Baddy Chuck wrote:1st tier:
Miami
2nd tier:
New York
Chicago (with or without Rose)
Indiana
3rd tier:
Brooklyn
Milwaukee
Boston
4th tier:
Atlanta
Philly
That's how I think it looks at the end of the year.
Miami is far and away the best team.
New York may give Miami fits during the regular season, I don't think any team stands a chance against them in the playoffs.
New York is the second best team this year.
Indiana and Chicago's defense will hold them in that second tier and when they get Granger and Rose back even partially healthy they are clearly a notch above other teams.
I don't think the third tier stands a chance against any of the second tier in the playoffs. Maybe push um a couple games, but none of them are winning a series. Boston stands the best chance of maybe doing it if they match up against Indy.
Tier 4 are sweeps.
I'd put Brooklyn in the 2nd tier. They are a talented squad and no longer have a complete dolt as their coach. I wouldn't be surprised to see them end up as the 2nd seed.