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Basically the top 5 teams in the east are locks for the post season barring a major injury to their star.. But it's gets interesting after that with the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th teams all seperated by 3 games in the loss column. Also with it being the Eastern conference, streaky teams like the Bulls/Bucks/Pacers can probably catch fire and make a run for the playoffs.. Who's in and who's out?

In
Sixers - Close call but they have the easiest schedule of the bunch
Hawks- They'll probably get in by default..
Bulls- I think they'll catch fire at some point and barely get in..

Wild Card
Nets- They have the best players of the bunch, but the hardest schedule going forward, including a season breaking 5 game road trip against the best in the West..

Wiz- How effective will Arenas and Butler be when they return? That's really the deciding factor for the Wiz and their post season hopes..

Out
Pacers- Unless tinsley and JO miraculously get healed , I just don't think they have the talent to make it..

Bucks- I could see them making a run to get within a game or so of 8..


(PS those teams that make it (save NJ or Was in the 6th seed) will probably get swept in the 1st round)..
Thoughts?

I don't think the Bulls will get in that team just seems very dysfunctional. Same thing with the Pacers...

76ers will stay in. Their chemistry and style, should allow for that. I enjoy watching them and have loved what they've been able to establish and do, post-Iverson.

Between the Bulls/Nets/Hawks for the last spot. Charlotte I don't know if they'll legitimately get into it, I'd lean to not.

9th seed in the West would be 4th seed in the East...

^ could we just shorten a post that says west is better then east?

W>E

There. In teh start of every thread have the OP just end it with W>E. That way it won't have to be gotten into every thread about the confrences

NJ and Washington are far better than the other teams in the discussion..they'll be 6th and 7th IMO..NJ doesn't have a "season breaking" road trip..that's impossible considering who they are competing with for the last spots..if NJ loses all 5 games, it doesn't mean Philly and Atlanta won't lose 5 in a row too..they are bad teams that are fortunate to play in a weak conference..

what the **** is Philly doing anyways? what's the point of a playoff run? they aren't in a position to gain playoff experience like some other teams..their #1 option isn't a legit best player on a team, and their #2 guy won't be with the team next year anyways..I thought the Iverson trade was a start for the future..

HarlemHeat37 wrote:NJ and Washington are far better than the other teams in the discussion..they'll be 6th and 7th IMO..NJ doesn't have a "season breaking" road trip..that's impossible considering who they are competing with for the last spots..if NJ loses all 5 games, it doesn't mean Philly and Atlanta won't lose 5 in a row too..they are bad teams that are fortunate to play in a weak conference..

what the **** is Philly doing anyways? what's the point of a playoff run? they aren't in a position to gain playoff experience like some other teams..their #1 option isn't a legit best player on a team, and their #2 guy won't be with the team next year anyways..I thought the Iverson trade was a start for the future..

Hawks are just as good as NJ and Washington.

They just suffered from a hellish road trip that set them back.

HarlemHeat37 wrote:
what the **** is Philly doing anyways? what's the point of a playoff run? they aren't in a position to gain playoff experience like some other teams..their #1 option isn't a legit best player on a team, and their #2 guy won't be with the team next year anyways..I thought the Iverson trade was a start for the future..

huh?

W>E

and i see the pacers getting the 8 seed

panacea wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



huh?

I'm assuming they trade Andre Miller, something they should have done already..he's a good player, but he's just giving them extra wins, something they don't need at this point of the "rebuilding" phase..

NJ got better after the Kidd trade, just wait until they gel with Harris and the rest of the new players..a healthy Wizards team is clearly better than the Hawks..

Atlanta is definitely the next best team, but I find it strange that they are out of the playoff picture, despite no major injuries(IIRC) in a weak conference..they do have some poor coaching from what I've seen though..

Well, I think I remember reading their goal was to make the playoffs this season, and they have serious cap-space for the off-season, too. Their young guys will benefit from the playoff experience (assuming they make it). Iguodala will get more (made in 2005 against Detroit). So, they actually are in position to gain playoff experience. That's one of the reasons why they've been going for playoffs, I'd guess.

Young, Lou Williams, Jason Smith, Carney (though maybe not quite as well) have been developing, and Iguodala's continued to improve and emerge. As has Dalembert.

On Andre Miller, I think he could be traded, but also think I remember hearing they want to keep him around as a good veteran presence. They also don't have a better option at PG right now. Lou Williams is more of an undersized SG, and don't know if he'd be the guy for the future at PG.

I agree they have no legit franchise player.

Not typical of doing things with how their team has changed, but, I know what they want to do is gain confidence and get wins. I remember that being said post-AI-trade last season, also. Mainly for their young players. It's carried over to this season, and they have been doing that, and are probably going to reach their goal of making the playoffs.

I thought they'd do things differently eventually, too, after the Iverson trade. But it is still good, because they're winning and the young guys are developing at the same time.

Top 3 East teams get a free pass into the 2nd rnd Cleveland style (too bad they'll actually have to play someone decent).....2 weeks of missable TV and pointless games...Sweeps all they way through

To the OP: The question isn't whether Arenas and Butler will be healthy when they return. The question is if Arenas and/or Butler WILL return.

There's so much doubt surrounding their return right now that Washington might be looking at an Arenas/Butler-less team for the remainder of the season, which would probably mean no playoffs.

1. Boston
2. Detroit
3. Orlando
4. Cleveland
5. Toronto
6. New Jersey
7. Washington
8. Philadelphia

1. celtics
2. pistons
3. magic
4. raptors
5. cavs
6. nets
7. wizard
8. hawks

chris bosh is injured, the raps might slip lower

When did C4 get injured? thats gay as hell