Predictions

[bobbyc]

Now that the band is back together it's time to predict how well we will do next season. Make no mention of anyone outside of our roster. I'll go first.

Williams/ Watson/ Taylor
Johnson/ Brooks/ Bogans
Wallace/ Shengelia/ Stackhouse
Humphries/ Evans/ Teletovic
Lopez

[Shappy]

I predicted 4th place

[ecuhus1981]

I can see us being heralded as the 2nd-most explosive team offensively. But we could also be downright oogly on the defensive end. I don't think Avery would stand for that, but the potential is definitely there. So, I have us landing as a #5 seed, which will be quite a feat coming from the cellar in a year where almost every other EC team figures to improve.

#1 - MIA (59-23)
#2 - BOS (51-31)
#3 - IND (48-34)
#4 - PHI (47-35)
#5 - BRK (46-36)
#6 - NYK (43-39)
#7 - ORL (42-40)
#8 - TOR (41-41)

That estimate is based upon the team as currently constructed. IF we manage to pull off a Dwight trade, we could be an elite team on both ends, and that could yield an even higher seed.

(PPG/RPG/APG/SPG/BPG on FG%/3PT%/FT% in MPG - team leader in bold)

WILLIAMS - 17/3/10/1/0 on 46/36/81 in 34
JOHNSON - 19/4/5/1/0 on 43/37/78 in 32
WALLACE - 13/7/3/2/1 on 45/34/71 in 30
HUMPHRIES - 11/9/2/1/1 on 53/0/68 in 30
LOPEZ - 18/8/3/1/2 on 52/0/80 in 34

WATSON - 7/1/2/0/0 on 41/33/79 in 16
BROOKS - 9/3/3/1/0 on 44/35/76 in 22
TELETOVIC - 8/4/1/0/0 on 49/40/75 in 18

[jeff1624]

I can't have them higher than 4th at the moment.

-Miami is clearly better

-Boston had a much better team last year and managed to improve this offseason, so It's a safe bet to assume they'll be better than us.

-Indiana stayed pretty much the same, but I'm willing to give them respect 'til this team proves something.

Behind us I think it'll be:

-Knicks, who I don't know if they got better or worse... They downgraded their PG position and got much older, but added veteran leadership and improved their depth. I still see them struggling to score every other night, though.

-Bulls, assuming Rose comes back at the beginning of 2013 and not march. This is one of the teams that got worse... their best three point shooter, their best wing defender off the bench, their backup center and backup point are all gone and filled those holes with mediocre players.

-Atlanta got rid of their leading scorer but got back role players that should fill in for him somewhat.

-Philly... another team that got worse... from lou Williams to Nick young? and letting fo of Brand for nothing?... mehh..

[Matrix-NYBK]

I can't have them higher than 4th at the moment.

-Miami is clearly better

-Boston had a much better team last year and managed to improve this offseason, so It's a safe bet to assume they'll be better than us.

-Indiana stayed pretty much the same, but I'm willing to give them respect 'til this team proves something.

Behind us I think it'll be:

-Knicks, who I don't know if they got better or worse... They downgraded their PG position and got much older, but added veteran leadership and improved their depth. I still see them struggling to score every other night, though.

-Bulls, assuming Rose comes back at the beginning of 2013 and not march. This is one of the teams that got worse... their best three point shooter, their best wing defender off the bench, their backup center and backup point are all gone and filled those holes with mediocre players.

-Atlanta got rid of their leading scorer but got back role players that should fill in for him somewhat.

-Philly... another team that got worse... from lou Williams to Nick young? and letting fo of Brand for nothing?... mehh..

I think Nets will be better than pacers. Pacers were surprising but i think some things just happened to go their way. Boston and Heat i agree.

[vincecarter4pres]

I went 2nd at my homerific best.

But in my unbiased opinion I'd go 3rd.

[drejeronfire]

I expect the Nets to face some injuries and for some players to not pan out / be NBA ready from Day 1... So I have us as the 5th seed.

[bobbyc]

Don't understand the love everyone is giving the Celtics. I think we are more talented than them. Plus, they rely way to much on old guys. Terry(34), Pierce(34), and Garnett(36) are going to be their 3 leading scorers and Garnett is the only decent defender they have in the paint. If one of those guys takes time off this year to get a hip replacement, they would have big problems scoring.

Rondo / ?
Bradley/ Terry
Pierce/ Lee/ Joseph
Bass/ Sullinger/ Wilcox
Garnett/ Melo

[llemon]

Everything depends on the sustained good health of the Nets, and of all the other teams in the Eastern Conf.

[jeff1624]

Don't understand the love everyone is giving the Celtics. I think we are more talented than them. Plus, they rely way to much on old guys. Terry(34), Pierce(34), and Garnett(36) are going to be their 3 leading scorers and Garnett is the only decent defender they have in the paint. If one of those guys takes time off this year to get a hip replacement, they would have big problems scoring.

Rondo / ?
Bradley/ Terry
Pierce/ Lee/ Joseph
Bass/ Sullinger/ Wilcox
Garnett/ Melo

Because their core guys have been playing for years, they're a great defensive team, they are a couple of months removed from challenging the Champion Heat more than any other team in the postseason and managed to get better this offseason?

[Swingy]

Probably 4th or 5th. After maybe a minor initial struggle perfecting their chemistry, I expect the offense to be one of the best and most versatile in the league. However, the defense still scares me. The Nets aren't blessed with freak athletes and lack a strong inside defensive presence. A backup defensive center may do wonders to the team's potential.

[ecuhus1981]

Don't understand the love everyone is giving the Celtics...

