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Draft done. Free agents have landed. Whose going to make the playoffs?

1. Cleveland - they are in a tier by themselves

2-6 Toronto, Boston, Atlanta, Indiana, Detroit - next tier, fighting for home court

7-11 Chicago, New York, Charlotte, Washington - on the payoff bubble, but seems like anyone could really do well

12-15 Orlando, Philly, Milwaukee, Brooklyn- lottery bound

1. Cleveland
2. Toronto
3. Boston
4. Indiana
5. Detroit
6. Atlanta
7. Charlotte
8. Chicago

Cavs
Raptors
Celtics
Pacers
Pistons
Wizards
Hawks
Bulls

1. Cleveland
2. Toronto
3. Boston
4. Atlanta
5. Detroit
6. Indiana
7. Charlotte
8. Heat

theBigLip wrote:Draft done. Free agents have landed. Whose going to make the playoffs?

1. Cleveland - they are in a tier by themselves

2-5 Toronto, Boston, Indiana, Detroit - next tier, fighting for home court

6-11 Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Charlotte, Washington - on the payoff bubble, but seems like anyone could really do well

12-15 Orlando, Philly, Milwaukee, Brooklyn- lottery bound

FTFY.

But otherwise, seriously spot on. Just don't see how ATL didn't take a step back this offseason; Howard <<< Horford, they're hoping Schroder's ready to replace Teague, I hated their use choice of Prince at #12, and while I think they dodged the bullet of overpaying Carroll last year, they ate that same bullet of overpaying Bazemore this year. But mostly, Howard <<< Horford. And if they're not at the top of the conference come February, I could totally see them trading Millsap at the deadline before he hits free agency and demands a massive payday.

But again, I'm sorry to harp on the one and only team about whom I disagree with you; I think you perfectly nailed the entire rest of the conference. Good work!

I just can't in good conscious make a prediction this early. I'll wait until at least a few games into preseason. So much can happen between now and october, and I have to see these teams play first.

Preseason baby!

I like all the bigs on Orlando. If the Pistons in 2014 hadn't had to forfeit their pick to Charlotte over the Ben Gordon deal, I was hoping Aaron Gordon would fall to #9 or that we'd move up and snatch him if he started to slide.
Serge Ibaka was the prototype PF that this team needed for quite some time, would have fit well next to Monroe, next to Drummond.
Biyombo was my target going into Brandon Knight's draft and I believe his playoff performance could carry over into something more. He reminded me so much of Ben Wallace.
Vucevic is so damn solid posting 18/9 and it seems like nobody talks about him! He's so underrated it's criminal.
Jeff Green hasn't quite had the career I had hoped for, I was a big fan coming out of the draft, but he's bounced around so often (will be on his fifth team and was included in the move from Seattle to OKC) that I can't hold it against him.
They even drafted Stephen Zimmerman, a kid I'm especially familiar with because I really wanted Michigan to sign him as a HS recruit.

I hope they parlay their massive, strong, talented frontcourt into a starting SG that could complement Payton and Hezonja. They also have Brandon Jennings and Jodie Meeks, just adding another layer to the rooting interest, wishing them comebacks on their careers.

They're my "other" pet team for 16-17, now that OKC is dismantling and GSW would just make me a bandwagon ass cat. I hope they do well. I'll be sad if they're in the lottery.

zeebneeb wrote:I just can't in good conscious make a prediction this early. I'll wait until at least a few games into preseason. So much can happen between now and october, and I have to see these teams play first.

Preseason baby!

Just came here to say i'll wait until pre season too. Feeling 55 tho. Felt 47 last year

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Boston Celtics
3. Toronto Raptors
4. Detroit Pistons
5. Indiana Pacers
6. Washington Wizards (Homecourt Advantage)
7. Charlotte Hornets
8. Chicago Bulls
.................
9. Atlanta Hawks
10. New York Knicks
11. Milwaukee Bucks
12. Orlando Magic
13. Miami Heat
14. Brooklyn Nets
15. Philadelphia 76ers

I'm going to give it a go, but I have no doubt I'll be completely wrong...

Cleveland
Toronto
Boston
Indiana
Detroit
Chicago
Atlanta
Orlando
Milwaukee
Washington
Miami
New York
Charlotte
Brooklyn
Philadelphia

Can someone convince me on the Pacers?

Interesting to note in the official EC prediction thread on the general board, 25% of the posters have Detroit missing the playoffs altogether. Usually I find myself conservative with Pistons predictions, but Detroit seems to be criminally underrated by a lot of fans for this upcoming year. I think it has to do with the fact that we were an 8th seed with no big free agent signings. They aren't figuring in our potential for internal growth as every started grows closer to their prime and the fact that we were one of the top teams after inserting Harris into the starting lineup. I think our range is anywhere from 2nd to 7th seed.

Pharaoh wrote:Can someone convince me on the Pacers?

