Crazy EC playoff-seed-predictions

[Ctownbulls]

Lol i don't know what you homies smokin but i truly believe Miami will trash the EC next year. Just looking at their roster it makes me wet, i don't get how all those lame ass EC teams gonna handle a potential 4 all stars, 6moty, all rookie 1st team guy, etc. Their injury problems are overblown especially now when they are 10 deep. Good luck to the rest of the EC teams though, we'll see

This is one of the most delusional things I've ever read on this board. And thats saying a lot.

What's delusional about that? Mind to explain? I said heat has 4 potential all stars ( Wade, Bosh, Dragic and Whiteside) a 6moty candidate if he performs like he did with Dragic on the Suns (G Green), all rookie 1st team guy ( Justise Winslow off the bench). Increased depth which was nowhere last year with Winslow and Green backing up Wade and Deng, McBob, Stat and Birdman backing Bosh and Whiteside, Chalmers backing Dragic. You are the delusional one here without telling me how i'm delusional

Potential all-stars...but there is also potentially a lot of downside with the Heat too. Not saying all of this or any of this will happen but you have to be concerned with.

1) Lack of shooting in the starting 5 and in general
2) Wade and Dragic inability to mesh
3) Wade breaking down
4) Whiteside being a flash in the pan and/or going crazy and/or completely playing for himself for the contract year
5) Whiteside and Bosh inability to mesh
6) Winslow not being a contributor at all (rookies rarely are positive contributors)
7) Not really having a bench (McBob, Amare, Birdman and Green is actually pretty awful)

[pewing33ny]

Oooh...sweet burn, man. I had forgotten that the RealGM forums are the center of the basketball universe. I guess if I were a real Dubs fan, I'd have made an account here back when I started going to games at the Coliseum and the guy in my avatar was still a Warrior.

Considering you're the one who started insulting other fanbases you shouldn't get so pissy when called out.

That's your idea of "calling someone out"...pointing out that I registered for this site in January?! Really? I feel sorry for you.

You're misinterpreting "calling someone out", I didn't post a "you got served" gif. I just pointed out the hypocracy of calling out other people while you yourself are a bandwagon fan.

[Blue_and_Whte]

Cleveland/Milwaukee have to be the most overrated teams this summer

Meanwhile Boston is 6th. Orlando is making the playoffs this year if the overachieving Celtics are 6th. Orlando also matches up almost identically to Milwaukee yet they're supposed to...easily be in the PF's. Some of you are asleep. Lol

[Ball4life32]

But they didn't win those games did they? Overall they didn't have a very strong playoff run considering where they were seeded and the fact that the Cavs were playing shorthanded.

As for this season, the Hawks lost Carroll who was their most important perimeter defender and that was after they limped through the 2nd half of the season. As for peaking, they're not exactly a young team. Schroeder has upside but I'm not sure where else they get better. Korver turns 35 this season. Millsap (I love the guy) has almost certainly peaked as he's turning 31 this season. Horford and Teague are in their prime and not likely to have another level. The Hawks starting 5 had great health last season which will be tough to duplicate.

Anything could happen, I just don't see how they approach 60 wins again this season, especially when they didn't finish last season like a 60 win team. Regression is almost a certainty.

The Hawks made it to the ECF for the first time in their history since they've been in Atlanta. Wish the Cavs series was closer but to say it was not very strong playoff run is BS considering their health. And you said the Cavs were shorthanded but so were the Hawks so....

Again, Sefolosha is a better and more important defender than Carroll and do you think maybe the reason they limped through the second half was because they were resting players? They had the 1st seed locked up so early that they Coach Bud didn't even care about trying to win in the second half. Korver turns 35 but he's not exactly relying on his athleticism... The Hawks had great health during the regular season but NOT during the playoffs and that definitely effected their play.

I honestly don't care if they win 60 again...and if they weren't resting starters it probably would have been 65-67 wins. The depth on this team will be MUCH better at every position except SF. I would be shocked if they don't win 55+ barring injuries...I just want to see them give the Cavs a better fight. But again the Hawks will finish better than people expect like they do every year. (except 2013-14 when Horford got hurt).

I'm not sure how you can spin getting swept by a lower seeded team who was playing without their 2nd and 3rd best players as a successful playoff run, but that's your perogative I guess. I don't give them any bonus points for beating the Nets and the Wizards in less than decisive fashion. Losing either of those series would have been a disaster.