You forgot about Jeff Green in your depth chart. He's going to be a huge part of their rotation, bolstering their scoring punch from the bench and probably finishing games at the 4 while KG slides to C. Lee will be the starting SG IMO; as we know, he's not the sharpshooter that Allen is. But contrary to Ray, Courtney is a positive on defense, so they don't have to cover for him.

I do think that knowing HOW to be an elite team is an under-rated aspect of the season-long grind. Their team defense is also a key factor in closing out tight games. Finally, I think the writing is on the wall that Rondo gets moved for a star bigman, probably a true C. As a PG rotation, Terry/Bradley/Dooling is passable (no pun intended), and some team always gets suckered into a big-for-small deal.

[vincecarter4pres]

Don't understand the love everyone is giving the Celtics...

You forgot about Jeff Green in your depth chart. He's going to be a huge part of their rotation, bolstering their scoring punch from the bench and probably finishing games at the 4 while KG slides to C. Lee will be the starting SG IMO; as we know, he's not the sharpshooter that Allen is. But contrary to Ray, Courtney is a positive on defense, so they don't have to cover for him.

I do think that knowing HOW to be an elite team is an under-rated aspect of the season-long grind. Their team defense is also a key factor in closing out tight games. Finally, I think the writing is on the wall that Rondo gets moved for a star bigman, probably a true C. As a PG rotation, Terry/Bradley/Dooling is passable (no pun intended), and some team always gets suckered into a big-for-small deal.

A) Jeff Green sucks.

B) KG was their center last year, he doesn't have to slide anywhere, that is what he is now.

C) Lee is solid, don't know if he starts over Avery Bradley if he's healthy though.

D) Contrary to what? Ray was a very good defender on the C's.

E) I'm not seeing Rondo moved just for the sake of moving him. Who do they get for him? Just not seeing it.

The Celtics to me are the wildcard team. They can finish anywhere from 2 to 5 this year but they'll be the 2nd most dangerous team in the playoffs in the East.

They've been together a long time, they know how to win, have a lot of depth and a good mix of youth and vets.

That said, their 2 best players, those 2 main core pieces are KG and Pierce and both are getting way up there in age and will likely miss games.

They have a glaring hole at the 4 if Sullinger can't step in this year. Bass is a solid player but he's not a starter.

The Celtic's don't care as much about how many games they win in the regular season as long as they get at least the 5 seed and a favorable 1st round match up.



The Nets have a lot of questions on defense, but on offense they should be elite. That's usually not a great mix for playoff success, at least to actually have a legit shot at winning a title, but teams like this have racked up a ton of regular season wins in the past and will continue to do so in the present and future.


Indy is way overrated and if anything has made lateral moves and lost depth. They suffered nearly zero injuries last year, not even little nagging ones that cause guys to miss 5, 6, 7 games. Roy Hibbert has become one of the single handed most overrated players in the league. Paul George needs to make a serious jump or they don't scare me.


I think New York improved a decent amount but they still don't have a legit starting point guard and Amar'e looked a shell of himself. They are incredibly injury prone and their coaching is meh.


Chicago is toast.


Orlando is toast.


Philly is over-coached hot trash.


Atlanta should still be a competitive playoff team but nothing special.


Washington should probably be the 7 seed.

[jeff1624]

You forgot about Jeff Green in your depth chart. He's going to be a huge part of their rotation, bolstering their scoring punch from the bench and probably finishing games at the 4 while KG slides to C. Lee will be the starting SG IMO; as we know, he's not the sharpshooter that Allen is. But contrary to Ray, Courtney is a positive on defense, so they don't have to cover for him.

I do think that knowing HOW to be an elite team is an under-rated aspect of the season-long grind. Their team defense is also a key factor in closing out tight games. Finally, I think the writing is on the wall that Rondo gets moved for a star bigman, probably a true C. As a PG rotation, Terry/Bradley/Dooling is passable (no pun intended), and some team always gets suckered into a big-for-small deal.

A) Jeff Green sucks.

B) KG was their center last year, he doesn't have to slide anywhere, that is what he is now.

C) Lee is solid, don't know if he starts over Avery Bradley if he's healthy though.

D) Contrary to what? Ray was a very good defender on the C's.

E) I'm not seeing Rondo moved just for the sake of moving him. Who do they get for him? Just not seeing it.

A) He's still better than Marquis Daniels and/or Mickael Pietrus

D) Not last year, dude could barely run.

And Brandon Bass isn't a starter, but Kris Humphries isn't either. So that's at worst a wash if/when the two teams face each other.

[treiz]

I'm going to be a bit optimistic and say third, mainly because the 3-6 seed will be so close throughout and we'll just creep through

[PetroNet]

3 seed 50+ wins

[SteveNets15]

I going with the 2 seed if the team stays healthy.Bold prediction but i'm confident since we have veteran lineup with an elite pg running the offense.The East will be wide open like it always is.

Heat
Nets
Celtics
Pacers
Knicks
Sixers
ATL
Bucks,Bulls and Wizards will fight it out for the 8th seed

[vincecarter4pres]

As of now I have it similar to Steve. I'll probably change this by late October though.

But...

1. Miami Heat
2. Brooklyn Nets
3. Boston Celtics
4. Indiana Pacers
5. New York Knicks
6. Washington Wizards
7. Atlanta Hawks
8. Chicago Bulls or Toronto Raptors

[BadMofoPimp]

Just adding Joe Johnson doesn't make this team a 2nd seed. I could see the Nets, Knicks and Pacers all fighting for that 4th seed and home court in the 1st round. Should be an exciting season for all teams involved none-the-less. Good luck to ya'll.

[vincecarter4pres]

Yeah, cause that's all we did. Just added Joe Johnson...