[HaleParticipant]

We all know that the East these past few years has been disgustingly awful. The West had a team with 48 wins miss the playoffs. Half the playoff teams in the East had less then that and in terms of talent the disparity was even greater. However, that was last season. The teams this year (at least playoff-worthy) look much more formidable. I do realize you could probably say the same thing every year but I believe the East will be better next season. The obvious addition of Cleveland goes without saying and won’t be included.

Let’s start with the reigning Eastern Conference champion Heat. Yes, they lost LeBron James and have basically no chance at winning a title. However, Luol Deng, Shabazz Napier, Josh McRoberts, Danny Granger + more moves on the way help. They are still going to be a tough out in the playoffs and a legitimate 45-50 win team assuming Wade comes in motivated. The Bulls were the 4th seed last season. Add in Derrick Rose, Pau Gasol, Doug McDermott and (not posititve but possibly) Nikola Mirotic? That’s a legitimate title contender right there. The starting lineup is loaded and they have a strong bench. The Charlotte Bobcats are another team looking to make a big step up. They were the 7th seed last year and that was Al Jefferson’s first year with the team. Now you add Noah Vonleh as a fantastic fit next to him, along with the ultra talented Lance Stephenson. Not to mention Cody Zeller looked to be making nice strides at the end of last season and MKG is a guy I think who will breakout this year. Defensively they were fantastic last season and should be even better this year. Now they have more offensive weapons (especially if Hairston plays).

I’ll group Toronto and Washington together because they are very similar.  They were the #3 and #5 seeds respectively last year. They both have young cores who will have much more familarity next season. The Raptors took off last season after they dealt Rudy Gay to the Kings. Now they will be able to do that for an entire season with a more battle tested Demar/Jonas/Ross. The Wizards are in the same boat. They retained virtually all of their pieces from last year only they replaced a career journeyman in Trevor Ariza for Paul Pierce on a much cheaper deal. Pierce may not be who he used to be but he can be the veteran leader this team needs to take the next step. He can show Wall and Beal some good winning habits and when called upon will still be able to provide something on offense. Even the Hawks should be better next season.

You can point to the fact that teams like the Nets and Pacers should decline. I’d argue that the Nets would’ve anyway and that the Pacers should still be a good team if they reclaim the identity that made them good in the first place. Instead of thinking of themselves as stars they need to go back to being the tough, scrappy underdogs. Paul George continues to improve every year so next year he could still lead them to a good spot. Brook Lopez will be back for Brooklyn too.

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

The thing is, lots of fans think there are more LEGIT contenders out west then there really are.  Yeah, there are 5 or 6 really, really good teams but not all of them are legit title contenders.

This season, the Cavs and Bulls look good.  The West has two legit title contenders in OKC and San Antonio along with dark horse threats like the Clippers, Warriors, and Grizzlies.  … depending on what the Pacers do now (and if Stuckey moves the needle) they would be a fringe contender for the East.

The East and West should be a lot closer in talent level this year. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

The thing is, lots of fans think there are more LEGIT contenders out west then there really are.  Yeah, there are 5 or 6 really, really good teams but not all of them are legit title contenders.

This season, the Cavs and Bulls look good.  The West has two legit title contenders in OKC and San Antonio along with dark horse threats like the Clippers, Warriors, and Grizzlies.  … depending on what the Pacers do now (and if Stuckey moves the needle) they would be a fringe contender for the East.

The East and West should be a lot closer in talent level this year. 

[BogDon_KryptParticipant]

Hate to be that guy Magic Jordan, but while I agree with you on the whole, it is rare but possible to be in your prime at 35.

Alex English’s prime was from the age of 28-35 (averaging at least 25 ppg each season) and Steve Nash’s prime was somewhere between the ages of 29 and 36. Robert Parish also had one of the best seasons of his career at the age of 35 and then had a steady decline afterwards.

But seeing as how both Dragic and Lowry are both 28, relatively injury free and have little tread on their tires, one is just as likely as the other to play at a high level for a longer time.

[BogDon_KryptParticipant]

Hate to be that guy Magic Jordan, but while I agree with you on the whole, it is rare but possible to be in your prime at 35.

Alex English’s prime was from the age of 28-35 (averaging at least 25 ppg each season) and Steve Nash’s prime was somewhere between the ages of 29 and 36. Robert Parish also had one of the best seasons of his career at the age of 35 and then had a steady decline afterwards.

But seeing as how both Dragic and Lowry are both 28, relatively injury free and have little tread on their tires, one is just as likely as the other to play at a high level for a longer time.

[FearTheStacheParticipant]

What are you responding too? so confused

[FearTheStacheParticipant]

What are you responding too? so confused

[NeggedNoelSaric]

lol

[NeggedNoelSaric]

lol

[TimberTrollParticipant]

 That right there is why we should be able to delete are comments. At least give us more than a minute – or whatever it is – to edit are comment.

[TimberTrollParticipant]

 That right there is why we should be able to delete are comments. At least give us more than a minute – or whatever it is – to edit are comment.

[SpartanGloryParticipant]

 I think the Mavs deserve mention as a contendor. With chandler, dirk, and Ellis , they have a strong chance at making it to the west finals.

[SpartanGloryParticipant]

 I think the Mavs deserve mention as a contendor. With chandler, dirk, and Ellis , they have a strong chance at making it to the west finals.

[UnbiasedObserverParticipant]

The only problem with that is that we are talking about the Eastern conference in this thread.

