PtR Conference Rankings, Part 1: Eastern Conference
by Tim C. on Jul 24, 2010 11:30 PM CDT
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Did you miss us, olf?
[image via www.sportsofboston.com]
The other day, a Bleacher Report article predicted that the Spurs wouldn't make the playoffs, which predictably caused a little bit of a stir around here. Since most of us disagreed, I thought it would be fun to attempt my own rankings of the NBA conferences during the offseason down time. I tried ranking the West last year, and ended up looking pretty foolish, as two of my top three teams fell to a team I predicted to not even make the playoffs (Phoenix). This year, I'm going to try my hand at both conferences, and hopefully do a bit better. We'll start with the East, and then I'll try to crank out the Western rankings in the next few days.
The Playoff Teams
1. Boston Celtics
Key Losses: Rasheed Wallace, Brian Scalabrine and Michael Finley
Key Additions: Jermaine O'Neal, Avery Bradley
The defending conference champs didn't get any weaker over the summer. My only question would be how well Ken Perkins recovers from his injury. With apologies to Miami, four stars is better than three. Especially when they all play defense at a high level. O'Neal will give them decent depth with Perkins' status in question, and Bradley gives them even more defense on the perimeter. The C's may actually be better than they were last year.
2. Orlando Magic
Key Losses: Matt Barnes, Jason Williams?
Key Additons: Quentin Richardson, Daniel Orton
This team's been together quite a while, for the most part, and their team defense is always near the top of the rankings. I still don't understand how Dwight hasn't learned any post moves since entering the league, but I'd rather he not pick them up this summer. Q-Rich gives them a bit more offensive versatility on the perimeter, and Orton is sort of a mystery, but if he pans out, Orlando will suddenly have great frontcourt depth. I'd still like our Spurs to trade for Pietrus if possible.
3. Miami Heat
Key Losses: Quentin Richardson, Michael Beasley, Dorell Wright
Key Additions: Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Mike Miller, Zydrunas Ilgauskas
The superfriends haven't really convinced me yet. My opinion of them might change as soon as they complete their roster, but right now they look to have some pretty shoddy defense, especially on the interior. When things slow down in the playoffs, that would hurt them quite a bit. Offensively, they look incredible, and it's going to be nearly impossible to get stops if they mesh well enough. But the weakness on the other side of the ball makes me think it's better to defer to the teams that have been proven over the last 3 years or so.
4. Chicago Bulls
Key Losses: Hakim Warrick, Brad Miller, Kirk Hinrich
Key Additions: Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, Kurt Thomas, C.J. Watson
This team struggled to find any sort of consistency last year, especially on offense. Tom Thibodeau isn't exactly known for his offensive prowess, but he should be able to tighten up the Chicago defense to be even more impenetrable than it has been over the last 2 seasons. Adding Boozer and his former Utah teammates Korver and Brewer gives the Bulls a good balance of post offense, 3-point shooting and perimeter defense. All this in addition to Rose's slashing/creating, and Noah's interior defense, with Watson and Luol Deng for bench scoring. It seems like these guys all complement each other, so this could turn into a very, very good unit. If they gel, they will be a force to be reckoned with.
5. Atlanta Hawks
Key Losses: Josh Childress
Key Additions: Jordan Crawford
The Hawks didn't really add anything, and I think Joe Johnson is going to start declining now that he's earned signed that ginormous contract. I really don't have anything else to say about these guys.
6. Milwaukee Bucks
Key Losses: Charlie Bell, Dan Gadzuric, Luke Ridnour, Kurt Thomas
Key Additions: Drew Gooden, Jon Brockman, Corey Maggette, Larry Sanders, Chris Douglas-Roberts
I'm scratching my head at the deal Gooden got, but I think the Bucks had a good summer otherwise. Resigning Salmons was a big deal, and trading next to nothing for CDR and Brockman were excellent moves. The only reason I didn't move them ahead of Atlanta is because of the tendency of Skiles to "lose" his teams after a couple of years. If he can hold them together, they'll be better than the Hawks.
