Around the League: 2024-25 Season

[Residual-Heat]

yeah all this talk about the west being so much better than the dumpster fire eastern conference was premature.

[pepe1991]

People crow about the West but their talent is distributed throughout the conference. They are not top heavy at all. There is OKC and then a large drop-off until you hit Dallas/Memphis/Denver/Houston. I think Boston, Cleveland, and OKC are in a tier of their own.

"Large drop off" is only a thing because how great OKC is.
That doesn't mean that Dallas/ Memphis/ even Denver aren't better than vast majority of East, especially in playoffs. Because they are. Memphis has 13-3 record vs East. Dallas 6-3 with many injuries. Clippers are 6-1 vs East.

Just look at road to Conference finals that Pacers had last year. Complete joke. Two injury prone,average teams and there they were, in situation to face Celtics. Ofc it went as expected. But compare that road to Dallas road at same spot. First round vs former MVP, former DPOY/ twice finals MVP and once upon a time one of brightest talents in nba on Clippers roster, than 57 wins OKC ,than 56 wins Memphis with 4 all star players.

Year prior Heat went to ECF through 8th seed , in 2021 Hawks went to ECF. Not a single of of those teams was elite. On West are aren't going to conference finals if you aren't contender. Simple as that.

objectively, there is bigger chance that Lakers are going to win 2024-25 title than 13 teams from East. And nobody views Lakres as top tear contender, but due fact they have two mega stars, they can get hot in right moment and win. Something you know for fact is impossible from any team on East , aside from Celtics and *maybe* Cavs. On West, if they enter playoffs in right rythm, any of Dallas, Lakers, OKC , Nuggets, even Warriors, Wolves can actually win whole thing.

Also historically, Western teams are market buysers, Eastern teams are historic sellers, so West continues to get better and better and competition of conference always makes those teams elite. East almost never has more than 3 true contenders at once.


For argument sake, i think Celtics will repeat, but one of reasons i picked them last year and i'm picking them this year is fact that they can still cakewalk through 2 playoff rounds ( last year through all 3) and there they are, in finals, hardly breaking a sweat.

[byeganyo]

This season the east is better than the last one. Cavs and Knicks are obviously better and Celtics are most likely playing Knicks in the second round which should be anything but a cakewalk.

[Idiosyncratic]

People crow about the West but their talent is distributed throughout the conference. They are not top heavy at all. There is OKC and then a large drop-off until you hit Dallas/Memphis/Denver/Houston. I think Boston, Cleveland, and OKC are in a tier of their own.

Yeah west is just deeper. Cavs, OKC and Celtics right now are the truest title contenders, I agree. 4th best team wouldn't be all that close.

[Idiosyncratic]

Also yes the Magic played the Cavs well in the series last year, but I do not think that means anything this year.

The Magic could still play them close and they also have gotten better, but the Cavs had a net rating of 2.5 last year, basically the same as ours. This year so far it is 11.3 which is nearly historically good. They just aren't even close to being the same team, it is pointless to look at last year at all at this point, it just is.

[Idiosyncratic]

Cavs core 4 all have PER > 20. That's pretty wild.

And that's despite them trading for a star. Imagine if they wanted to do the things the right way, to grow organically, to wait for their championship window to open... how much better they could have been right now, lol.

Man if we can find a star like Mitchell under contract for 4 years at 30 million per we should do it. Who you thinking? MASSIVE difference between 4 guaranteed years of Mitchell and 1.5 years of Fox and then paying him 50 mil.

Mitchell trade equivalent now would be like if Maxey or Ant Edwards were available. Huge difference in acquiring one of those guys locked down for several years vs. the current options. Apples to Oranges.

[Idiosyncratic]

Kings just beat the Celtics in Boston without Fox. 6 straight wins, 3 of them without Fox.

I really like rookie Devin Carter for them and Keon Ellis with increased minutes has changed their defense.

