[festar35Participant]

So the way I see it the East should be an improvement this year with Toronto staying pat, Washington coming of first play-offs adding Pierce, Hornets gaining experience as well, Atlanta adding a couple pieces as well and hopefully healthy Horford.

Now on to the Central division, is there a more competitive division in the NBA? I honestly belief the East 3 best teams are in this division and I think it will be really unfortunate for one of those teams that they will have to settle for the 5th seed even if they end up with the third best record.

Cavs – Obviously have added LBJ, Irving will improve, Bennett looks ready to play this season and that automatically makes them a contender. Where there power will lie is in what they get out of their bench whether it be Wiggins or Waiters off the bench. Or if they are able to get a really good big man through a trade as well.

Bulls – Rose returns (finally) and Gasol has been added. Outside shooting from McDermott and Butler as a great wing defender to slow down other teams best players. Snell seems to be getting better and better, their bench of Hinrich, Snell, Dunleavy/McDermott, Gibson shows great depth.

Pacers – George continues to get better and I think this trend continues. If Hibbert brings his defensive intensity they will again be a force to be wreckoned with on that end again. If Stephenson returns obviously a huge help to Indiana’s chances, but if not I think Hill will pick up a bit of slack and Miles will be a welcome edition.

Pistons – WILDCARD!!! With Van Gundy taking over and a large amount of talent it’ll be interesting to see what he can get out of them. Drummond is a straight beast and Van Gundy built around Howard will he do the same with Detroit. Smith is still one of the best and most versatile players in the NBA, Jennings can erupt at any point and I feel Van Gundy will bring some consistancy to his game. Not too mention adding Augustin, Meeks, Butler and KCP’s second year. Monroe will be another piece to add if he returns.

[AusBobParticipant]

 Can not  agree more.
May I add, I see Pierce’s addtional to the Wizards are great move by the organisation. Pierce will no doubt assist in the growth of their core (Wall Beal & Porter), but most importantly, the mental side of things is where he will be able to share his experiences. The young core of the Wizards need a leader to help them out and direction them. They haven’t had a real leader in a long time.

[AusBobParticipant]

 Can not  agree more.
May I add, I see Pierce’s addtional to the Wizards are great move by the organisation. Pierce will no doubt assist in the growth of their core (Wall Beal & Porter), but most importantly, the mental side of things is where he will be able to share his experiences. The young core of the Wizards need a leader to help them out and direction them. They haven’t had a real leader in a long time.

[nick5354Participant]

I don’t like the Pistons team at the moment. So I don’t think they will be in the race.

To me it is like they are just adding random trash to their roster without even thinking. Like they added Butler and Augustine today, to go with Jennings and Smiths signing acquisitions from last year. Also to go with players such as Bynum and Charlie V and Stuckey who aren’t exactly players to ride home about.

Plus to add in the idea Monroe could be on his way out, one of their only players behind Drummond who I get excited about. They also need to give Pope more of an opportunity this season, it isn’t like they have an elite SG playing in front of him holding him out, bloodly stuckey and Singler are being played in front of him.

I just feel very pessimistic about this Pistons team.

[nick5354Participant]

I don’t like the Pistons team at the moment. So I don’t think they will be in the race.

To me it is like they are just adding random trash to their roster without even thinking. Like they added Butler and Augustine today, to go with Jennings and Smiths signing acquisitions from last year. Also to go with players such as Bynum and Charlie V and Stuckey who aren’t exactly players to ride home about.

Plus to add in the idea Monroe could be on his way out, one of their only players behind Drummond who I get excited about. They also need to give Pope more of an opportunity this season, it isn’t like they have an elite SG playing in front of him holding him out, bloodly stuckey and Singler are being played in front of him.

I just feel very pessimistic about this Pistons team.

[KHAM83Participant]

Augustine and Butler are solid bench pieces. Charlie V is on his way out, and maybe Stuckey too. They are not contenders to come out of the East, but they are improved. 

[KHAM83Participant]

Augustine and Butler are solid bench pieces. Charlie V is on his way out, and maybe Stuckey too. They are not contenders to come out of the East, but they are improved. 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

The Bulls are bringing over Nikola Mirotic too… They’re going to be tough.

 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

The Bulls are bringing over Nikola Mirotic too… They’re going to be tough.

 

[Lawrence112Participant]

East will be good for sure. I think the clear top 5 teams are Cavs, Bulls, Pacers, Wiz, Raps. Heat and Bobcats should make the playoffs as well. Knicks also have a chance to make it with Melo.

[Lawrence112Participant]

East will be good for sure. I think the clear top 5 teams are Cavs, Bulls, Pacers, Wiz, Raps. Heat and Bobcats should make the playoffs as well. Knicks also have a chance to make it with Melo.