7. Charlotte Bobcats
Key Losses: Raymond Felton, Tyson Chandler, Larry Hughes, Theo Ratliff
Key Additions: Shaun Livingston, Dominic McGuire, Eduardo Najera, Matt Carroll
Larry Brown is a great coach, and he loves good defense. That probably explains why Charlotte was the #1 defensive team in the league last year, and their defense may have be improved for the upcoming season. But I don't think this team will get very far in the playoffs with Stephen Jackson as their top scorer, and everyone on this team who isn't Jackson or Gerald Wallace will struggle mightily to score points.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers
Key Losses: Lebron James, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Shaquille O'Neal
Key Additions: Christian Eyenga (2009 draft pick)
Yes, you read that right. I'm picking the newly Lebron-less Cavs to make the playoffs. There's still enough talent left on this team to make the playoffs. But they won't be a factor once they get there. Eyenga's going to be a pretty good player, and Byron Scott knows how to get the most out of his teams. In this case, that means beating out other teams with similar talent levels for the chance to play the East's #1 seed in the first round.
That's right, I have the exact same 8 teams making the playoffs as last year, just in a slightly different order. I'm so edgy.
_________________________________
Outside Looking In
9. New York Knicks
Key Losses: David Lee, Chris Duhon, Eddie House, Tracy McGrady
Key Additions: Amar'e Stoudemire, Anthony Randolph, Raymond Felton, Kelenna Azubuike, Timofey Mozgov, Ronny Turiaf
This was actually a tough call, but I think D'Antoni will get this squad to win just enough games to make the playoff picture more interesting, without getting in themselves. If Chris Paul gets traded here, I would immediately bump them up to 6th or so, but for now they stay outside the playoff group. I'm betting Carmelo could do some serious damage in 2011-12 as a Knick, though. Those are some serious frontcourt upgrades, though, and with a decent half-court coach, they'd easily make the playoffs.
10. New Jersey Nets
Key Losses: Chris Douglas-Roberts, Bobby Simmons, Jarvis Hayes(?)
Key Additions: Anthony Morrow, Derrick Favors, Jordan Farmar, Travis Outlaw
This team was not as bad as the record they put up last year (Minnesota was actually the worst team in the league by far, IMO), and they made some good moves to upgrade their roster this summer. The Lopez/Favors frontcourt could be a nightmare for opponents in a couple of years (if not this year), and Harris, Morrow and Outlaw give them plenty of scoring punch on the perimeter. But their depth chart looks disturbingly thin. And giving Johan Petro a $10 million contract is insane.
11. Philadelphia 76ers
Key Losses: Samuel Dalembert
Key Additions: Andres Nocioni, Spencer Hawes, Evan Turner
Another team that should have had a better record last year, the Sixers added a very good scorer in Turner. It may take him a while, but he'll find his groove and make this team very entertaining to watch, even if they're losing most of their games. Igoudala and Speights are possibly the most athletic forward tandem in the league, and Hawes should be a good fit in the middle. I like this team, and I hope they prove me wrong by making the playoffs. But I won't hold my breath.
12. Detroit Pistons
Key Losses: Ben Wallace
Key Additions: Greg Monroe
Dumars has finally screwed up in the last couple of years, and I can't see things getting a lot better for Detroit. But I like Monroe, and think that he's a good fit for the team they have now, so that should help them win a few more games this year.
13. Indiana Pacers
Key Losses: Earl Watson(?)
Key Additions: Paul George
George is an intriguing prospect, and one of my favorite players from the most recent draft, but the Pacers still don't have a point guard. Does David Kahn hate Indiana? I just can't see this team improving on last season with the moves they haven't made, as unfortunate as that is.
14. Washington Wizards
Key Losses: Mike Miller, Randy Foye, Fabricio Oberto, Josh Howard(?)
Key Additions: John Wall, Kevin Seraphin, Yi Jianlan, Kirk Hinrich
Welcome to the NBA, Gilbert Arenas John Wall. These guys are so redundant that I won't bother explaining why I don't think it will work. Hinrich is a plus, but when will he even play? And they still have no defense in the frontcourt. At all.
15. Toronto Raptors
Key Losses: Chris Bosh, Antoine Wright
Key Additions: Leandro Barbosa, Linas Kleiza, Ed Davis, Solomon Alabi
Bryan Colangelo is giving KAAAAAHHHHNNNN a run for his "worst GM in the league" money. I don't understand the Hedo trade, and giving Amir Johnson huge money is another crazy decision. Add the loss of that Bosh guy, and this team appears to be in free fall.
___________________________________
So that's it. Feel free to tell me where I screwed up, or to give your own rankings here.