I would put 55-56 wins at the very top end of the spectrum for the Hawks this season and expect them to be closer the 49-53 range. You do have a top 5 coach but a lot of things fell almost perfectly for 60 wins last season including health. Even the point differential was that of a 56 win team and the team that limped into the finish the season was far from a 60 win juggernaut. We'll find out soon enough.

Kyrie played in 2 out of the 4 games...the same amount Kyle Korver played in. The Cavs still had the best player in the world. The Hawks controlled both the Nets and Wizards series...neither even went to 7 games.

Hawks also rested guys the last month of the season and won 60 games...would have been 65-67 wins if they didn't and that also effected the point differential A LOT. Don't get why people don't understand that. I will be shocked if the Hawks don't win 55+ barring major injuries.

[RealBucksFan]

1. Cleveland
2. Chicago
3. Atlanta
4. Washington
5. Milwaukee
6. Miami
7. Boston
8. Toronto

Wade has played in only 75% of available games over the past four years. Last season was actually above-average for him in the health department in that stretch. I think it is more likely Wade misses more games next season than fewer. Deng also should regress next season. That said, Bosh, McBob and Dragic should really help the team and help it get out of the bottom ten, but I think it is safe to assume the team's starting lineup won't be healthy enough to play together very frequently.

Milwaukee is still basically rebuilding, but people underestimate how awful Dudley and other key bench contributors played post-ASB. The team's starters were actually better post-asb, but the team struggled because the bench just collapsed due to Dudley and Mayo getting hurt and Bayless slumping. Monroe should be an upgrade over Zaza, who was extremely savvy, but was the worst finishing center in the league and was very TO-prone. And Giannis should be dramatically improved - he has transformed both his physique and his shot. The shot transformation started last season, when he shot 45-100 from 15-24 feet after February 1st.

I also think that Atlanta will regress, but not crazily like everybody seems to expect. I think Atlanta's bench will actually be better next season with Splitter and development from Schroder and Muscala. I do think the loss of Carroll will really hurt the team, though, since their balance on offense was huge for them. Sefolosha is such a bad shooter with a slow release that his defender can roam and that can spell disaster for a PnR based attack.

[bulliedog8]

It is 100% insanity to think the Heat will be anything better than a 5 seed.

The Raptors being underrated in this thread. Unless they have a meltdown again (Casey is their coach so I wouldnt be surprised if they do), they got better. Bench is better with Joseph, Ross to the bench, Biyombo, Scola, James Johnson, and Delon waiting in the wings.
Defense should get closer to 2 years ago than last year. Starters improved with Demarre over Ross. They need to work on better team work though since they were one of the worst teams with assists last year I think.

Another team being underrated is the hornets. They got some nice role playing pieces.

Hawks, Bulls, Cavs, Raptors, and Bucks are all better than the heat. Heat, Wizards, Celtics, Pistons, Hornets and Magic will fight for the final 2 spots.

Pacers will be a bottom 3-4 team in the east with the Knicks, Nets, and 76ers.

[The_Hater]

Hawks also rested guys the last month of the season and won 60 games...would have been 65-67 wins if they didn't and that also effected the point differential A LOT. Don't get why people don't understand that. I will be shocked if the Hawks don't win 55+ barring major injuries.

I think you need to prepare to be shocked then. Your points are certainly valid but you can't mention those and just ignore everything else on the negative side of the ledger like it doesn't exist. That's just not a level-headed analysis.

The east should be tougher (honestly, how can it get worse?) The Hawks will be older with an already veteran team and have lost one of their key starters. The Hawks played over their heads last year and enjoyed terrific health, the previous season without Horford wasn't nearly as fruitful. The margin for error when you don't have a superstar becomes a lot wider and as countless teams have found out in the past, it's pretty tough to remain a 55-60 win team every season without one. I personally think you're wearing rose-colored glasses but I'm sure you'll disagree. Good luck this season either way.

[The_Hater]

It is 100% insanity to think the Heat will be anything better than a 5 seed.

The Raptors being underrated in this thread. Unless they have a meltdown again (Casey is their coach so I wouldnt be surprised if they do), they got better. Bench is better with Joseph, Ross to the bench, Biyombo, Scola, James Johnson, and Delon waiting in the wings.
Defense should get closer to 2 years ago than last year. Starters improved with Demarre over Ross. They need to work on better team work though since they were one of the worst teams with assists last year I think.

Another team being underrated is the hornets. They got some nice role playing pieces.

