Who is the 3rd best team in the East?

[The_Hater]

I’m biased as an Indy fan, but I really believe the only thing holding us back is questions about Vic’s health.

There have been some rumors he might be ahead of schedule and could be ready to go at the start of the season, which could make or break the Pacers standing here.

I haven’t read anything indicating that Dipo will be ready for the start of the season in October, even the team is reporting that December/January is a hopeful timeline. That indicates 25-40 games into the season.

And really, there’s no reason for the Pacers to push the timeline, usually bad things can happen when a player rushes back early.

[AK47MVP]

Why Philly is not an option? I do not think they are clear top 2 team by any means. Yes, Raptors got worse but so did they as well. Celtics and Pacers have as much claims to be in that 2-5 range as Philly and Raptors.

[jbk1234]

If I have to pick now, I'll say Boston. But if the Celtics don't improve their front court, they could easily lose in the playoffs to the Pacers or Raptors in the post season.

[GeorgeMarcus]

Why Philly is not an option? I do not think they are clear top 2 team by any means. Yes, Raptors got worse but so did they as well. Celtics and Pacers have as much claims to be in that 2-5 range as Philly and Raptors.

We got better

[AK47MVP]

Why Philly is not an option? I do not think they are clear top 2 team by any means. Yes, Raptors got worse but so did they as well. Celtics and Pacers have as much claims to be in that 2-5 range as Philly and Raptors.

We got better

I do not think so. Horford is the most overrated and overpaid signing of this off season.

[GeorgeMarcus]

Why Philly is not an option? I do not think they are clear top 2 team by any means. Yes, Raptors got worse but so did they as well. Celtics and Pacers have as much claims to be in that 2-5 range as Philly and Raptors.

We got better

I do not think so. Horford is the most overrated and overpaid signing of this off season.

He's been the most impactful player on the Celtic's by a good margin the past few years. Overpaid is relative to potential age related decline, but he has a skillset that should age gracefully a la Tim Duncan or the Gasol brothers.

[NinjaBro]

Raptors are second best regular season team and 3rd best playoff team. Went 17-5 without Kawhi last year, Siakam’s improving at a very fast rate, will have full season with Gasol, and Anunoby will be 22 and healthy. They’re definitely more talented than Boston.

Lowry > Kemba
Powell < Brown
Siakam >> Tatum
Ibaka = Hayward
Gasol >>> Kanter

Van Vleet < Smart
Anunoby > Ojeleye

I'll take FVV over Smart any day of the week.

I was trying to give the Celtics the benefit of the doubt thinking they must have the edge somewhere, but an = sign is probably more fair for those two.

FVV>Smart
Ibaka>Hayward

[Ree4erMadness]

I’m biased as an Indy fan, but I really believe the only thing holding us back is questions about Vic’s health.

There have been some rumors he might be ahead of schedule and could be ready to go at the start of the season, which could make or break the Pacers standing here.

Yep, he's looking great bro. If you listen locally to Dan Dakich or JMV, they've been updating his progress. And there's been some updates on Pacers digest from some of the more older, informed posters. And I don't know if you saw his latest basketball camp event but he looks great. He basically did everything except look really explosive. He might not rush back but knowing him, he probably will try to be back asap.

And if you follow the Pacers on twitter, they posted a video of him running.

Read on Twitter

[Kalela]

I think it will be fun to watch the Raptors without Kawhi this coming season. I really want to see if they can resurrect the careers of Cameron Payne, Stanley Johnson, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Patrick McCaw. Sagba Konate and Terrence Davis were a good pick ups for them who think will probably make the team at some point.

[Wreckus13]

I have it

1. Bucks
2. Philly
3. Boston

[Jables]

I don't know why people believe 76ers are a lock to finish top 2 in the East, especially when you consider Embiid's durability.
They have ZERO depth. Arguably one of the worst benches in the league. Embiid's gonna be forced to play big minutes and if he goes down, who's gonna step up? Kyle O'Quinn? LOOOL.

I honestly believe the Raptors and Celtics will finish with a better regular season record than Philly.

Add Philly to the poll if you're serious OP.

I don't think Scott, Smith, Neto, Ennis, Burke, O'Quinn and young guys like Smith, Thybulle is the worst bench in the league. Wtf. Simmons was playing some C last season, Horford is definitely going to take some minutes in playoffs so Embiid rests, O'Quinn isn't even a bad backup.

I think Pacers usually surprise people, but it shouldn't be a surprise they will do well this year with Oladipo coming back.

[dorkestra]

Pacers are so underrated. It wouldn't be responsible for me to bet any more of my family's wealth on their record this year, but let's just say we're all feeling very confident.