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Come on
The Cavs making the playoffs? LOL! I think the Pacers, Nets or Pistons will get that last spot in the East instead of the Cavs. I am from Virginia and my Eastern conference team is the Bobcats but they are one injury away from being a non playoff team so i wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t make it next year. I hope they play well and make it to the playoffs but Wallace has a history of injuries and depending on Stephen Jackson to not get some suspensions the whole season is also something not to bet on. I really like the Pistons to slide into the playoffs next year for some reason though.
One thing i can do...................is FINGER ROLL.
by gunnin' gervin on Jul 24, 2010 11:41 PM CDT reply actions
I forgot about the Knicks sorry asses. Okay so i am saying the Bobcats and Cavs will miss the playoffs and the Pistons and Knicks will make the last two spots in the east.
One thing i can do...................is FINGER ROLL.
by gunnin' gervin on Jul 24, 2010 11:45 PM CDT reply actions
I'm a Boston fan
but i really dont think celts will be no.1 in the regular season. They just aren’t a regular season team. I see some injuries during the regular season and see them at no.3 or 4 seed.
by JaimeP on Jul 25, 2010 12:13 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I agree, a good coach can make a world of difference especially for a team that “underperfomed” last year. Heck, the 76ers may get as high as a 4 seed in the east if things go right for them IMO
by RamblingSpur on Jul 27, 2010 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions
I’m picking the Heat to win it all. Mainly because the NBA conspiracy theorist in me thinks that there is no way in hell David Stern would allow that team to lose. I bet this Heat team will destroy all the time record for free throw attempts, there is just no way that they will be reffed fairly.
I’m not sure who will rise up from your list of non-playoff teams, but I think your 6, 7, and 8 seeds are all going to let you down. The Bucks might not have Bogut at the start of the season, and I think Maggette will disrupt that team and take away from the effectiveness of Salmons and CDR. I don’t like the Bobcats losing Chandler and Felton, although if Livingston were ever able to get back to his pre-injury self, he could more than offset Felton’s loss (and they still have Augustin, who I like as well). But I thought Chandler was a big piece of what they did on offense. Actually the Cavs are the team from your bottom 3 that I would probably trust the most, since I still like Mo Williams, Varejao, Jamison, and JJ Hickson has a lot of potential, but it’s hard to know just how much better those guys were playing because of James, so until we find out how they play without him, I have a hard time trusting them. Knicks, Nets, Sixers, and Wizards would probably be my guesses for teams that could make pushes for those last 3 playoff spots, but I could just see them continuing to be lousy, so who knows.
GO SPURS GO!
Why do you think Stern favors the Heat? It’s true he believes the best way to promote the league if by promoting individual superstars, but at the end of the day Stern reports to the owners. What Wade and LeBron did, and what LeBron is trying to do with Chris Paul, take a lot of power away from the owners. They are not amused.
by doggydogworld on Jul 25, 2010 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions
All these superstars congregating in a few select places does not serve the league in the long term. It destroys parity, and makes a lot of matches very lopsided. In the long run, it will negatively affect the league’s bottom line.
Superstars orchestrating their own moves not only remove some power from team’s FO’s, but will make lame ducks of GM’s whose job description will mostly read – kowtow to star’s ego.
Agree with TD21 and DDW but nice point about Free throws. FTs win games
"Mr. Gilmore deserves to be in the Basketball Hall of Fame damnit. Highest field goal percentage EVER"
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html
by Joe deLarios on Jul 25, 2010 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions
- and that MIA will be shooting a lot, let me put that in Texas terminology a shit ton of free throws every game
"Mr. Gilmore deserves to be in the Basketball Hall of Fame damnit. Highest field goal percentage EVER"
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html
by Joe deLarios on Jul 25, 2010 12:30 PM CDT up reply actions
I think the heat will finish the season with the best record, but not meet expectations in the playoffs. The Knicks I also think have a better squad than the Cavs. I think Larry Sanders is also going to be a productive big man for the Bucks.
i picked indiana. i’m nothing if not loyal to my second favourite team. point guards? maybe tj ford will actually be decent this year? or maybe lance stephenson can be a rookie second-round starting PG in this league? or maybe a.j. price will come back from injury sooner than expected?
