[valentine]

 After the All Star break, just two of the top 9 teams were from the East:

CLE had the 5th best post-ASB record, 20-7, and BOS had the 6th best record, 20-11.

Most of the East teams that you think are going to be pretty good were actually falling apart at the seams for the last 30 games.

Bulls were only 16-12, and now they’re even older.

Wizards were 13-15, falling apart but saved by the season ending.

Raptors were 13-16, totally stumbling and filled with self-doubt.

Bucks were 11-18, barely backing into the playoffs

Pistons were 11-17, what’s new?

Hornets finished 11-19.

Even the Hawks were only 17-11, not nearly as impressive as their start to the season.

 

When a team basically falls apart at the end of the year, despite fighting for playoff seeding and playoffs period, it should be a red flag that the chemistry may be bad, very bad, so bad that a late-season melt-down might even be anticipated the next year.

Certainly a team that fell apart shouldn’t be cavalierly declared a good team the next year, based on the team’s overall record or hot start to the previous season.

A lot of the teams that crumbled down the stretch were East teams, and it might be somewhat hard to underrate the conference this year.

Celtics have all the momentum in the East. Even Cleveland is facing an uphill battle for the #1 seed.

stats.nba.com/league/team/

 

 

 

 

 

[BallerScriptParticipant]

 Nah, I’m pretty sure I already knew they were that weak.

But thanks anyway for the reminder of how the aside from the paper, the stats prove it more.

 

[BallerScriptParticipant]

 Nah, I’m pretty sure I already knew they were that weak.

But thanks anyway for the reminder of how the aside from the paper, the stats prove it more.

 

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 Boston’s that good huh?

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 Boston’s that good huh?

[T Rex]

 One of Toronto, Chicago, or Atlanta might overperform, but the Celtics have that Butler/Hoosiers/Rudy thing going for them. They’re the hungriest of all the top teams. Even Cleveland acting like Apollo Creed right now sleeping on Rocky with their power struggles.

 

 

[T Rex]

 One of Toronto, Chicago, or Atlanta might overperform, but the Celtics have that Butler/Hoosiers/Rudy thing going for them. They’re the hungriest of all the top teams. Even Cleveland acting like Apollo Creed right now sleeping on Rocky with their power struggles.

 

 

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

First of all, yes, the East is a lot weaker in general than people think. Compared to the best teams in the West probably only the Caveliers have what it takes to win the Finals. Having said that, the teams you mentioned obviously were not plagued by bad chemistry. For every team there are various others reasons why they struggled down the stretch. Bulls were plagued by injuries the whole year, combined with the demanding coaching style from Thibs. Health permitted they will end up in the top 4. Then the Raptors, Hawks and Bucks simply ran out of gas at the end, playing better, more meaningful basketball than they did the years before. If they can get back to where they were halfway the season they will all be better than the Celtics imo.

Prediction:
Caveliers (the ‘James’-effect)
Bulls
Hawks
Heat (depending on the health of Bosh)
Wizards
(5-9): Bucks, Raptors, Pacers, Celtics (for me these will be the teams battling for the final play-off spots; the Bucks have the length and the defense, the Raptors the most established team, the Celtics have depth and talent, and the Pacers are the wild-card of the season).

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

First of all, yes, the East is a lot weaker in general than people think. Compared to the best teams in the West probably only the Caveliers have what it takes to win the Finals. Having said that, the teams you mentioned obviously were not plagued by bad chemistry. For every team there are various others reasons why they struggled down the stretch. Bulls were plagued by injuries the whole year, combined with the demanding coaching style from Thibs. Health permitted they will end up in the top 4. Then the Raptors, Hawks and Bucks simply ran out of gas at the end, playing better, more meaningful basketball than they did the years before. If they can get back to where they were halfway the season they will all be better than the Celtics imo.

Prediction:
Caveliers (the ‘James’-effect)
Bulls
Hawks
Heat (depending on the health of Bosh)
Wizards
(5-9): Bucks, Raptors, Pacers, Celtics (for me these will be the teams battling for the final play-off spots; the Bucks have the length and the defense, the Raptors the most established team, the Celtics have depth and talent, and the Pacers are the wild-card of the season).

[ChoppyParticipant]

 Pistons went 27-27 after their 5-23 start. The only reason their post all star break record was so bad was chemistry issues surrounding the Reggie Jackson trade. While I don’t expect the pistons to make the playoffs, a record around 41-41 wouldn’t surprise which would put them firmly in the hunt. 

[ChoppyParticipant]

 Pistons went 27-27 after their 5-23 start. The only reason their post all star break record was so bad was chemistry issues surrounding the Reggie Jackson trade. While I don’t expect the pistons to make the playoffs, a record around 41-41 wouldn’t surprise which would put them firmly in the hunt. 

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 41-41 will likely get you to the playoffs in the east. I actually wouldn’t be too surprised to see the Pistons up in the playoffs maybe as an 8th seed. And either Boston or Indiana won’t make the playoffs. I think that if Brandon Jennings comes back. That’s a pretty strong group of PG’s you have. Even though they likely won’t play together, since they’re both pretty ball dominant. You have a very good PG in your second unit. That sounds pretty good to me.

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 41-41 will likely get you to the playoffs in the east. I actually wouldn’t be too surprised to see the Pistons up in the playoffs maybe as an 8th seed. And either Boston or Indiana won’t make the playoffs. I think that if Brandon Jennings comes back. That’s a pretty strong group of PG’s you have. Even though they likely won’t play together, since they’re both pretty ball dominant. You have a very good PG in your second unit. That sounds pretty good to me.

[Andrew1984Participant]

 Sure, Cleveland was 20-7 after the break, but they also went 34-9  in their final 43 games. 

Point being, the All-Star Break is a pretty arbitrary point of measurement. It’d be far more accurate to look at teams’ records from the time a coach was fired, from the time someone got hurt or they got someone back from injury, from a trade, or from a time when their momentum either picked up, or spiraled downward. 

 

[Andrew1984Participant]

 Sure, Cleveland was 20-7 after the break, but they also went 34-9  in their final 43 games. 

Point being, the All-Star Break is a pretty arbitrary point of measurement. It’d be far more accurate to look at teams’ records from the time a coach was fired, from the time someone got hurt or they got someone back from injury, from a trade, or from a time when their momentum either picked up, or spiraled downward. 

 

[T Rex]

 Check out the Bucks after getting MCW.

 

 

[T Rex]

 Check out the Bucks after getting MCW.

 

 

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

 I could see Boston winning the East. Toronto may still be better, but it’s hard to say.  I really like Amir Johnson, but Carrol is also really underrated.  

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

 Sorry, I meant the Atlantic Division, not the Eastern Conference. Realized that was unclear.

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

 Sorry, I meant the Atlantic Division, not the Eastern Conference. Realized that was unclear.

[PulseGlazerParticipant]

 I could see Boston winning the East. Toronto may still be better, but it’s hard to say.  I really like Amir Johnson, but Carrol is also really underrated.  

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