Second best team in the East?

[Nuntius]

You can't use last season as a measuring stick. For the most obvious reason, it was a lockout season. Then there's so much different; George is significantly better on offense while Hibbert is significantly worse -- Granger isn't the same guy even if he is back. The Pacers still struggle to spread the floor (practically identical eFG% from the two seasons).

Then there's things out of their control like other teams that were behind them in offensive rankings getting better like Brooklyn, Golden State, Houston New York.

Oh, I agree with this. The point I was trying to make is that Granger had a significant impact in Indiana's offense and that his absence was a big part of why the Pacers offense sucked so bad at the beggining of the season.

[GreenBloodedC]

Right now, w/o a doubt Indiana.

[BJGOAT3]

Knicks and Pacers are the biggest threats to the Heat. However with a healthy Rose, Chicago is arguably the best team in the East.

[Chosen01]

Knicks and Pacers are the biggest threats to the Heat. However with a healthy Rose, Chicago is arguably the best team in the East.

Not arguably. Maybe for just Bulls fans sure.

[dballislife]

not much really separates the 2nd-5th best team in the east, heat are still a bit too far from that pac

[Froob]

Probably Indiana I guess but, when it comes down to the playoffs I think Boston is #2. Most battle tested team out there.

[Trader_Joe]

Probably Indiana I guess but, when it comes down to the playoffs I think Boston is #2. Most battle tested team out there.

Even without Rondo you like Boston? He's been amazing for them in the playoffs.

Last 30 games...

Pacers 20-10
Nets 20-10
Bulls 17-13
Knicks 16-14
Boston 16-14

I think its the Pacers even though my Nets are 2-0 against them in 2013 as they are the superior defensive and coached team.

[Ice Man]

Not arguably. Maybe for just Bulls fans sure.

You have that backwards. You'd have to be anti-Bulls to argue that Pacers, Knicks, etc. are better than the Bulls with a healthy Rose. The Bulls with a healthy Rose won 80% of their regular season games in 2010-11 and 2011-12. The Packers, Knicks, etc. are not of that quality.

But a healthy Rose looks unlikely for April. So yeah, Pacers look the best under this reality.

[Nuntius]

Not arguably. Maybe for just Bulls fans sure.

You have that backwards. You'd have to be anti-Bulls to argue that Pacers, Knicks, etc. are better than the Bulls with a healthy Rose. The Bulls with a healthy Rose won 80% of their regular season games in 2010-11 and 2011-12. The Packers, Knicks, etc. are not of that quality.

But a healthy Rose looks unlikely for April. So yeah, Pacers look the best under this reality.

I don't think that this is what Chosen01 argued.

The poster he quoted said that with a healthy Rose the Bulls are the best team in the East. As in better than Miami.

Chosen01 is a Miami fan so he probably took exception to that.

[dockingsched]

top 4 in order i would say

heat
pacers
bulls
knicks

completely agree. when rose comes back i assume the bulls will leap frog the pacers.

[Flash3]

It's between the Pacers and Knicks. The Bulls and Celtics are missing KEY players in Rose and Rondo - and aren't going to amount to much w/o them.

Given the injuries and how NY has regressed to the mean after their hot start, I don't see how with game planning/time, Miami can't find a way to beat them come PO time.

Now as for Indiana, they are an entire beast altogether. They have size which is Miami's kryptonite, but again with the game planning and timing for it that the POs allow, Miami should have an advantage over them but it's not going to come easy at all.

[Heat fan06]

Indiana

[LikeABosh]

Pacers. How do you even defend a team that has George Hill, Paul George, Danny Granger, David West and Roy Hibbert? The first 4 have great shooting range and the center is freaking 7"2. And they aren't even known for the offense but for the defense.

You're just naming names. They aren't known for offense because they aren't great offensively. Also, you're propping up hibbert because he's 7' 2? He's shooting an embarrassing 47% at the rim this year which I believe is the worst among centers. Compare that to a player like Lopez or bosh or even garnett (at his age)....they're all shooting 73% or better

[dreamchaser]

Of course it's Indiana, they've been a problem for us all season long and just like us they were hot through the month of February...

[Ice Man]

The poster he quoted said that with a healthy Rose the Bulls are the best team in the East. As in better than Miami.

Not how I read it, but if that's what he wrote of course the Heat is better. Much better.

[D-BE-LAW]

1 Heat
2 Pacers
3 Bulls
4 Boston
5 Nets
6 hawks
7 . Bucks
8. Knicks

[MissileMike]

I think that poster meant that when Rose returns, the bulls will be better than those other teams mentioned. I don't think he was including Miami in that group.

Even when Rose comes back, Indiana will still be better, due to rust and lack of chemistry. I don't expect the bulls to re-pass the pacers until next season. And that's assuming Rose makes a full recovery.

[KnicksManiac]

1 Heat
2 Pacers
3 Bulls
4 Boston
5 Nets
6 hawks
7 Knicks
8. Bucks

That 7 seed of yours destroyed your 1 seed by 20 points both times they played.

[Nuntius]

I think that poster meant that when Rose returns, the bulls will be better than those other teams mentioned. I don't think he was including Miami in that group.

Not how I read it, but if that's what he wrote of course the Heat is better. Much better.

Ok, let me quote that post again:

Knicks and Pacers are the biggest threats to the Heat. However with a healthy Rose, Chicago is arguably the best team in the East.

The underlined part seems pretty clear to me. He's saying best team in the East. Now, I cannot guarantee that he meant best team in the East or just forgot about the Heat. The poster that made the original quote (BJGOAT3) could clarify it.

I was just interpreting how Chosen01 probably read that post. Since that's what this poster said literally then I can see the reason for Chosen's post.

In any case, I don't have a dog in this fight. I'm just saying how I interpreted those posts

[Nuntius]

By the way, I'm not a Knicks fan but putting them behind the Bucks is kinda ridiculous.