My eastern conference predictions

by Taylor Bartle on Sep 23, 2010 3:38 PM EDT

So I think it's a given that everyone thinks the Heat will win the east, and I'm no exception. Orlando, Chicago and Boston will all be battling for the 2 seed. From there it's kind of a toss-up, but this is how I see it;

1) Miami Heat

If Gilbert Arenas can come back as the player he was always meant to be, Washington could be on the bubble. New Jersey has a VERY slight chance if Brook Lopez plays out of his mind and Derrick Favors is the beast he's being played up as. The Knicks could possibly go up to 5 or drop to 7, so I stuck them right in the middle at 6. Granted, these are all assuming Carmelo Anthony is still out west.

Thoughts?

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I was gonna make a similar post the other day

I have the same top 3 but I think the Knicks are a lock for the 7 or 8. I just don’t see them being better than the Hawks or Bucks. I actually think the Bucks will be the 4 or 5. I know it’s been talked about here and alot of people disagree, but I’m pretty high on MIL. I think they’re going to be very good.

I’d personally slide ATL down to 6 I guess, just because they don’t have any good PGs and no true center. Plus the stuff with Jamal may create bad chemistry. However, I still think they’re a team that could win like 48 or 49 games.

I personally predicted 44 for our Knicks so I’m sticking with them at the 7. 8th seed is a toss-up.

by WSD on Sep 23, 2010 5:02 PM EDT reply actions

with Bogut looking like he is all ready to go

I agree that the Bucks will be a very good team this year.

I am a fan of both the mets and knicks... so just kill me now.

by gbaked on Sep 23, 2010 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions

There is no way the Bobcats make the playoffs again this year

by flossy on Sep 23, 2010 5:35 PM EDT reply actions

yeah

id put cleveland in there instead (no joke).

"Game Knows Game"

by Ray Smuckles on Sep 24, 2010 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

I think they’re a borderline playoff team even without LBJ

by WSD on Sep 24, 2010 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions

if they get harris, that might change things

he could keep them on the pace they were from last year.

/// aighttho.com \\/// twitter.com/aighttho \\

by stingy d on Sep 25, 2010 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions

i agree, the Melo trade would change things

It depends on whether they get Devin Harris or the pile of hot garbage that wore his uniform last season

by flossy on Sep 25, 2010 11:37 AM EDT up reply actions

probably something in between those two

/// aighttho.com \/// twitter.com/aighttho \

by stingy d on Sep 25, 2010 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

I cannot imagine why anyone has the Bobcats making the playoffs this year.

And maybe the problem is with me, because even sportswriters are picking them to be in the playoffs. I just can’t imagine why. Kwame Brown?

They will be for!

by StarksMiddleFinger on Sep 23, 2010 5:38 PM EDT reply actions

Had they kept Dampier

Despite his contract, they’d have a shot. To me it’s still between the Bobcats and the Cavs. I honestly don’t see the Cavs being that bad this season. I think the Knicks are the lock for the 7th seed. The Nets and Pacers might have a chance if something or somebody really clicks.

by WSD on Sep 23, 2010 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions

for me

it was because, well, who else? NJ? Washington? Toronto? I just don’t see anyone else that could take that spot.

by Taylor Bartle on Sep 23, 2010 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Washington, Indiana, Philadelphia

If Arenas returns to form and he and Wall click, they could be dangerous—Blatche and McGee are a decent young frontcourt too. If Collison makes a big impact for the Pacers, maybe they contend for the last spot? The Sixers seem to always underachieve but you would think Lou Williams, Jrue Holiday, Turner, Iggy, Young, could win them some games… if Brand can come back from the dead, look out for them.

This offseason it almost seemed like the Bobcats didn’t want to go back to the playoffs. You let your starting PG go and don’t replace him or even bring in a decent back-up for his former back-up, and instead give a big contract to Tyrus Thomas? Slowly but steadily downgrading from Okafor to Chandler to Dampier to Kwame Brown?? Really??? WHY?

by flossy on Sep 23, 2010 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh please.

Just because you guys got Felton now don’t think he’s great. You obviously didn’t watch Jameer destroy him in the playoffs. As for Chandler? The guy that wasn’t there for half of the year? Yeah, ok. We’re not worried about that. We still have two players that are top 5 in their posistions. More than I can say for the Knicks.

by Charlotte Bobcat on Sep 28, 2010 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions

A few games in one year doesn't make a career.

No one is saying Felton is ‘great’. But as a PG who seemed to excel in a high octane offense at UNC and was running a half-court system in Charlotte… it is fair to say that he may just blossom with the Knicks and their fast paced offense as it will be a return to the style of play he prefers.

Also, kudos on keeping Crash and Stephen Jackson. But the point made by flossy was that Charlotte is weakened at arguably the two most important positions in the NBA. DJ Augustin and Kwame Brown/Nazr Mohammed are clearly not upgrades from Ray Felton/Tyson Chandler or Erick Dampier.

Thanks for dropping by! Twas a pleasure to have you and your cheerfulness!!

"you're the Rod Thorn in my Chris Bosh side."

by Chris Child's Fist on Sep 30, 2010 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

look, dont get the wrong idea.

I’m not saying felton is garbage, but I am saying he can be replaced. Easily. At least here. I hope he succeeds in new York, and I believe he will, but no one here misses him that much. I’m a unc and bobcats fan, so I have watched him his whole career. He has maxed out his potential. But a different system may be just what he needs to take more advantage of his strengths. I never said that brown or d.j. were upgrades, they are downgrades. However, not by much. D.j. outshined ray his rookie year and we through a sophomore slump. Chandler missed half of the year. So, we aren’t set in those areas, but we have something to work with in the meantime. Jackson, Wallace, and Thomas are our core. As long as they are there, we are at the least playoff caliber. And I would argue that pg and center are not the two most important spots. Miami is penciled in as a title contender despite their weaknesses in those spots, the Lakers have won two straight championships with pg being their weakest spot and an often injured center, and when the celtics won the title a few years back, Rondo and Perkins were considered their biggest weaknesses.

by Charlotte Bobcat on Oct 2, 2010 5:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't consider it a given that Miami wins the East

I’m not anointing them a damn thing until they play and prove themselves.