[RookieStar]

So NOP beat PHI without Embiid? Thyebreally sat Biid to face us?

[pepe1991]

Kings with 6 Ws in a row including beatdown of Celtics, beatdown of Warriors, double OT win vs Heat.


btw Pacers are on the raise. 5 Ws in a row.

[eyriq]

Current Eastern Conference Power Rankings (according to ESPN BPI)

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

[eyriq]

Playoff Eastern Conference Power Rankings (according to ESPN BPI)

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

[basketballRob]

Orlando is #2 in defense now.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[three3d]

Orlando is #2 in defense now.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

This may night be an accurate representation of how good WE COULD BE but just think about this

#1 Defensive Rating of 103.3 = Oklahoma City Thunder
#2 Defensive Rating of 106.7 = Orlando Magic

#7 Offensive Rating of 115.2 = Oklahoma City Thunder
#27 Offensive Rating of 108.3 = Orlando Magic

[pepe1991]

Fact that you can even add Westbrook, who is 36 years old next to Jokić and make him look great again should be case study and pivotal argument why you should never (again) buy from contender.

Even in games KCP makes some shots, he still looks as Gary Harris senior. He simply is too one-dimensional and not worth money he makes. Ditto to Isaac, who's defense declined with non existing offense.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

Fact that you can even add Westbrook, who is 36 years old next to Jokić and make him look great again should be case study and pivotal argument why you should never (again) buy from contender.

Even in games KCP makes some shots, he still looks as Gary Harris senior. He simply is too one-dimensional and not worth money he makes. Ditto to Isaac, who's defense declined with non existing offense.

Westbrook has always been a better offensive player than KCP. He’s just been on the wrong team for a few years.

[byeganyo]

Fact that you can even add Westbrook, who is 36 years old next to Jokić and make him look great again should be case study and pivotal argument why you should never (again) buy from contender.

Even in games KCP makes some shots, he still looks as Gary Harris senior. He simply is too one-dimensional and not worth money he makes. Ditto to Isaac, who's defense declined with non existing offense.

He is the 5th best starter on a championship team, that's his CV, that's why he was brought. It's not his fault that he plays next to another SG. An he started shooting awfully, but lately has gotten better, so he fits his role and unlike JI so far has been available to play 30 minutes. He is a bit ovepaid, but im sure if we decide to move him there will be enough interest.

[Skybox]

Fact that you can even add Westbrook, who is 36 years old next to Jokić and make him look great again should be case study and pivotal argument why you should never (again) buy from contender.

Even in games KCP makes some shots, he still looks as Gary Harris senior. He simply is too one-dimensional and not worth money he makes. Ditto to Isaac, who's defense declined with non existing offense.

Westbrook has always been a better offensive player than KCP. He’s just been on the wrong team for a few years.

I still fantasize about adding the WestBeast just to mentor AB…like he did Oladipo…help him develop some killer instinct, ferocity in training and games. Sort of like an “Angry Jingles”.

He’s probably too old now…but, every time you say that about him or CP3, they resurrect a bit. I just love his vibe.

[AdamTheGreek]

Fact that you can even add Westbrook, who is 36 years old next to Jokić and make him look great again should be case study and pivotal argument why you should never (again) buy from contender.

Even in games KCP makes some shots, he still looks as Gary Harris senior. He simply is too one-dimensional and not worth money he makes. Ditto to Isaac, who's defense declined with non existing offense.

Kenny’s been hurt since the second or third game of this season. He’s been dragging that leg for months and he finally couldn’t tough it out Friday night.
That’s a large factor as to why his shooting has been impacted.
It is fascinating that his road shooting splits are way better than his home shooting splits. He still needs to get used to Orlando. Some guys adapt quicker than others.

[pepe1991]

There is such a cluster in middle of Eastern conference standings. Trades and injuries will probably solve majority of it. But halfway through a season standings are mess.

[pepe1991]

btw epic Lakers meltdown in second half vs Spurs.