Ranking the Eastern Conference

UltimateDynasty · Post #1 » by **UltimateDynasty** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:00 pm

How do you guys rank the Eastern Conference? The big debate seems to be who is best Orlando/Cleveland/Boston. Well do not forget Miami (especially if they add 2/3 of Odom, Boozer, Iverson) and Atlanta are likely only to get better while being the 4/5 seeds last year. Playoff teams like Detroit and Chicago have gotten better this offseason and in Chicago's case are lead by a player one year removed from being the #1 pick and ROY. Surely non playoff teams like Washington (healthy Arenas, Miller, Foye) and Toronto (Turkoglu, Jack) have improved this offseason. Teams like Phili, Charlotte and New jersey have a lot of young talent. The Knicks will likely improve each year in D'Antoni's system (Don't underrate Sessions). Indiana and Milwaukee I would say still need time.

The whole point is BEYOND THE TOP 3, DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE REST OF THE EAST

You could arguably make a case for 13/15 teams to make the playoffs.

So how would you rank the East top to bottom?

1.) Boston - This is assuming KG is 100% healthy, that is a bigger addition than any team has made. Along with Wallace/Daniels they sit at the top. Unlike the other top teams, their core knows how to win.
2.) Orlando - Howard, their best player, isn't a dominant scorer, but they have two very good scorers (Lewis and VC) and a plethora of role players (Bass, Pietrus, Barnes, Gortat, Watson, Reddick, Anderson) while being led by a healthier All Star PG.
3.) Cleveland - Moon and Parker > Wallace and Sasha. Vastly overpaid for Varaejo. Sure they added Shaq, but they could still be considered "small" as Lebron is surrounded by two huge centers, a one dimensional PF and a bunch of shooters/role players.
4.) Miami - This is based off of them bringing in AI/Odom/Boozer. I believe they will get 2/3. The team as is, will need major contributions from second year players Beasley and Chalmers.
5.) Washington - This perennial playoff team suffered a slew of injuries last season. Now they are healthy again and added Miller and Foye. Young talent like Young, McGee and Blatche are getting better. A trade involving some package of Butler/Jamison/Stevenson for a more traditional PF could still happen. Loads of depth.
6.) Detroit The additions of Gordon, CV and Wilcox make them younger and more talented than last year's team. However they are still missing a true leader. Billups never should have been traded. Stuckey is not a pure PG.
7.) Atlanta Every team above them is making moves and what did they do? Brought in Crawford and Teague and THEN resigned Bibby. There is still plenty of talent on the team and some playoff experience but they are moving closer to the bottom than the top of the conference. The Who's team is it issue (JJ or Smith) can cause a split.
8.) Toronto - This will likely be Bosh's last year. Hedu makes the team better, but he is aging. After Bosh leaves their chance at the playoffs will depend on DeRozan's development. Bargnani has likely reached his max.
9.) Chicago - If they land Boozer, different story. The rest of the East is making moves including Detroit picking Gordon off them. What did the Bulls do? Brought in two rookie forwards. Rose will get better and a healthy Deng will make a difference, but that might not be enough for a return trip to the playoffs.
10.) Charlotte - Solid team all around, their young core continues to improve. The veterans added last season and Gerald Henderson are nice but they remain on the outside looking in.
11.) New York Do not underrate Ramon Sessions if this is where he ends up. But if that is their only move, then year two will not be much better than year one for D'Antoni. 2010 is only one year away, question is will anyone go to New York?
12.) Philadelphia - Iguodala is only getting better, but Brand can't stay healthy and they seem likely to lose a very underrated leader in Andre Miller, only to replace him with combo guards.
13.) Indiana - New Jersey's future is probably brighter than Indiana, but I put Indiana ahead of them solely because of Danny Granger. Great player on a bad team. Who knows though if Dunleave and Murphy put up solid healthy seasons together, Ford stays healthy, Rush and Hibbert improve and Hansbrough can exceed expectations they could be closer to 8-10. That might be a lot to ask though.
14.) New Jersey - A rebuilding year. Courtney Lee is a nice coup to go along with Harris and Lopez. They will have money to spend next offseason, the future is brighter.
15.) Milwaukee Their best player is coming off an injury, they traded their best veteran, their two most talented young players both seem to be heading to other EC teams, their first rd pick last year did next to nothing and their pick this year is a project. Easy pick for worst team in the East. Unfortunately for them there is no stud #1 pick next year.

SonicYouth34 · Post #2 » by **SonicYouth34** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:08 pm

Looks good to me. I don't think Toronto is gonna make the playoffs and Indy will. But that's just me.

campybatman · Post #3 » by **campybatman** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:30 pm

Boozer's the wild card in affecting the complexion of the eastern conference for one team. Let's say he's traded to Miami or Chicago. He could be enough to catapult that team to fourth in any playoff ranking.

1. Boston
2. Orlando
3. Cleveland
4. Miami (Wade and Boozer) or Chicago (Rose and Boozer)

6. Washington
7. Atlanta
8. Toronto

Bubble teams: Indiana and Philadelphia

theman · Post #4 » by **theman** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:33 pm

You have the Knicks way to high. Session is not that good. Plus they are going to lose Nate Robinson so that is a wash at best and they could lose David Lee as well, Possibly to the team that loses out on Boozer.

