stuckey
LVPM---Walter Sharpe
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Richard Hamilton
NYSTOM starters---Jason Maxiell, Tayshaun Prince, Antonio McDyess, Chauncey Billups, Arron Afflalo

Indiana Pacers:
MVPM---T. J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, Roy Hibbert
LVPM---Josh McRoberts
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Jeff Foster
NYSTOM starters---Troy Murphy, Danny Granger, Rasho Nesterovic, T. J. Ford, Marquis Daniels

Miami Heat:
MVPM---Dwyane Wade, Michael Beasley, Udonis Haslem
LVPM---Yakhouba Diawara
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Udonis Haslem
NYSTOM starters---Michael Beasley, Shawn Marion, Mark Blount, Marcus Banks, Dwyane Wade

Milwaukee Bucks:
MVPM---Charlie Villanueva, Michael Redd, Luke Ridnour
LVPM---Joe Alexander
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Charlie Villanueva
NYSTOM starters---Charlie Villanueva, Luc Richard, Andrew Bogut, Luke Ridnour, Michael Redd

New Jersey Nets:
MVPM---Vince Carter, Brook Lopez, Devin Harris
LVPM---Trenton Hassell
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Devin Harris
NYSTOM starters---Ryan Anderson, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Brook Lopez, Devin Harris, Vince Carter

New York Knicks:
MVPM---Mardy Collins, Wilson Chandler, Nate Robinson
LVPM---Quentin Richardson
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Zach Randolph
NYSTOM starters---David Lee, Wilson Chandler, Zach Randolph, Nate Robinson, Mardy Collins

Orlando Magic:
MVPM---Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, J. J. Redick
LVPM---Keith Bogans
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---J. J. Redick
NYSTOM starters---Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu, Dwight Howard, Anthony Johnson, J. J. Redick

Philadelphia 76ers:
MVPM---Louis Williams, Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala
LVPM---Kareem Rush
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Willie Green
NYSTOM starters---Elton Brand, Thaddeus Young, Marreese Speights, Louis Williams, Andre Iguodala

Toronto Raptors:
MVPM---Chris Bosh, Jose Calderon, Kris Humphries
LVPM---Jason Kapono
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Jermaine O’Neal
NYSTOM starters---Chris Bosh, Joey Graham, Jermaine O’Neal, Jose Calderon, Anthony Parker

Washington Wizards:
MVPM---JaVale McGee, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison
LVPM---Darius Songaila
NYSTOM sleeper candidate---Antawn Jamison
NYSTOM starters---JaVale McGee, Caron Butler, Etan Thomas, Antonio Daniels, DeShawn Stevenson

Do you agree or disagree with these rankings? Post your comments.