…..ok, maybe they won’t make the playoffs.
free malik hairston!
perth wildcats - 2009/2010 nbl champions baby!
by sleep research facility on Jul 25, 2010 1:41 AM CDT reply actions
Aghh. I have to disagree. I don’t see the Cavs making the Playoffs. The heart has been ripped out of the team and they will now slip back into mediocrity. No offense to the team- I don’t hate the Cavs- but they were never a talented team EVEN with Lebron James. As we all well know, they are the team that thrives during the regular season and promptly nosedives in the post season. Though losing Shaq might help the team, losing James and Ilgauskas will kill the team. I see the Cavs joining the ranks of the Knicks, Pacers, and Wizards (I would include the Nets but they might surprise us all and turn around to have a better season).
I don’t put much stock into this super team in Miami. There are too many factors that allow a team to win a championship. I refuse to predict a team’s future BEFORE the season has started! Have we not learned anything from the last year? Let us not underestimate the value of role players either. You live and die by them. The lack of role play has killed the Spurs the past few years; the stepping-up of role players has allowed teams like the Lakers and Celtics to soar (to be fair, the Lakers’ bench sucks but players like Brown, Odom, Artest, and Ariza two years back have stepped up and contributed). The Suns’ success against our beloved team basically rested on the shoulders of Frye, Dragic, and Dudley.
I wait with expectation for the Western Conference. I find the Eastern Conference boring.
Mmmm, I have to disagree a lot with those rankings. Lets make it Bullet style:
-The celtics where a BIG BIG BIG surprise last year. Just EVERYTHING went right for them. I dont see them getting so lucky this year. Everyone is a year older, and that is a very bad thing for an aging celtics team. I like them to bother everyone on the eastern conference….but I see them behind Orlando and the Heat.
-Miami will RULE the regular season. Just watch it. Best in the NBA I think.
-I like Chicago a lot, could even see them getting over the celtics.
-The bucks are a bit weird now with those roster movements…I like them more as an 8th seed.
-I see the cavaliers sucking pretty badly. They’ve lost not only Lebron, but also Shaq and Zidrunas. You cant get very far with Mo Williams as your best player.
-I also think the bobcats will miss the playoofs. Im not sold on DJ augustin.
-Im putting the Knicks and Pistons in…they have so much talent
"Rock and Roll angels bring that HardRock Hallelujah"
I also think the bobcats will miss the playoofs.
Have you been hiding the fact that you’re Canadian all this time?
I always knew someday I was going to go viral - Paul "Double Rainbow" Vasquez
First time I heard that accent was Saturday on Car Talk. Loved it.
"If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert"
- DBG
Car Talk? awesome
"Mr. Gilmore deserves to be in the Basketball Hall of Fame damnit. Highest field goal percentage EVER"
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html
by Joe deLarios on Jul 27, 2010 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions
Don’t forget the Red Green Show.
I always knew someday I was going to go viral - Paul "Double Rainbow" Vasquez
I think the Cavs’ best player is Verajao instead of Mo Williams. He contributes more consistently.
You are only young once, but you can be immature for a lifetime
by the little o on Jul 26, 2010 11:49 PM CDT up reply actions
I think Miami will be the top East team for the season, but their weaknesses will get exposed in the post season when it slows down like you said. Think of the run/gun teams of the Kings and the Mavs of early 2000’s. Great regular season but then fell apart in the post season.
I’m not so sure Miami will be a run and gun team. Cleveland played pretty slow last year, and so did Miami for that matter. And even if Riley tries to recreate Showtime with LeBron as Magic, they don’t suffer from the flaws of a tradition run and gun team. I mean, if they start Lebron, Wade, Miller, Bosh, and Haslem, that’s a pretty beefy line up, so they shouldn’t have any problems on the boards, and Wade, Bosh, and James can all play pretty good defense, and if the other team doees manage to slow pace, it’s not like Wade and James will struggle to create shots in the half court. They probably have the ability to play at whatever pace they want to.
GO SPURS GO!
I think I would have put Hedo as a key loss for Toronto. Even if he was terrible and they wanted to get rid of him. He was probably at least as productive as Josh Childress.
We specialize in misinformation around here. Facts and stats just get in the way.
by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Jul 25, 2010 7:08 AM CDT reply actions
I see the East ending up this way for the regular season.
1. Heat
2. Bulls
3. Hawks
4. Celtics
5. Magic
6. Bucks
7. Knicks
8. Cavaliers
For the playoffs, the Celtics will knockout the Heat in the second round. The Bulls and the Celtics will meet for the Eastern Conference Finals with the Bulls winning it all.
