Predict the Eastern Conference Standings

[closg00]

Bump for discussion and to re-post this nostradamus-like prediction on the Wiz and John Wall.
Plenty of surprises so-far in the East this season: The down-fall of the Bucks, the better than expected bounce-back of the Knicks, and the troubled Miami Heat.
http://arturogalletti.wordpress.com/201 ... -all-time/

[willbcocks]

The Knicks don't surprise me--I thought them and Indiana would be the best of the bad bunch if healthy, which they have been. On top of that, they have played the easiest schedule in the league so far (though had one impressive win against NO on the road). They'll end up with around 40 wins and a 7 or 8 seed.

The bucks need bogut back.

[LyricalRico]

I'm definitely surprised by the demise of the Bucks. I guess I underestimated the "Maggette effect".

[eitanr]

I think the Bucks bounce back and get themselves back into the playoffs picture. I see BOS/ORL/MIA/CHI/ATL/NYK/MIL/IND as your 8 playoff teams in order.

I think missing the playoffs could be the best thing for the team as it could put them in position to draft Jarred Sullinger from Ohio State. He is a true rebounding presence at the 4, great low-post game, and just a double-double machine. WOuld be a perfect future fit next to McGee.

Either way, the team simply needs more talent on the roster and another high pick wouldn't hurt for now.

[LyricalRico]

Still only 2 games out of the #8 spot. Incredible.

[closg00]

Philly is on a 3-game win-streak and 7-3 over their last 10 games; they are now 1/2 game behind the Bucks for that 8th seed.
http://espn.go.com/nba/standings/_/group/2

[LyricalRico]

^ And their doing it either without Iggy or without him having big games. They also don't seem to be using Speights all that much, who was a pick of a previous regime. Iggy+Speights might be able to get them a fair amount at the deadline.

[verbal8]

Philly is on a 3-game win-streak and 7-3 over their last 10 games; they are now 1/2 game behind the Bucks for that 8th seed.
http://espn.go.com/nba/standings/_/group/2

I think Brand and Holiday are a big reason for the Sixers recent success. They really haven't gotten much from Turner.

[closg00]

Philadelphia's recent revival is a story of Doug Collins figuring out how to use his roster 16 games into the season. He began the year starting Jason Kapono at small forward and then flailed around with various other combinations -- including an ill-fated attempt to start struggling rookie Evan Turner -- before settling on playing second-year pro Jodie Meeks at shooting guard.

Meeks has provided a huge benefit with his long-range shooting, at 41.6 percent from downtown, answering the team's multiyear search for somebody who can make an outside shot consistently while still competently executing other phases of the game. Meeks, amazingly, was a DNP the first six games, but the club is 1-7 when he doesn't play and 10-9 when he does. They've won six of their past eight with him as a starter, with one of the defeats at the buzzer against Boston and the other after holding a fourth-quarter lead against the Lakers.

The reason is that with his addition, suddenly, the entire rotation works. Jrue Holiday and Andre Iguodala have seams to attack the basket; the Sixers can bring two potent scorers of the bench in Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young; they don't need to play Andres Nocioni or Kapono unless absolutely necessary; and Turner isn't being force-fed touches before his time.

The entire Hollinger article on Houston & Philly
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/ ... iem-101221

[JonathanJoseph]

Philadelphia's recent revival is a story of Doug Collins figuring out how to use his roster 16 games into the season. He began the year starting Jason Kapono at small forward and then flailed around with various other combinations -- including an ill-fated attempt to start struggling rookie Evan Turner -- before settling on playing second-year pro Jodie Meeks at shooting guard.

Meeks has provided a huge benefit with his long-range shooting, at 41.6 percent from downtown, answering the team's multiyear search for somebody who can make an outside shot consistently while still competently executing other phases of the game. Meeks, amazingly, was a DNP the first six games, but the club is 1-7 when he doesn't play and 10-9 when he does. They've won six of their past eight with him as a starter, with one of the defeats at the buzzer against Boston and the other after holding a fourth-quarter lead against the Lakers.

The reason is that with his addition, suddenly, the entire rotation works. Jrue Holiday and Andre Iguodala have seams to attack the basket; the Sixers can bring two potent scorers of the bench in Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young; they don't need to play Andres Nocioni or Kapono unless absolutely necessary; and Turner isn't being force-fed touches before his time.

The entire Hollinger article on Houston & Philly
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/ ... iem-101221

Right, that's what good coaching and and interesting mix of talent can do. There is NO reason that the Wizards couldn't have been that team (and moreso with Arenas). The Wizards had as much and probably more talent on paper than Philly does.