[WITNESS2014Participant]

 With the Bulls bringing over Mirotic and Gasol, their front court is loaded with Gibson and Noah being there already. I’m a Cavs fan and the Cavs dont have a stable frontcourt with Varejao having health issues every year and trading away Zeller. Bennett, Thompson, and Haywood isnt enough for Noah, Gasol, Mirotic, and Gibson. The Bulls contention depends on Derrick Rose and his health and if he is back like he used to be. 

[WITNESS2014Participant]

 With the Bulls bringing over Mirotic and Gasol, their front court is loaded with Gibson and Noah being there already. I’m a Cavs fan and the Cavs dont have a stable frontcourt with Varejao having health issues every year and trading away Zeller. Bennett, Thompson, and Haywood isnt enough for Noah, Gasol, Mirotic, and Gibson. The Bulls contention depends on Derrick Rose and his health and if he is back like he used to be. 

[Ty BenjaminsParticipant]

This is the year where Paul George really has to go Superstar. The East loaded 

[Ty BenjaminsParticipant]

This is the year where Paul George really has to go Superstar. The East loaded 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11214486/paul-george-indiana-pacers-vows-play-more-physical

Looks like he’s about to make that jump

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11214486/paul-george-indiana-pacers-vows-play-more-physical

Looks like he’s about to make that jump

[Ghost01Participant]

 Let’s all remember – the Wizards beat a Bulls team that struggled to score 70 points a game.

They went up against the lifeless Pacers, who were fresh off of sweating out 7 games with a 38 win Hawk team that didn’t have Horford…and lost.

There isn’t a ton of evidence the Wizards are "conference contenders", they are more like middle of the pack who could maybe get to the 2nd round. Pierce is a downgrade from Ariza, and Nene’s health is vital.

The Cavs, Bulls, and Pacers are the only teams I would call "contenders" for the conference. And even with Indiana, that depends on how their offseason concludes. I know Lance is crazy, but its going to be awfully hard for them to put the ball in the hoop if he’s gone. 

[Ghost01Participant]

 Let’s all remember – the Wizards beat a Bulls team that struggled to score 70 points a game.

They went up against the lifeless Pacers, who were fresh off of sweating out 7 games with a 38 win Hawk team that didn’t have Horford…and lost.

There isn’t a ton of evidence the Wizards are "conference contenders", they are more like middle of the pack who could maybe get to the 2nd round. Pierce is a downgrade from Ariza, and Nene’s health is vital.

The Cavs, Bulls, and Pacers are the only teams I would call "contenders" for the conference. And even with Indiana, that depends on how their offseason concludes. I know Lance is crazy, but its going to be awfully hard for them to put the ball in the hoop if he’s gone. 

[Lawrence112Participant]

Wait so you say the Wizards aren’t contenders because they beat the Bulls and the Bulls suck but then you go on to call the Bulls a contender. Dat Logic lol. Before that series everyone was praising the bulls then once the Wizards beat them people were saying they sucked all along. Kind of funny.

[Lawrence112Participant]

Wait so you say the Wizards aren’t contenders because they beat the Bulls and the Bulls suck but then you go on to call the Bulls a contender. Dat Logic lol. Before that series everyone was praising the bulls then once the Wizards beat them people were saying they sucked all along. Kind of funny.

[Ghost01Participant]

 Yes, kind of funny if you are a complete idiot.

Every single Bulls prediction you will see from me or anyone else for that matter is completely contingent on Rose’s health. They are a totally different team with Rose then without him. They had the best record in the league back to back years, and without him they have been a try-hard regular season team with no scorers in the playoffs.

The Bulls best offensive players, Rose, Gasol, Mirotic, and even McDermott were not playing in that series. The Bulls offense should be WAY better than it was last year. I am basing this purely on the difference in personnel. If the Bulls roll out Hinrich, Butler, Dunleavy, Taj, Noah, and a 7 mean rotation against the Wizards, they will lose again.

If they have a healthy Rose, a healthy Gasol, and a full 10 man rotation, the Bulls would easily dismantle that Wizards team.

It’s not that hard to understand the logic there. 

[Ghost01Participant]

 Yes, kind of funny if you are a complete idiot.

Every single Bulls prediction you will see from me or anyone else for that matter is completely contingent on Rose’s health. They are a totally different team with Rose then without him. They had the best record in the league back to back years, and without him they have been a try-hard regular season team with no scorers in the playoffs.

The Bulls best offensive players, Rose, Gasol, Mirotic, and even McDermott were not playing in that series. The Bulls offense should be WAY better than it was last year. I am basing this purely on the difference in personnel. If the Bulls roll out Hinrich, Butler, Dunleavy, Taj, Noah, and a 7 mean rotation against the Wizards, they will lose again.

If they have a healthy Rose, a healthy Gasol, and a full 10 man rotation, the Bulls would easily dismantle that Wizards team.

It’s not that hard to understand the logic there. 

[Author]

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