[UnbiasedObserverParticipant]

The only problem with that is that we are talking about the Eastern conference in this thread.

[joecheck88Participant]

 I’m fairly confident the 8th seed in the east will be at least .500 this year. On paper I think most teams in the east improved on paper sans Miami who should still win at least 45 games. 

[joecheck88Participant]

 I’m fairly confident the 8th seed in the east will be at least .500 this year. On paper I think most teams in the east improved on paper sans Miami who should still win at least 45 games. 

[SmooveKRYPTParticipant]

The Eastern Conference has definitely improved this offseason. They have 7 legitimate playoff caliber teams now and 3 others who will be right in the mix for the last spot.

Cleveland and Chicago are obviously the class of the east now and should be the favorites. They both made splashes in free agency and are poised to be in the ECF and battling for a spot in the finals.

Miami & Indiana are both battle tested teams and though they might have taken a step back with the losses of LeBron and Lance respectively, they retooled nicely and should still have strong seasons.

Toronto, Washington, & Charlotte. The young up & comers who made strides last year and should only continue to improve from within with the growth of their young guys.

-The Raptors virtually stayed the same and look to be banking on steps up from Jonas & Ross, and continued leadership from Lowry and Demar

-The Wizards also stayed mostly the same except for Pierce replacing Ariza. They’ll probably miss Ariza defensively but Pierce gives them another shot creator late in games. Otto Porter is also healthy and is looking like a player that made him a pick in last years draft, he should have a nice role off the bench and could be an x-factor.

-The Hornets struck gold with the Al Jefferson signing last summer and should only continue to improve with him, Kemba, MKG, and the PF duo of Zeller and Vonleh. They have some nice bench pieces with Neal, Hairston, Henderson, Biyombo. & if Lance Stephenson can continue to display his dynamic talent while staying under control they could be even better this year.

Last spot: Brooklyn, Atlanta, New York

Brooklyn lost Pierce & Livingston, Garnett is up in the air, and they got a year older. That Boston trade is looking worse and worse by the day and those unprotected picks could come back to haunt them. They have Kirilenko and Jack to fill the roles of Pierce and Livingston, so they should still be good. But D Will and Brook are constant injury risks and they also have a new coach. Plenty of uncertainty, but a talented group of vets should still be right there in the playoff mix.

Atlanta added some defenders at the 2 in Sefolosha & Bazemore. Horford has to stay healthy this year for them to be a player. The bench has some young role players who can produce in Schroeder, Bazemore, Carrol, Payne, & Antic. They were the 8 seed last year and should battle for it again this year.

NY Knicks are a wild card. Melo had maybe his best year yet and they still fell apart and missed the playoffs. Chandler is out & Felton are out. Calderon, Dalembert in. New coach, new management, triangle offense system. They’re an interesting team with offensive firepower. It wouldn’t surprise me if they’re right there for the 8 seed, but it also wouldn’t surprise me for them to have a losing record and be a 10 or 11 seed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SmooveKRYPTParticipant]

The Eastern Conference has definitely improved this offseason. They have 7 legitimate playoff caliber teams now and 3 others who will be right in the mix for the last spot.

Cleveland and Chicago are obviously the class of the east now and should be the favorites. They both made splashes in free agency and are poised to be in the ECF and battling for a spot in the finals.

Miami & Indiana are both battle tested teams and though they might have taken a step back with the losses of LeBron and Lance respectively, they retooled nicely and should still have strong seasons.

Toronto, Washington, & Charlotte. The young up & comers who made strides last year and should only continue to improve from within with the growth of their young guys.

-The Raptors virtually stayed the same and look to be banking on steps up from Jonas & Ross, and continued leadership from Lowry and Demar

-The Wizards also stayed mostly the same except for Pierce replacing Ariza. They’ll probably miss Ariza defensively but Pierce gives them another shot creator late in games. Otto Porter is also healthy and is looking like a player that made him a pick in last years draft, he should have a nice role off the bench and could be an x-factor.

-The Hornets struck gold with the Al Jefferson signing last summer and should only continue to improve with him, Kemba, MKG, and the PF duo of Zeller and Vonleh. They have some nice bench pieces with Neal, Hairston, Henderson, Biyombo. & if Lance Stephenson can continue to display his dynamic talent while staying under control they could be even better this year.

Last spot: Brooklyn, Atlanta, New York

Brooklyn lost Pierce & Livingston, Garnett is up in the air, and they got a year older. That Boston trade is looking worse and worse by the day and those unprotected picks could come back to haunt them. They have Kirilenko and Jack to fill the roles of Pierce and Livingston, so they should still be good. But D Will and Brook are constant injury risks and they also have a new coach. Plenty of uncertainty, but a talented group of vets should still be right there in the playoff mix.

Atlanta added some defenders at the 2 in Sefolosha & Bazemore. Horford has to stay healthy this year for them to be a player. The bench has some young role players who can produce in Schroeder, Bazemore, Carrol, Payne, & Antic. They were the 8 seed last year and should battle for it again this year.

NY Knicks are a wild card. Melo had maybe his best year yet and they still fell apart and missed the playoffs. Chandler is out & Felton are out. Calderon, Dalembert in. New coach, new management, triangle offense system. They’re an interesting team with offensive firepower. It wouldn’t surprise me if they’re right there for the 8 seed, but it also wouldn’t surprise me for them to have a losing record and be a 10 or 11 seed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Author]

Posts