The start of training camp is only six weeks away, with many players returning to their team practice facilities the week after Labor Day to participate in "informals" (small group workouts and glorified pickup runs). Most teams have a clear idea of who their personnel will be and expectations have been set internally, but there's always a level of uncertainty entering camp, burning questions that each team must ask itself, the answers to which usually hold a key indicator to the level of success that will be achieved this season.
Each day, we'll tackle a different division in the Eastern Conference and answer burning questions for every team. Today, we start with the Southeast Division.

BURNING QUESTIONS:
Northwest | Pacific | Southwest | Southeast
1. Were the Miami Heat's weaknesses exposed or are they even better?


An easy way to look at the evolution of the Heat and their roster is the cliché "what does not kill you makes you stronger." The San Antonio Spurs would have won the NBA championship were it not for Ray Allen's corner 3-pointer -- a product of the Spurs' "leave them open" defensive strategy. LeBron James finally figured out the proper mindset and came through in Game 7.
It's fair to assume more teams will mimic the Spurs' style -- I wrote about this last week -- just as it's fair to guess Miami's players understand what the rest of the league will try to do and worked on their jump shots all summer. If that is the case, each player will return with a fresh reference point of his value, and each will have a mountain of experience in attacking that soft defensive plan come the 2013-14 postseason. For the two-time defending champs, there remains one big question -- a big, 7-foot-tall question.


1A. Just what can the Heat get from Greg Oden?
If the answer is "rebounds, good hands in the paint and a rim protector," then remaining healthy is all that stands in the way of the Heat from winning a third straight title.

2. Did Josh Smith keep the Atlanta Hawks from reaching their potential?


Sure, Smith is an elite athlete with better overall skill than he's known for, but he never has been as efficient or played as consistently and intelligently as he needed to for the Hawks to rise to new levels of success. Paul Millsap might be a big upgrade, and the Hawks have a number of talented and quick guards who can grow into fine, if not great, players. Losing Smith will hurt Atlanta's shot-block numbers, but if it can maintain its overall defensive play and improve one of its bigs on offense -- which is entirely possible -- it should expect a better season in 2013-14.
3. Will John Wall be an elite player for the Washington Wizards?


The Wizards are primed for a big improvement this season, and not just because they finished 2012-13 far stronger than they started it. Their roster has a lot of talent, and they have some young players who seem ready to have career seasons. But Wall is the difference-maker. He's likely the league's fastest point guard with the ball.
And he's the best passer of the "elite athletes" who play the position. If he can score efficiently while improving as a shooter and continue to create buckets for his teammates at a high level, then the Wizards can make the biggest jump of any team in the NBA.

4. How do the Orlando Magic successfully develop Victor Oladipo alongside Maurice Harkless and Tobias Harris?


Every team wants to have three talented young players, but developing all of them at once is not simple. The Thunder were able to develop four (Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Serge Ibaka), but they played different positions. And even then, Harden needed to leave the team to reach his full potential.
Harkless, Harris and Oladipo play the wing spots, and unless they allow Harris to play some power forward (a likely plan), at any one time, one of them will have to sit on the bench. Oladipo was by far the highest draft pick, but Harkless and Harris already have proved to be effective NBA players who can get a lot better. Also, both of them are younger than Oladipo. If handled correctly, the Magic will have the beginnings of an excellent core and a bright future.

5. Just who is Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and how good can he be for the Charlotte Bobcats this season?


The list of No. 2 overall picks who have been huge disappointments is a long and scary one. Kidd-Gilchrist did not impress anyone last season, but he still is young. His length and power -- huge advantages when he was playing with high school and college players -- are not close to being as advantageous now and suggest he has to develop far more skill to be even a reasonably good NBA player.
To be a great player, something the Bobcats desperately need, Kidd-Gilchrist will have to make huge strides in both offensive skill and assertiveness. For starters, Charlotte would be happy to simply see him emerge as a special wing defender, knowing that there still remains some time for him to grow on offense. But that growth must start in 2013-14.