Probably not. At least until we see them play. The reason I think they'll be better is teague and Jefferson are better than hill, but the loss of Vogel may trump that. They're one of the teams that could fall off completely and I wouldn't be surprised.

Pharaoh wrote:Can someone convince me on the Pacers?

I like them better than Chicago. No convincing tho. The only thing I have is Paul George. I'm pretty sure Turner is going to have a pretty good year too

Wait. What happened to Charlotte? How come people have us above them? They lost Jefferson and Lin right? Is that it? Don't they get MKG back? Also I need to hear the story about the Pacers. What's going on with them? No Stuckey right? Who did they pick up?

joedumars1 wrote:

Pharaoh wrote:Can someone convince me on the Pacers?

I like them better than Chicago. No convincing tho. The only thing I have is Paul George. I'm pretty sure Turner is going to have a pretty good year too

It's called the sophomore slump for a reason

I'll give it a go and see what happens:

Cleveland
Toronto
Boston
Detroit
Atlanta
Charlotte
Orlando
Indiana
Washington
New York
Chicago
Miami
Milwaukee
Philadelphia
Brooklyn

I guess that's what I think. I think we'll be around 4-6. Atlanta, Howard, will he try? We'll see, could be great or disastrous. Charlotte, who did they add? They only lost players right? They'll be either similar or a little worse but that defense was really good I remember. Orlando, new coach, so many new players! Could take time, Idk if Vogel can do it again. Their frontcourt players are awesome but you never know, gotta put it together. Backcourt sucks. Indiana, might blow up in their face and I think it will. Washington sucks just thought I'd put this here. Washington sucks. New York, I like Rose and Noah, might make a difference? Only if they stay healthy. Chicago, it'll be bad but they'll stay afloat cuz of Butler and Wade. Miami has a good coach. Milwaukee will continue to suck as long as they have Monroe at C. Philly will be better than last season.

Alexander wrote:I like all the bigs on Orlando. If the Pistons in 2014 hadn't had to forfeit their pick to Charlotte over the Ben Gordon deal, I was hoping Aaron Gordon would fall to #9 or that we'd move up and snatch him if he started to slide.
Serge Ibaka was the prototype PF that this team needed for quite some time, would have fit well next to Monroe, next to Drummond.
Biyombo was my target going into Brandon Knight's draft and I believe his playoff performance could carry over into something more. He reminded me so much of Ben Wallace.
Vucevic is so damn solid posting 18/9 and it seems like nobody talks about him! He's so underrated it's criminal.
Jeff Green hasn't quite had the career I had hoped for, I was a big fan coming out of the draft, but he's bounced around so often (will be on his fifth team and was included in the move from Seattle to OKC) that I can't hold it against him.
They even drafted Stephen Zimmerman, a kid I'm especially familiar with because I really wanted Michigan to sign him as a HS recruit.

I hope they parlay their massive, strong, talented frontcourt into a starting SG that could complement Payton and Hezonja. They also have Brandon Jennings and Jodie Meeks, just adding another layer to the rooting interest, wishing them comebacks on their careers.

They're my "other" pet team for 16-17, now that OKC is dismantling and GSW would just make me a bandwagon ass cat. I hope they do well. I'll be sad if they're in the lottery.

Looking for another team to follow besides the Pistons check out my #2 (since Beasley was playing for them)

Rubio / Dunn - Tyus Jones
LaVine / Brandon Rush
Wiggins / Shabazz
Dieng / Bjelica - KG - Payne
Towns / Aldrich - Pekovic

Jones and Pekovic sit - that's an awesome 13 man roster really one big name away from top 3 in the West esp if Towns keeps progressing

Cleveland
Boston
Toronto
Detroit
Indiana
Atlanta
Charlotte
New York

That's my guess. But from 4-11 anything can happen really. I'm betting on stability, smart coaching and internal growth to get the 4th seed

My thoughts on other teams:

ATL - swapping Teague and Horford for Howard is a loss IMO. Ricky Schroeder might look good on tv but he's never started a full season. They're gonna be worse than last season but Budz a good coach

Boston - Horford brings what they needed but they're still missing another offensive threat that can take over (like us).

Charlotte - lost Lin & Big Al but shouldn't miss them much due to MKG returning and internal growth from certain players

Chicago - I think it fits and works and they surprise people. Veterans don't try and cause **** & Rondo & Wade know what's at stake here

Indiana - lost Vogel and George Hill. Lost their primary big in Ian Manna Hymen. Replacing them with Nate Dogg, Big Al & Teague is not an upgrade in my mind

Bucks....still waiting for Alphabet to cook the whole soup and develop a long range jumper. Until then I don't think they have enough shooters to utilize his skills to the fullest

NY - what year is it? Everyone loves a unicorn, even when he's surrounded by aging, injury prone former guns

Magic - Mario needs to save the princess or all those bigs are gonna be more pissed than Bowser

Washington - watch me whip, watch me Nene away! Wall & a broken Beal wasn't enough to keep Nene! How'd they think they'd get a room with KD?