"Keeping the dream alive for 2011!"
yes, wow. below the Hawks and Celtics and Bulls – interesting
"Mr. Gilmore deserves to be in the Basketball Hall of Fame damnit. Highest field goal percentage EVER"
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html
by Joe deLarios on Jul 25, 2010 12:32 PM CDT up reply actions
I agree with the order of the rankings if you’re talking about chances of winning the title, but in terms of playoff seedings, that’s a much tougher thing to approximate.
I also don’t believe the Miami hype machine just yet, primarily because of their defensive deficiencies:
1) Wade is probably the best on-ball defender in that team.
2) I’m also against LeBron being voted in the All-Defense 1st team for the last two years. That’s BS – people were just lured by his spectacular chase-down and weakside help blocks.
3) Bosh is good for a couple of blocks a game just because of his size, but I think he’s nowhere near the level of even a less than 100 percent Garnett on defense.
4) Defense in the paint is really going to be a problem for them. Big Z is too slow now and Joel Anthony is in reality just a 3rd or 4th big on any decent team’s depth chart.
"We choose to go to the moon... and do the other things, not only because they are easy, but because they are hard." - JFK
by silverandblack_davis on Jul 25, 2010 8:17 AM CDT reply actions
Your list is very similar to mine, only I’d flip-flop Atlanta and Miami, and I might include the Knicks and the Nets over the last two. I actually think the last spot will be up for grabs, much the way it is in the West. It will be between the Nets, the Cavs, and the Bobcats.
P.S. the Pistons re-signed Ben Wallace, so he wasn’t a loss.
I meant I’d flip-flop Atlanta and Milwaukee, not Miami.
by slipstream21 on Jul 25, 2010 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions
P.S. the Pistons re-signed Ben Wallace, so he wasn’t a loss.
Time will tell.
by doggydogworld on Jul 25, 2010 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Re: the caption on the pic at the top of the thread
Did you miss us, olf?
You know I did miss those little green F’ers. I actually dug back in the old DVR and watched a couple of the finals games again. And they were still dee-licious.
I have no idea how the east will play out. I don’t usually pay much attention to the east until the spring just because there are so many good teams in the west to battle through and you nave to beat three of them to even get to the finals.
I will enjoy watching Miami, Orl, Boston & Chicago beating on each other. But I have no idea who will end up on top at this point.
Hey if repeating as champions were that easy even the Spurs could do it.
Miami’s chances seem to require that their Big 3 all stay healthy while playing big minutes. I don’t think that is likely. Something seems bound to happen like when Grant Hill joined forces with Tracy McGrady in Orlando or McGrady and Yao became teammates in Houston. It has certainly been difficult if not impossible for the Spurs to have their Big 3 all healthy for the playoffs at the same time; I suspect that Miami may never have it happen. One star down and I don’t think the remainder of the team can carry them all the way to a championship.
Some changes.
Toronto win’t win fewer than 30 games. The Nets won’t win more than 30. The Celtics will be the 5-seed unless Avery Bradley tears it up and Jermaine O’Neal goes back in time. I totally agree about the Cavs, though.
Biggest issue…
BEN WALLACE RESIGNED WITH THE PISTONS!!! Not a key loss if he didn’t leave.
While it seems there have been a number of Sports reports talking about the shift of power to the East, I can’t particularly see it. A shift of power within the East from Cleveland and Toronto to Miami,yes. The Bulls may be better due to players they picked up from Utah, though I don’t know that Utah is much worse for it. It still looks to me that after the top few teams there is a lot of mediocrity and that the 7 & 8 seed may go to teams with sub-.500 records.
As much as I would love to see the superfriends flail about and suffer in the regular season, I just don’t see that happening. I don’t think the east is strong enough to keep them down. They will still have a bunch of games with bottom dwelling teams to put up ridiculous scoring numbers to make the media go gaga all over them. Building them up as the best team ever assembled. LeBron is a giant in the regular season after all. However, as you said before, once the playoffs come around then I believe teams will plan for them better and then it will be over for Miami.
I figure Miami to be the 1 seed. Orlando as the 2. Boston as the 3. Then Chicago to finish at 4. I don’t think it matters after that.
by FANobili on Jul 25, 2010 10:33 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
I think its Ok those 8 teams, the problem is in what order
Boston should be Number 1, they are the eastern champions
I think that if boston want to beat the lakers they need shaq, Yes, Shaq can fight with Dwight and Bynum
Orlando its Ok in number two
The biggest problem and with the heat is the frontcourt defense. Wade, LeBron and Bosh are going to score as hell, YES, but who cant guard Howard and bynum or gasol
I dont know if the Cavs are going to make the playoffs.
