Playoff Picture Next Year

[fuzzy1]

It looks like Miami, Indiana, Brooklyn, Boston, New York, and Chicago are locks to make the playoffs. I'd say we're right there with them as currently constructed, but Washington, Philadelphia and perhaps Milwaukee look pretty good too.

So do we tread mill this year in the hopes of landing a big free agent next year while retaining Josh and Horford or do we trade one of them to tank into the lottery and draft one of the centers (Noel, Zeller, and Adams all look pretty nice)?

[dtown8]

^ i don't see Boston, NY, or Chicago as "locks"

Boston - as KG and Pierce goes, so does the Celtics, and KG and Pierce only have about a 30% chance of being healthy the whole year.

NY - Lin was given credit for saving the Knicks last year, we will see if that was true, because next year, we will have the same Knicks' lineup that struggled to stay in the playoff picture

Chicago - Bulls pretty much lost their whole bench, Deng will be out for half the year, Rose will be out for 3/4 of the year, and Noah has never been known for staying healthy for a whole season. they are going to need a rookie Teague to do something special, and Thibs has been known for not playing rookies.

as for Brooklyn, i'm pretty sure they will make it, but i'm not ready to call them a "lock", because if Lopez gets hurt again, then this years Nets is not that much better than last years Nets (even with Joe)

[fuzzy1]

Ah. Forgot Deng was hurt. Still, I think as constructed we'll make the playoffs. The question, though, is whether it's even worth it? Would we rather have Josh, Horford and a big name player, or (say) Horford, Noel/Zeller, extra depth and a big name player?

[dtown8]

i'm okay with tanking, but with the signing of Louis Williams, it looks like Ferry is ready to win now.

[Jamaaliver]

Just a shot in the dark:

1. Miami
2. Boston
3. Indiana
4. Brooklyn
5. New York
6. Chicago
7. Milwaukee
8. Atlanta/Cleveland/Washington

I do believe Boston and Brooklyn are locks. JJ and a bunch of unproven kids was enough to get us to the playoffs. So JJ and Deron and Gerald Wallace should probably garner a top 4 record.

Boston is always amongst the best teams in the East and Rondo, Avery Bradley, Fab Melo, Jared Sullinger should blend well with the experience of KG and Pierce.

Washington has made some solid moves this offseason. Okafor and Nene shoud make an imposing frontcourt. And Beal and Wall are a couple of stars in the making.

Cleveland already shows signs of improvements. If they get Bynum, they should be pretty tough to beat. Assuming Kyrie Irving manages to make it through the season without getting hurt.

Chicago has the best coach in the Eastern Conference. they'll tread water until Rose gets back.

[Rip2137]

Miami/Boston after that its a crapshoot.

Miami and Boston can have a big injury to one of their important players and still be okay.

Brooklyn looses Lopez, they will not be good. Knicks...probably won't be good anyway, Indiana, last year was a product of being the only team without any significant injuries. I don't think they have gotten any better. Chicago? No. Even more stripped down version of what they had last year. Milwalkee? I don't understand why anyone would think this is going to be a winning team.

The Hawks could very well end up with the 3rd best record in the east, by default. and I mean being a good 8-9 games back of the 2nd spot. I just think the East is going to be a train wreck this year.

[GrimeyKidd]

1. Miami
2. Boston
3. Chicago
4. New York
5. Hawks
6. Brooklyn
7. Milwaukee
8. Cleveland/Washington

[Rip2137]

But how do people expect Chicago to win for a full season? 3rd best record?

[2Mas]

Boston fan here, I don't expect Chicago to get a 3rd seed. I don't think they'll have homecourt in any round. I can see the top 5 in the east plan out like

Miami, Boston, Indiana, Brooklyn, New York will fight for top 4 spots. Then Chicago will get a 6-8 seed for sure, you guys will take one as well probably like 7 or 8. Then Philly & Washington will play out that last spot. Injuries can & will change everything though.

Dude dtown don't know what he's talking about because PP & KG don't need to do all that anymore & second yeah obviously if injuries happen to your best players your gonna suffer wins? If Smith goes down & misses the year, you guys won't be as good either?

[AVolumeScorer]

MiamI
Boston
Indiana
Knicks
Nets[what a matchup this would be]
Chicago
Hawks
Cavs if they get Bynum and he's motivated
Bucks

OKC
Lakers
Spurs
Clippers
Memphis
Dallas
Denver
I think Golden State make a push here, or the Suns if Dragic can get Gortat close to his last season

[davefmcl]

I think the East is VERY fuzzy at this point.
Miami, Indiana, and Chicago look solid, but after that there are a lot of question marks.
New York: if they play to their talent they will be top four and maybe as high as first, but they haven't yet.
Boston: they are an old team and one of these years the talent of Garnett and Pierce will just go. Is this that year? Rondo and even aging talent would be playoff level, but maybe 6-8 range.
Brooklyn: right now they have one new star; Joe Johnson. If he is good enough to rakers me them from lottery level to contender, why were we all so happy to see him go? Exactly, he's not. They should be a low end playoff team by default.
Orlando: if Dwight plays out this season with them and it would be a contract year, then they could be a top 4 team.
Us(Atlanta): even without another big move I think we stay in the playoffs and could rise to the 4-5 range.

That would make 8 teams, but the order is very unclear and that is without a suprise team emerging.