The Knicks the team to beat in the East?

[djsunyc]

my top 3 seeds regular season, barring injuries

knicks (favorite to win the east)
cavs
orlando (based on style of play - they will win a bunch of regular season games)

after that, it's a huge mash up of teams. a lot will depend on chemistry and luck. there's always one or two teams that surprise and win more than expected and then there's one or two that dip and lose more than expected. any one of like 6-8 teams fit here.

[penggemar]

East Finals - Cavs vs Knicks
Other semi-finalists - Magic, Pistons, or Hawks.

[RoxSteady]

These "they won't have a coach, because they fired their coach, and - at the present - haven't hired a new coach" jokes are pretty funny.

[Tnasty4l]

NY and Cleveland are default favorites. I'm tempted to say Indiana could be better than people think despite Hali/Turner but I'm not brave enough.

I'll say it for you... Pacers will be better than what people think.

[wegotthabeet]

They can make it out of the East, but not a championship level roster.

They lack a true 1A. Still waiting on that Antetokounmpo trade.

[Sign5]

Lol is this a joke? Had to re-check updates to see if they made a trade or hired a formidable coach already. I'm sure they'll be up there but wouldn't call them the team to beat as it stands.

it is either cavs or knicks, if you checked the rosters. far from a joke.

Yh unfortunately there's more to basketball than just the roster.. like coaching and I find Mike Brown a well.. joke.

[Blue_and_Whte]

Knicks Cavs with Philly, ATL, and Orlando as dark horses.

Lose Philly and I agree. Both PG and Embiid are about finished.

Orlando a dark horse? They were a 4th place team the season prior with health and a less talented roster that took Cleveland to 7 games. Knicks better re-evaluate.

[MGB8]

Knicks and Cavs at the top, barring injury, then wide open.

Orlando is the next most talented / complete team - Huge upgrades by getting Bane to replace KCP, Jace Richardson to replace Anthony, but they have yet to prove it and seem snakebit with injuries.

Atlanta added players to replace those they lost (NAW and Kennard to replace Hunter/Levert and Bogs; Porzingis a big upgrade - when healthy - over Capella) but mainly needs growth from its youth - but will compete. Still, another team that seems snakebit.

Philly is always a huge question mark, hinging on the health of Embiid (and now George… and Maxey called into question).

Detroit is banking in development by its youth (Cade, Ivey, Thompson, Duren, Holland, Stewart) and LeVert is a better player overall than THJr or Beasley… Tobias is steadying… but the team still lacks shooting, maybe moreso than last season, and is over-reliant on Cade.

Bucks will be in the mix. Miami may be too.

Injuries likely too much for Boston and Indiana to overcome.

[WargamesX]

Knicks Cavs with Philly, ATL, and Orlando as dark horses.

Lose Philly and I agree. Both PG and Embiid are about finished.

Orlando a dark horse? They were a 4th place team the season prior with health and a less talented roster that took Cleveland to 7 games. Knicks better re-evaluate.

It’s still a young team and I don’t really trust their coaching to hold up for a long playoff run. I know the natural response is “the Knicks don’t have a coach” but there is no guarantee that Orlando would face the Knicks in the playoffs.

I’ve said Orlando had a great offseason and even think they will be a top seed, but I don’t know if that translates to playoff success yet based on the factors I mentioned earlier.

[nate33]

Cleveland is the favorite.

Knicks and Orlando are next

Atlanta and Detroit after that.

I figure one of Milwaukee, Boston, Philly or Miami will exceed expectations and join the mix with Atlanta and Detroit, I'm just not sure which one it will be.