Teams that can surprise: Nets and the Knicks
I think the Heat will have the best regular season in the NBA. I think they’ll be very good in the playoffs as well. However, as was painfully reinforced to use this year, matchups matter in the playoffs. I’m curious to see how they play against a team like Orlando (all though the Magic negate this advantage somewhat by playing Lewis at PF) or the Lakers who have excellent bigs.
Your top 4 I agree mostly with. The Celtics are not going to finish with the first seed that is for sure. I think Atlanta might break into the top 4 depending on how healthy the Celtics stay throughout the season. Toronto will not be the worst team in the east.
"If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert"
- DBG
Cleveland is acquiring Sessions and Hollins from the Timberwolves. Guess for who? What does Khan need more than anything??? Delonte West and Sebastian Telfair
"If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert"
- DBG
West is being waived, but apparently not Telfair.
The people of the village fell silent, as the beast opened its mouth. And then the beast spoke, and said "LOL BRO".
I just read that Telfair was expected to be bought out and/or waived as well.
We specialize in misinformation around here. Facts and stats just get in the way.
by Wayne Vore (ATS) on Jul 26, 2010 10:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Nets also got Damion James.
Daniel Orton sucks. He might be good in 2 or 3 years.
I think Toronto depended on Bosh too much last year and will actually be about the same this year without him. They will hover around the 9th/10th spot in that cess pool that always develops in the East.
1. Orlando
2. Miami
3. Boston
4. Chicago
5. Milwaukee (Need Bogut back)
6. New York
7. Atlanta
8. Detroit or Charlotte…I’ll give Larry Brown the edge plus Charlotte is a really active team in terms of trying to change up their roster during a season
I think this sums up NJ’s offseason pretty well, especially the Farmar acquisition (via Brain of Funk):
by slipstream21 on Jul 27, 2010 11:50 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
What’s up guys! I might be new to this site, but I have been reading and keeping up to date with all the Spurs news. Glad to be part of this family! :)
Now, as for the Eastern Conference, here’s what I think may happen:
1. Miami Heat
2. Orlando Magic
3. Boston Celtics
4. Chicago Bulls
5. Milwaukee Bucks
6. Atlanta Hawks
7. Charlotte Bobcats
8. New York Knicks
Just missing the playoffs: 9. Philadelphia 76ers, 10. New Jersey Nets
I will gladly explain my predictions if anybody needs some explanations.
Can’t wait for the season to start! GO SPURS GO!!! :)
Welcome, Marky. Thanks for chiming in.
Bobcats over Knicks, eh? Interesting.
I always knew someday I was going to go viral - Paul "Double Rainbow" Vasquez
Thanks for the welcome, jollyrogerwilco! Oh, and you can call me Mark. I just like using the name Marky G because I think it sounds cool. Haha. :)
Yeah, even though they lost Tyson Chandler, the Bobcats can still make the playoffs if they keep up the great defense they had last season. They were ranked #1 in lowest ppg allowed. Of course, they can thank their coach, Larry Brown, for that and since they retained him, I think they can continue with that great defense.
The Knicks are better, don’t get me wrong. They can probably go as high as the 6th seed, but right now, I think it will take some time for them to gel since they got some new players. So for that reason, I put them 8th. At least, I have the Knicks making the playoffs, unlike Tim. Haha. :P
You don’t think Tim will make the playoffs?
by doggydogworld on Jul 31, 2010 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions
I’m talking about Tim C., the writer. He doesn’t have the Knicks making the playoffs. He has the Cavaliers making it, which I highly doubt it.
OF COURSE OUR GUYS WILL MAKE IT!!!! I would never ever doubt the Spurs. Whenever Tim has his predictions for the West, I’ll tell ya where I think the Spurs could end up.
Hey, Mark. Welcome. That’s a great name ;)
"We choose to go to the moon... and do the other things, not only because they are easy, but because they are hard." - JFK
by silverandblack_davis on Aug 2, 2010 5:46 AM CDT up reply actions
So when’s the Western Conference, Tim?