If Redd is healthy the Bucks will not be last. I give that honor to the Nets. They replaced Carter with Courtney Lee. Yuk. Of course, Milwaukee did lose Richard Jefferson and CV so yes they could suck. However, Redd > Harris,

UltimateDynasty · Post #5 » by **UltimateDynasty** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:45 pm

theman wrote:You have the Knicks way to high. Session is not that good. Plus they are going to lose Nate Robinson so that is a wash at best and they could lose David Lee as well, Possibly to the team that loses out on Boozer.

If Lee leaves then Jordan Hill will be a top 3 rookie next year. Knicks fans will love him soon enough.

Sessions had huge games in the NBA and huge games in college (ever watch him at Nevada?) Put him in D'Antoni's system and he will be even better. Dont overlook him, I'm telling you.

BillTheGOAT · Post #6 » by **BillTheGOAT** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 9:58 pm

1-boston (.809)
2-orlando (.791)
3-cleveland (.730)
4-bobcats/pistons/bulls (.550)
5-wizards/heat (.510)
6-hawks/raptors/sixers (.500)
7-bucks/nets/knicks/pacers (.390)

theman · Post #7 » by **theman** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:06 pm

UltimateDynasty wrote:
theman wrote:You have the Knicks way to high. Session is not that good. Plus they are going to lose Nate Robinson so that is a wash at best and they could lose David Lee as well, Possibly to the team that loses out on Boozer.

If Lee leaves then Jordan Hill will be a top 3 rookie next year. Knicks fans will love him soon enough.

Sessions had huge games in the NBA and huge games in college (ever watch him at Nevada?) Put him in D'Antoni's system and he will be even better. Dont overlook him, I'm telling you.

What about Gallinari?

Dirty Water · Post #8 » by **Dirty Water** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:30 pm

1.) Boston
2.) Cleveland
3.) Orlando
4.) Miami
5.) Atlanta
6.) Philadelphia
7.) Toronto
8.) Washington
9.) Indiana
10.) Charlotte
11.) Detroit
12.) Chicago
13.) Milwaukee
14.) New Jersey
15.) New York

lupe__fiasco · Post #9 » by **lupe__fiasco** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 2:34 am

how most of you guys have miami at 4 is beyond me. As their team is constructed as of now its is wade, beasly and scrubs

Dirty Water · Post #10 » by **Dirty Water** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 2:50 am

lupe__fiasco wrote:how most of you guys have miami at 4 is beyond me. As their team is constructed as of now its is wade, beasly and scrubs

They were close to 4 last year with that team... your point?

lupe__fiasco · Post #11 » by **lupe__fiasco** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 3:33 am

Ghost of the Garden wrote:
lupe__fiasco wrote:how most of you guys have miami at 4 is beyond me. As their team is constructed as of now its is wade, beasly and scrubs

They were close to 4 last year with that team... your point?

ummmm let me see....... ever come to mind the fact that almost every team in the east has gotten better this off season

washington (if all healthy), philadelphia, atlanta, and toronto are all better teams this year than miami and you cant even argue that

Hemingway · Post #12 » by **Hemingway** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 3:56 am

Hmmm. I dont watch much outside of celtics games so my opinions are probbaly off and I'm a bit drunk.

1.) Boston
2.) Cleveland
3.) Orlando
4.) Miami
5.) Atlanta
Washington
Philadelphia
Toronto
Charlotte
Chicago
Detroit
Indiana
New York
Milwaukee
New Jersey

campybatman · Post #13 » by **campybatman** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 5:54 am

lupe__fiasco wrote:how most of you guys have miami at 4 is beyond me. As their team is constructed as of now its is wade, beasly and scrubs

When your team features one of the league's premier players in Wade. Your team always has a chance to overachieve (see the LeBron lead 2005-2006 Cavaliers). The 2005-2006 Cleveland team had Ilgauskas, Gooden, R. Murray and Snow. Hughes was injured for most of the season. And LeBron lead this team to fifty wins. They were the fourth seed.

Next season Miami will presumingly have a healthy J. O'Neal, Beasley, Chalmers, Cook and could match the offer from Cleveland for Moon. And then add to this the possibility of acquiring Boozer via a trade, and you've a legitimate fourth seed playoff team. But, again, I began my post with the premise that if Miami got Boozer, they could be a lot better. I mean nothing is for certain, of course. I was speaking hypothetically. I don't know which players will have to be give up for Boozer.

UltimateDynasty · Post #14 » by **UltimateDynasty** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 6:31 am

theman wrote:
UltimateDynasty wrote:
theman wrote:You have the Knicks way to high. Session is not that good. Plus they are going to lose Nate Robinson so that is a wash at best and they could lose David Lee as well, Possibly to the team that loses out on Boozer.

If Lee leaves then Jordan Hill will be a top 3 rookie next year. Knicks fans will love him soon enough.

Sessions had huge games in the NBA and huge games in college (ever watch him at Nevada?) Put him in D'Antoni's system and he will be even better. Dont overlook him, I'm telling you.

What about Gallinari?

uhhh What about him? How are you comparing a lanky Euro to a college seasoned two year NBA pro with room to grow? Sessions surely won't put them over the top if he signs there but Sessions/Hill for the next few years will create different Knicks teams than we are used to.