RealGM

1st I always like to look at the playoff teams from the year before and see who has fell off far enough to drop out.

Sure Things
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Boston
Detroit
Philly
Toronto
Washington- Every year alot of people pick them not to make it but I think they have too much talent not to.


Pretty Sure
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Cavs- People pick them to fall off often but they do have Lebron and a big team which always cause trouble.

Magic- I think they overachieved last season but Howard will be a year older and the Pietrus signing was huge.


Both teams could easily be on the sure thing list but its just my personal opinion. Thats 7 teams that I think should carry over from last year and stay in the playoffs, which leaves 1 spot left.


Bubble
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Atlanta- Playoff team last year. Without Smith they have no chance but with him they will still be tough to keep out.

Miami- Horrible last year but a combination of Flash, Matrix, and the Beast could be dangerous.

Milwauke- Weird team. They always looked like a playoff team but had too many injuries. Then when healthy last year they totally sucked. If they can get back to the ball they played the previous years, combined with the additions of RJ, Alexander, and an improved Sessions then they could make some real noise.


No Chance
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Bobcats
Bulls
Pacers
Nets
Knicks- I started to put this team on the bubble list as they have alot of talent and D'Antoni should make them alot better.

Either way the East should be alot better and probably ready to compete with the West on a depth level or atleast come close if they stay healthy which is tough for alot of those teams

LOL. . .

# 1 we already have one of these threads

and # 2 if you think Dwight Howard & LeBron are going to be sitting home during next years playoffs. . .YOUR NUTS!

lol @ Philly, Toronto & the "Wizards" being sure things to get in but not the Cavs nor Magic

I DEF want to have what you've been smoking

I think there are just too many X-factors involved at this point to make any sensible predictions about the East other than that the Celtics will be very strong again. A rookie--and there are several who might--who becomes a major factor either as a plus or a minus could change a lot of things in a hurry. Chicago was awful last year--they lucked out and got the first pick. What if Rose becomes a bust? The Pacers thought they had locked up their future with "sure thing" Jon Bender (remember him? Or for that matter, that wunderkind Darko Milicic?) The Pistons are an old team in a period of transition. They could fall. Toronto? They are mediocre if JO does for them what JO did for the Pacers the last 3-4 years. Philly? Brand has put up great stats for a perpetual loser. How big a factor will he be? Sorry, I don't see Miami returning to glory. And as I said before, what rookie could make a big splash? Several teams have one that could, the Pacers among them with Brandon Rush. Plus free-agent signings and trades are not over--there will be more. Cleveland? They have LeBron will be OK, but how OK? Did the big trade toward the end of last year improve them or not? I think the jury is still out.

I think the only sensible predictions about the East are that almost all of the teams think they have improved either short term or long term, and that it's going to be wild. I think there are going to be more than a few surprises when all is said and done, making some of the predictions in this thread look pretty damned silly.

It's a tough call in the east now. They just got a lot better. Toronto, Orlando and now Philly and Miami.

I say

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

First tier= Bos, DET

Second tier= ORL

Possible second tier= TOR, PHIL, WAS, CLE*

Third tier= MIA, MIL, CHI, ATL

those are my predictions.

BOS, DET seeds #1 and #2.
ORL seed #3 .
Then rest of the seeds in second tier.
And eight spot decided with one of the teams in the third tier wich MIA should be the favorite with a rejuvinated Wade beside a stat playing Marion.

*=they have over 20mil in expirings, they will make a trade at some point and I think it will elevate them into clear second tier

Depends alot on chemistry and injury situation's . Potentially everybody could make the playoffs if these things work out .

I see Boston , Detroit , Orlando , Cleveland , Washington , Philly and Toronto making it and the 8th spot is up for grabs . Could be everybody from Miami to Chicago even the Knicks could make it if they get rid of some of their chemistry killers ( Marbury , Randolph ) and everythings working.

dlts20 wrote:
Pretty Sure
----------------


Magic- I think they overachieved last season but Howard will be a year older and the Pietrus signing was huge.

Good joke.

1 Boston
2 Miami
3 Detroit
4 Orlando
5 Toronto
6 Cleveland
7 Washington
8 Philly

Miami looks good with their moves so far, vast improvement from last year.

Good to see Chicago is not in the playoffs radar for anyone.

I like that low expectations.

cool007 wrote:Good to see Chicago is not in the playoffs radar for anyone.

I like that low expectations.

Rose wont be that effective his rookie season I suspect.

jmbflame21 wrote:1 Boston
2 Miami
3 Detroit
4 Orlando
5 Toronto
6 Cleveland
7 Washington
8 Philly

Miami looks good with their moves so far, vast improvement from last year.

lol @ Miami at #2

Anyway its still way early for a thread like this but ill play along assuming that Smith stays in Atlanta and Emeka stays in Charlotte

1. Boston
2. Orlando
3. Detroit
4. Toronto
5. Washington
6. Philly
7. ATL
8. Cavs

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

People disrespect the Hawks just because of their past.

How are the Hawks going to take a step back with all that young talent with another year to develop and what they have to build off of after their 1st post-season run?

_BBIB_ wrote:People disrespect the Hawks just because of their past.

How are the Hawks going to take a step back with all that young talent with another year to develop and what they have to build off of after their 1st post-season run?

do you realized what you have just done? you have given people on realgm the right to bash the hawks for no reason.

and it begins..... now

To everyone calling Orlando a sure thing: Who knows? They may win 70 games but they need to prove they weren't a one year wonder. I think they're gonna make the playoffs but honestly, no team is a sure thing with the likes of injuries and attitudes looming in the NBA.

1. Boston - obvi
2. Orlando - D12 is unstoppable
3. Detroit - i see them declining slightly
4. Toronto - JO/Bosh makes a great frontcourt
5. Cleveland - LBJ will carry them
6. Philly - depends on Brands health
7. Washington - Butler/Arenas/Jamison combo will be tough
8. Atlanta - I expect the exact same as last year


9. Miami
10. Milwaukee
11. Chicago
12. Indiana
13. Charlotte
14. New York
15. New Jersey

1.Boston
2.Washington
3.Detriot
4.Orlando
5.Philly
7.Raptors
8.Bobcats


That's how I think it will play out. I have a feeling the Bobcats will shock a lot of people this season.

Yeah that would be shocking considering the Bobcats have added jack squat to warrant such a climb to relevance.

It's funny how everyone has Boston at #1 when only 10 months ago were were projected from #6 to #8 by most. I'll say Boston don't make the playoffs.

P2 wrote:It's funny how everyone has Boston at #1 when only 10 months ago were were projected from #6 to #8 by most. I'll say Boston don't make the playoffs.

Thats because Boston didn't win sh#t 10 months ago, so there was no reason for anyone to come out riding their jock. I think that much should be fairly obvious.