The only thing I’m willing to agree on is the East and West have a closer balance of very good teams than in past years.

"you're the Rod Thorn in my Chris Bosh side."

by Chris Child's Fist on Sep 23, 2010 7:08 PM EDT reply actions

Orlando and Atlanta are the same

The east has gotten way better in Miami and Chicago and much better in Boston and Milwaukee. Chicago is stacked (Korver, Deng, Noah, Kurt Thomas, Brewer)
Orlando and Atlanta look the same, which isn’t going to cut it. PLUS – Orlando played like trash in the playoffs last year. They had the most lackluster wins I ever saw—dowrightboring.

by LetsGo2010 on Sep 24, 2010 2:55 AM EDT reply actions

But Orlando and ATL are still very good teams

Their best players are still developing. Howard, Nelson, Reddick for the Magic, and Horford and J-Smith for the Hawks. Orlando will be fine and if the Hawks can get the Crawford situation figured out, and keep team chemistry together, they’re still just as good.

Also, you’re thinking of the Magic during the Celtics series. They sucked then but, against Charlotte and Atlanta, they destroyed. They were downright dominant. After the Semi’s, everyone had Orlando going to the Finals.

And as far as Chicago, you left out those two guys, Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer. But yeah, they will be very good too

by WSD on Sep 24, 2010 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

no, I'm including the ATL series

Even though the Magic beat ATL, those wins were boring and lackluster. Pietrus got worse, Rashard Lewis is the anti-clutch and Howard is good, but he plays too soft sometimes (given how big he is). the only improvement I had seen was Reddick.

by LetsGo2010 on Sep 25, 2010 3:55 AM EDT up reply actions

We must have been watching different Orlando/Atlanta matchups

because the series I saw was all about how Orlando thoroughly dominated Atlanta EVEN as Dwight Howard spent much of the series on the bench. Pietrus and Nelson played lockdown defense and Orlando hounded the Hawks every game. Reddick had a breakout playoffs. Rashard Lewis played better than he had during the season too. The Hawks tried to get Howard to foul out and keep him frustrated and they succeeded in that… but they didn’t expect the Magic to destroy them anyways. Seriously, man… that Orlando team is excellent.

"you're the Rod Thorn in my Chris Bosh side."

by Chris Child's Fist on Sep 25, 2010 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions

In regards to Howard

That was the Charlotte series they kept him in foul trouble and on the bench. It Nelson who carried them in that series cause he lit up Ray Ray. In the ATL series, Howard was pretty dominant and didnt foul that much actually. On top of that he probably shot close to 70% on FT’s and since ATL kept fouling him to stop him, that resulted in like 8-13 from the line every night.

And Lewis choked against Boston but particularly against Atlanta he was beastly. Cuase the Hawks switched on every screen, he kept posting up smaller guys, and Lewis actually has a deadly mid-range and back-to-the-basket game/

I agree with Chris, the Magic are an excellent team.

by WSD on Sep 25, 2010 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions

i don't think we're better than the bucks

the bobcats are dead meat.

the nets will be much much better.

and i don’t think the wizards will figure it out. if gilbert is back to his old self- it could slow wall’s growth, if gilbert is not so special- wall will have to much to do to make them succesful (similar to tyreke evans)

but its the sixers that i’m concerned with. they are gonna be in the mix. i thought they would be last year. but this year, i think they got a whole lot better.

/// aighttho.com \\\/// twitter.com/aighttho \\\

by stingy d on Sep 24, 2010 10:25 AM EDT reply actions

dont forget indiana

i got indiana over philly and the wiz

"they try to do what he do, and been where he's been, but they get folded in two.....he's the dude"

by semsemma on Sep 24, 2010 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions

dont forget indiana

i got indiana over philly and the wiz

"they try to do what he do, and been where he's been, but they get folded in two.....he's the dude"

by semsemma on Sep 24, 2010 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't. Indy is already playing for next season...they have a lot of upcoming capspace

"you're the Rod Thorn in my Chris Bosh side."

by Chris Child's Fist on Sep 24, 2010 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions

alas

Alas, Why do people love that Atlanta squad so much?

by Mongoke on Sep 24, 2010 11:38 AM EDT reply actions

I don't love them

But they are undeniably good. They have a great core. If they could get a true starting C and a young, trustable PG, they’d be deadly. Right now they still are a 50 win team and you can’t overlook that

by WSD on Sep 24, 2010 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions

They have great games

but their flaws are horribly exposed when playing against oversized teams. Horford is just too little for Howard, Shaq, Bynum, etc……Joe Johnson is overrated (and overpaid)—-I’d rather have Manu Ginobli (more clutch) and J Smooth is a showboating solo-artist. I loved them during the season, but hated them in the playoffs.

by LetsGo2010 on Sep 25, 2010 3:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Same

Their flaws were definitely exposed in the playoffs. I wouldn’t say Joe Johnson is overrated, his contract just makes it look that way. He’s actually super quiet in terms of his stardom and if you think about it, not many guys have 20-5-5 seaons like 4 years in a row, like he has.

Unfortunately for that Atlanta team, it’s never going to come all the way together. Johnson would be an amazing number 2 next to a dominant center, but even if Horford or J-Smooth reach like super star status, Johnson’s on the downhill, and they just won’t ever reach that championship level.

by WSD on Sep 25, 2010 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions