RealGM

Who do you think are the Top 4 teams in the Eastern Conference?

First off, my picks: Raps, Cavs, Heat, Bucks

Cavs/HEAT/Bulls/Hawks

EDIT: no particular order

Heat
Cavs
Bulls
Bucks

Cavs, Bull, Hawks & Bucks

Knicks/Philly/Minny/Magic

Cavs are the undisputed number one team in the East until proven otherwise.

Bulls will make a strong run now that Rose has his ligaments removed. Shortens his career but he'll be effective next year. Should be an exciting backcourt with Jimmy Butler, among other things.

Beyond those two teams, I have no honest answers.

Hawks seemingly got weaker from the SF and took a big blow with Demarre Carroll(SP as fk?) leaving to the Raptors...BUT Thabo Sefalosha was a key contributor off the bench that got hurt right before the playoffs began. He may be able to step into Carroll's role and bridge that gap while one of their young wings can come up behind him in significant minutes. They strengthen themselves in the middle with Tiago Splitter. Even if he is a system center; ATL plays a style that's not too unlike the Spurs. Big question marks between the team. Will they once again be the team no one wants to face, or back to a treadmill team of the old Joe Johnson and Josh Smith days?

Bucks got stronger, but it remains to be seen if last season was a flash in the pan in a weak East or if they're legitimately turning things around.

Raptors have improved by acquiring Demarre Carroll(again, SP?). But will it be enough to get them over the hump and out of the treadmill zone into contention? They seemed primed and ready early on but then fizzled out; not unlike the Pacers did a couple of years ago. Or is this group just not good enough to compete? This year may be the deciding year for their GM Masai Ujiri to determine whether or not to stick with this group or to blow it all up.

Indiana Pacers may miss the playoffs. They got Paul George back but lost Hibbert, West, and Lance. They may be facing a rebuild this season. We'll see if Paul George and Monta Ellis are enough to bring them to the playoffs. I have my doubts.

We've gone over our Heat team ad nauseum. Health is our biggest question and our only hurdle. It's the difference from being feared contenders for the NBA title and being the Dwight Howard Lakers. That's what this upcoming season boils down to. Hope it's the former.

The Knicks. Well, Melo's back. But he's the only all-star on the roster. They have seemingly nice rookies, but they're rookies. It's possible they make the playoffs as a first round and out team. And it's possible they miss. We'll see. Second(or third) year with Derek Fisher as head coach with no experience in coaching or front office role. I don't know how that's going to work.

There's Charlotte and others but I've lost the motivation to type any more. If I feel up to it; I'll add some more.

Heat
Bucks
Cavs

anyone from the field.

This is more tougher than it seems.

Cavs are the top team til dethroned, after it may be Hawks again, Bulls have a new coach who isnt stubborn, Heat, Bucks, Raps or Wiz, maybe Indy/Hornets/Boston

The bottom 4 in the top 8 is a toss up

I am hoping we are a top 4... But we are good on paper. We dont know how they will perform and our health is a huge question mark

DefenseWins wrote:This is more tougher than it seems.

Like nails on a chalkboard...

Hawks are a bit strange because while they lost Carroll, they got Tiago Splitter who allows Horford or Millsap to actually play PF.

Their defense was top notch... But they just choked up the place vs Lebron.

Kyle Korver disappeared as well... Hawks went on that win streak when he was in god mode.

Sefolosha tho can help in place if Carroll, but isnt as good. Still a good wing defensive player for sure.

Raptors I think got better. Their bench scoring, dont know who it will be as they lost Lou.

Bucks were real good, but I dont see a clear cut playmaker... Their defense tho is really good

Hornets I wonder about too. They had a good offseason and while we laugh at Frank, he is a good floor spacer and can shoot the 3. The have no legit rim protection tho... Kemba is a chucker, MKG cant shoot. Forgot about Batum, they will have some good wing defense too.

Guess the East aint too weak after all this season.

Then some teams lik Boston and Indy may get that 7th-8th seed. Knicks COULD depending if the East is weaker than we perceive it.

Pistons are gonna' come swooping and surprise everyone

Bishop45 wrote:Pistons are gonna' come swooping and surprise everyone

Every single year with this ****.

And every single year they disappoint.

It's like the Knicks, but not as enjoyable to poke fun at.

I don't know, last year I believe they would've had their head in the playoffs if it weren't for Josh Smith. Now they have a chance at a Jennings/Jackson backcourt with whomever SVG bills to fill the voids.

Alotta people are hung dry by Monroe leaving but forget that they were much better with Monroe out. It's about spacing and Dru played much better playin' next to turtle neck Toliver... I think Van Gundy is going to make something of that roster. And one of the reasons that I don't believe in the Bucks next year, they are going to have to show me more... people don't see it cause they made the playoffs but they really dropped off after the Knight/MCW trade and now they loss Dudley and Ilyasova, some of their quintessential shooters

Bishop45 wrote:Pistons are gonna' come swooping and surprise everyone

They were gonna do that til they lost Jennings

They have a good squad for sure, plus adding Stanley.

I dont know the people on their bench tho... Only Meeks who is a knock down shooter. Oh yeah they got Ilyasova. They have a good mix of stretching the floor and guards, but we will see I guess.

I think they'll have enough to be a playoff team

Bishop45 wrote:I don't know, last year I believe they would've had their head in the playoffs if it weren't for Josh Smith. Now they have a chance at a Jennings/Jackson backcourt with whomever SVG bills to fill the voids.

Alotta people are hung dry by Monroe leaving but forget that they were much better with Monroe out. It's about spacing and Dru played much better playin' next to turtle neck Toliver... I think Van Gundy is going to make something of that roster. And one of the reasons that I don't believe in the Bucks next year, they are going to have to show me more... people don't see it cause they made the playoffs but they really dropped off after the Knight/MCW trade and now they loss Dudley and Ilyasova, some of their quintessential shooters

Brandon Jennings at SG? I dont think that was the plan. I guess it could work

I assumed they would try to trade Jennings... He seems like he wanted to be the main PG there.

Them signing Jackson means Jennings is either traded or playing a different role

Cavs, Bulls, Hawks, Bucks

gonna cheat - Heat at 5 Raptors at 6

on paper but not in order heat,hawks,bucks,cavs, bulls but i think that its too early to grade anyone since pre season hasnt even started yet.there has been great teams on paper in the past that were a disaster in real life.knicks used to be one of those teams because of melo and amare and there were just bad

KingDavid wrote:Cavs are the undisputed number one team in the East until proven otherwise.

This isnt boxing, we'll see who is number one on the court.