"Age ain't nothing but a number!" - Reggie Miller after a Dice block
I see Bobcats and Cleveland falling out of playoffs picture, Knicks getting in, and either Nets or Raptors making the playoffs. So, it’s kind of like this:
1. Heat
2. Boston
3. Chicago
4. Orlando
5. Bucks
6. Hawks
7. Knicks
8. Nets/Raptors
"We lost so many games that we shouldn't have lost," - Ginobili, May 2010
Here’s how I see the East:
1. Heat
2. Orlando
3. Boston
4. Team Sucks, Waste of my Time.
5. Team Sucks, Waste of my Time.
6. Team Sucks, Waste of my Time.
7. Team Sucks, Waste of my Time.
8. Team Sucks, Waste of my Time.
"GINOBILI!" -- Sir Charles
"I mean, Dartmouth really sucks and Cornell only beat us by 18. Temple will beat the hell out of Cornell. Promise." -- Me
Follow me on Twitter @DartFred
by Fred Silva on Aug 1, 2010 10:28 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Naw, they are a poor man’s Dallas Mavericks. Simply put, it’s a collection of losers that still lack a proven leader. People love to say Rose is the next big thing, but the kid can’t shoot. We saw what happened to Rondo against the Lakers. You can’t beat a good team if your best player and leader can’t shoot. Boozer is undersized and underwhelming. Korver is very one dimensional. Rose can’t shoot and is 10 times more effective when on the break. When the game matters, it will slow down and his biggest stregnth will be taken away. Noah tries really, really hard but he has no post moves and at 6’11", just doesn’t seem very big to me. So, no. No love for the Bulls. Sucky team, waste of my time.
"GINOBILI!" -- Sir Charles
"I mean, Dartmouth really sucks and Cornell only beat us by 18. Temple will beat the hell out of Cornell. Promise." -- Me
Follow me on Twitter @DartFred
I am just always surprised when I watch Noah play and realize he’s 6’11. I just don’t think he plays that big. He gets rebounds and takes charges. Guys at 6’9" do that well. I just expect a 6’11" guy to alter more shots and be more of a deterrent in the paint.
I guess it’s really the flopping tendency he has that rubs me the wrong way. I can’t stand it when a big guy measures a smaller player up and instead of challenging him at the rim, goes for the charge. I really want a rule that states if you are significantly taller than the guy, you can’t take a charge.
"GINOBILI!" -- Sir Charles
"I mean, Dartmouth really sucks and Cornell only beat us by 18. Temple will beat the hell out of Cornell. Promise." -- Me
Follow me on Twitter @DartFred
You can’t beat a good team if your best player and leader can’t shoot.
Witness AI’s 76ers in ’01.
I always knew someday I was going to go viral - Paul "Double Rainbow" Vasquez
AI was automatic from 15. Guys had to respect his pull up, which allowed him to get in the paint at will. They couldn’t play 6 feet off of him like Kobe played Rajon.
"GINOBILI!" -- Sir Charles
"I mean, Dartmouth really sucks and Cornell only beat us by 18. Temple will beat the hell out of Cornell. Promise." -- Me
Follow me on Twitter @DartFred
Fair enough.
Man, but Allen sure was fast in the day. Only 6 feet tall, and the numbers he put up. Amazine.
I always knew someday I was going to go viral - Paul "Double Rainbow" Vasquez
I still want him on the Spurs. I put up the FanShot a while back.
AI was one of my favorites. When he crossed Jordan. Wow, that guy was special.
"GINOBILI!" -- Sir Charles
"I mean, Dartmouth really sucks and Cornell only beat us by 18. Temple will beat the hell out of Cornell. Promise." -- Me
Follow me on Twitter @DartFred
Subtract the 3 Amigos from the Heat roster, and could you expect much from the remainder? It seems as though they would want at least one of them on the court at all times, and more likely two. If you take an 82 game schedule, vs. just the games they played in, the 3 averaged about 34 minutes per game. That’s 14 minutes on the bench for each per game, multiplied by 3 is 42 minutes. That would mean that all 3 on the court at the same time would only be 6 minutes per game. Any more than 6 minutes, and that means having two on the bench together. If one is out of the game with an injury, the other two play together for only about 20 minutes.
While so far Miami has done better than I expected in putting together a bench, it still seems like it will be quite a drop off whenever one of the three is on the bench. Though the same may be true of any team while their stars sit, Miami seems extra dependent on their stars being in the game.
Interesting analysis. Can’t wait to see how this pans out through the season.
However, I’ll say that I do expect the Wades to be pretty exceptional during the regular season.
I always knew someday I was going to go viral - Paul "Double Rainbow" Vasquez
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