[Pop Daddy]

I said Boston, but the East is so wide open, a lot can happen.Also in order to be the man you got to beat the man (Toronto )

[Crives]

I think Indiana if Oladipo comes back strong

[sixerswillrule]

I don't know why people believe 76ers are a lock to finish top 2 in the East, especially when you consider Embiid's durability.
They have ZERO depth. Arguably one of the worst benches in the league. Embiid's gonna be forced to play big minutes and if he goes down, who's gonna step up? Kyle O'Quinn? LOOOL.

I honestly believe the Raptors and Celtics will finish with a better regular season record than Philly.

Add Philly to the poll if you're serious OP.

Big minutes as in 30-32 mpg for 60-65 games?

[Antinomy]

Raptors are gonna surprise everyone this year & nab the 2 seed. Granted they don’t blow up their roster to rebuild.

[JAYZGOAT]

I don't know why people believe 76ers are a lock to finish top 2 in the East, especially when you consider Embiid's durability.
They have ZERO depth. Arguably one of the worst benches in the league. Embiid's gonna be forced to play big minutes and if he goes down, who's gonna step up? Kyle O'Quinn? LOOOL.

I honestly believe the Raptors and Celtics will finish with a better regular season record than Philly.

Add Philly to the poll if you're serious OP.

I don't think Scott, Smith, Neto, Ennis, Burke, O'Quinn and young guys like Smith, Thybulle is the worst bench in the league. Wtf. Simmons was playing some C last season, Horford is definitely going to take some minutes in playoffs so Embiid rests, O'Quinn isn't even a bad backup.

I think Pacers usually surprise people, but it shouldn't be a surprise they will do well this year with Oladipo coming back.

I don't know why people still say the Sixers have bad depth. I think that's its been said so much in the past that people just believe it to be true no matter what. Sixers bench is arguably better than the Raptors, and their starting lineup is clearly better. I don't know what that guy is smoking insisting that the Raptors will finish better than them. Heck I'd give the Celtics a better chance at that.

[Antinomy]

I don't know why people believe 76ers are a lock to finish top 2 in the East, especially when you consider Embiid's durability.
They have ZERO depth. Arguably one of the worst benches in the league. Embiid's gonna be forced to play big minutes and if he goes down, who's gonna step up? Kyle O'Quinn? LOOOL.

I honestly believe the Raptors and Celtics will finish with a better regular season record than Philly.

Add Philly to the poll if you're serious OP.

I don't think Scott, Smith, Neto, Ennis, Burke, O'Quinn and young guys like Smith, Thybulle is the worst bench in the league. Wtf. Simmons was playing some C last season, Horford is definitely going to take some minutes in playoffs so Embiid rests, O'Quinn isn't even a bad backup.

I think Pacers usually surprise people, but it shouldn't be a surprise they will do well this year with Oladipo coming back.

Guys like Thybulle & Smith are rookies plus offensively-challenged at that. Doubt they contribute much of anything this season. Neto couldn’t even get minutes in Utah after all the times Exum went down. Ennis is decent. O’Quinn is probably no better than last years Monroe at this point. Scott usually runs hot or cold. And Burke is good if you allow him to pound the ball, which wouldn’t be in their best interest.

Might not be the worst but they’re definitely down there. They essentially have 1.5 consistently playable guys.

[fianchetto]

I really really REALLY want dipo to come back to the same level he was playing at. Until then, it's a tie between Celtics and Raps

[Ree4erMadness]

I don't know why people believe 76ers are a lock to finish top 2 in the East, especially when you consider Embiid's durability.
They have ZERO depth. Arguably one of the worst benches in the league. Embiid's gonna be forced to play big minutes and if he goes down, who's gonna step up? Kyle O'Quinn? LOOOL.

I honestly believe the Raptors and Celtics will finish with a better regular season record than Philly.

Add Philly to the poll if you're serious OP.

I don't think Scott, Smith, Neto, Ennis, Burke, O'Quinn and young guys like Smith, Thybulle is the worst bench in the league. Wtf. Simmons was playing some C last season, Horford is definitely going to take some minutes in playoffs so Embiid rests, O'Quinn isn't even a bad backup.

I think Pacers usually surprise people, but it shouldn't be a surprise they will do well this year with Oladipo coming back.

I don't know why people still say the Sixers have bad depth. I think that's its been said so much in the past that people just believe it to be true no matter what. Sixers bench is arguably better than the Raptors, and their starting lineup is clearly better. I don't know what that guy is smoking insisting that the Raptors will finish better than them. Heck I'd give the Celtics a better chance at that.

IMO, the Raptors have a much better bench than the Sixers. Hell I didn't even realize the Raps have Payne, Hollis Jefferson, Stanley Johnson, and McCaw. And who's starting between OG, FVV, and Powell? Add 1 or 2 of them to the bench and the Raps have a beastly bench TBH. And I'm assuming Serge is coming off the bench too. Their bench is way better than the Sixers. Hell they may have one of the best bench's league tbh.