Hawks, Bulls, Cavs, Raptors, and Bucks are all better than the heat. Heat, Wizards, Celtics, Pistons, Hornets and Magic will fight for the final 2 spots.

Pacers will be a bottom 3-4 team in the east with the Knicks, Nets, and 76ers.

It's nice that you're 100% certain how everything is going to play out this season. Because, hey, surprises and disappointments never happen in the NBA....

I'm a Raptor fan and I would bet money on the Heat finishing ahead of the Raps. They have a very strong starting 5 and have improved their bench quite a bit. I also have the Pacers making the playoffs since they almost made it last season without their best player. Tough to see them regressing with him back and also adding Monta Ellis.

But hey, that's what insanity does.

[bulliedog8]

It's nice that you're 100% certain how everything is going to play out this season. Because, hey, surprises and disappointments never happen in the NBA....

I'm a Raptor fan and I would bet money on the Heat finishing ahead of the Raps. They have a very strong starting 5 and have improved their bench quite a bit. I also have the Pacers making the playoffs since they almost made it last season without their best player. Tough to see them regressing with him back and also adding Monta Ellis.

But hey, that's what insanity does.

Jordan Hill, Turner, and who ever else is a lot worse than Hibbert, West, and Scola. Turner has nice potential but rookies dont help that often.

I hope PG13 gets back to his 13-14 level, but that will remain to be seen, and not sure how much Ellis will improve the pacers either.

Heat are the most overrated team in the NBA this year. Oldest starting 5 in the nba, bench isnt that great, etc.

[Left Side Drive]

The Heat are definitely a "wait and see" type of team for me. On paper their team is top 3 in the East. But injuries and age will always play a role as well as chemistry.

Raptors are going in a new direction (defense-first approach) let's hope it works.

Either Bulls or Cavs will be first (Irving out until JAN plays a factor).

1. CLE
2. CHI
3. MIA
4. ATL
5. WSH
6. TOR
7. MIL
8. IND
-------
9. BOS
10. DET
...

[cyclix]

The Heat (talent-wise) are the best team in the Eastern Conference. Chemistry will be another major factor that will determine whether or not Miami is truly the best team in the East. Every LeBron-led team during his career has sought to establish chemistry with the team, regardless of talent or personnel. This is why LeBron has overachieved in the past with an inferior Cavaliers. He believes in positive energy, and unity on the team. Wade and Haslem, as the leaders in Miami will have to re-establish that unity that LeBron brought to Miami, and it seems like they are doing a good job. On paper, they are the best team in the East, whether fans of other teams would like to believe it or not. Injuries won't be much of a factor in Miami as Miami has a bunch of personnel that can allow injury-proned players on the team limited minutes. Miami wouldn't need to overplay their stars.

[Workforce250]

You guys STILL believe Chicago is THAT good..lol.
Their frontline is a tad loonng in the tooth and injury prone for the last 3 years.
While sleeping on the revamped Heat team for a top spot and a rejuvenated Melo led new NY team with 100x better defense for one of the lower playoffs spots.

Smh @ the herd mentality.

[Ball4life32]

Hawks also rested guys the last month of the season and won 60 games...would have been 65-67 wins if they didn't and that also effected the point differential A LOT. Don't get why people don't understand that. I will be shocked if the Hawks don't win 55+ barring major injuries.

I think you need to prepare to be shocked then. Your points are certainly valid but you can't mention those and just ignore everything else on the negative side of the ledger like it doesn't exist. That's just not a level-headed analysis.

The east should be tougher (honestly, how can it get worse?) The Hawks will be older with an already veteran team and have lost one of their key starters. The Hawks played over their heads last year and enjoyed terrific health, the previous season without Horford wasn't nearly as fruitful. The margin for error when you don't have a superstar becomes a lot wider and as countless teams have found out in the past, it's pretty tough to remain a 55-60 win team every season without one. I personally think you're wearing rose-colored glasses but I'm sure you'll disagree. Good luck this season either way.

We'll just have to see man...I am not saying losing Carroll doesn't hurt I just like the depth on this team better. I don't think Teague/Millsap/Horford are old enough to take a step back yet...Splitter is replacing the worst backup C I have ever seen (Pero Antic) and I think Hardaway Jr. will do well in the Hawks system and is a good scorer off the bench. I also think you see Schroder take another step and he has crazy potential for a PG. Those are 3 guys that could average 10+ points off the bench. Just praying we can stay healthy during the playoffs this year.