Toronto is more than a .500 team, but it's not the conference contender many thought it was. There will be improvement, but the Raptors are still a sixth seed. When Jermaine O'Neal returns, they're going to unleash a Tri-Towers lineup featuring Chris Bosh and the once-again-promising Andrea Bargnani at the forwards. It'll work well enough to keep them ahead of Philly.
Rest assured ATLiens, the Hawks are for real. Their recent struggles have much to do with the absence of Josh Smith, who'll return Wednesday from an ankle injury. Arguably the league's best shot blocker, he'll bolster the Hawks on both ends of the floor and enable them to snatch the fifth seed, their highest in 10 years.
I think his prediction is accurate. With the way this team is playing right now, the highest seed we could attain would probably be fourth, but this is not likely. However, I do not agree with his prediction that the Hawks will finish above us. I think we are clearly a better team than the hawks, and they will occupy either the 7th or 8th seed come playoff time.
