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I love that every one of the talking heads keeps saying this guy or that guy is heading to the East because it's so easy. Well if all these people head East, suddenly it's not that easy.

Anyways I was tossing around who I thought would be Eastern Conference playoff teams next season and I realized there's a real possibility that the Cavs could miss the playoffs next season (Boston, Philly, Detroit, Orlando, Toronto, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Washington, Charlotte, Miami, Cleveland, Chicago). Now granted a lot of those teams are boom or bust and most likely some will miss the playoffs. BUT I would have to admit there's a decent chance that Cleveland could miss the playoffs next season...

That being said, we've started to accumulate a significant amount of young talent and contracts that would be expirings next off season. What are the odds that Cleveland misses the playoffs and we are able to step in with a boatload of expirings/youth/picks for a disgruntled LeBron James? Between Rondo/TA/Giddens/Walker/Davis/Powe/Perkins I get the vibe that at least 2 will step up and become borderline stars in this league. Combine them with Ray and could it work?

it's really silly to say that's it's easy in the east. 3 champions in the last 4 years came from the eastern conference. and with the arrival of JO in TO, Brand in philly, a healthy dwade playing a full season with marion in miami and RJ in milwaukee. it's just getting better.

with lebron james, i'm really not sure if the cavs are willing to let lebron go unless it would give them a 1st round pick or a rising star like durant or brandon roy.

rambo_ortega wrote:3 champions in the last 4 years came from the eastern conference.

2008 - Boston
2007 - San Antonio
2006 - Miami
2005 - San Antonio
2004 - Scumbags



So 3 of 5 have come from the east, personally I don't see the big obsession with western conference basketball. I can't wait until that conference stops being so vastly overrated, I mean come on-the Lakers of all teams just made it to the Finals.

I say not a chance that Cleveland misses the playoffs next year. They were maybe Boston's stiffest test during the 2008 playoff run, and they have this guy named LeBron James who is a pretty good player. You really think Bogut, RJ, and Redd are gonna keep them from the playoffs?

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He's not the only one who thinks Cleveland is backsliding. The thing that Cleveland has above most teams, they have Lebron that can carry a team on his back.

It depends what they do this summer. If they don't make a move, they could be a first-round exit this year, which might be enough to get LeBron angry. I don't think they miss the playoffs though, Philadelphia and Toronto were already playoff teams last year. If Miami jumps into the playoffs, then we'll probably see Atlanta drop back out.

My Homer Prediction for the east...
1. Boston
2. Detroit
3. Orlando
4. Philadelphia
5. Toronto
6. Washington
7. Cleveland
8. Miami

Barring a major injury to LeBron, no, I don't see the Cavs missing out on the playoffs, and I don't know why anyone would. They gave us the most trouble in the entire playoffs. I'm still trying to wrap my head around why people are picking Miami to turn it around and be back in the playoffs after their horrible year in 2008. Going from worst to first, or even worst to playoffs, very rarely happens. It took two huge trades for future HOFers and a major injury to our best player for that to happen. The Heat got one part of that done. They had a major injury to their best player. But I don't think you can equate the acquisitions of Shawn Marion and Michael Beasley to anything approaching Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

The Cavs missing the playoffs? HAHAHA. Ya right. The Cavs almost beat us this postseason despite the fact they got almost nothing from Wally and their big men were very inconsistent from game to game. I thought West was the only guy who had a good series besides Lebron. The Cavs might not have as much talent 1-12 as these other teams but they have Lebron the ultimate finisher and franchise player. They are very underrated in that they play great team defense and are the best rebounding team in the NBA. The top defensive teams in the league last yr were Bos, Det, and Clev. Don't discount that fact. The Cavs can win games ugly.

The Wizards might have 3 all star players but they don't defend at all or rebound as well as the Cavs which is why they have lost to them in the first round 3 straight yrs. Toronto and Philly got a lot better this offseason but I still think they have a lot to prove. JO has been awful the past few yrs and could easily get hurt again. I really like Bosh and Calderon but their wing players are nothing special with Kapono and Parker. Philly now has a low post presence and to go with a shot blocking presence in Dally and a solid backcourt with Miller and Iggy. However, who guards Lebron on this team? If its Iggy he could easily get into foul trouble. The Bucks are not better the the Cavs at all as their interior defense is weak. The Heat have potential but will Wade stay healthy? I also don't like their interior defense with Blount Haslem and Beasley. None of these guys are shot blockers Miami also has Banks starting at PG LOL or Chalmers who is unproven. I think some of these teams might finish better then the Cavs in the regular season but come playoff time the scariest team in the East out of the mid to lower seeds is the Cavs.

ATL, MIL, CHA, CHI

Are you just making up a list of every team in teh East that isn't CLE and saying they are a reason CLE could miss the playoffs?

None of those 4 teams are real playoff teams. ATL has done... just lose their 6th man wich they played more of then practically any team in the NBA. They had a 6/7 man rotation during the regular season. They should not be in the playoffs next year. MIL,CHA,CHI have obvious flaws as well.

One of those teams should have the privledge of getting the 8th seed and lossing to the first seed. The East could however have 7 actual worthy playoff teams next year wich is an exciting development.

ORL,BOS,DET,WAS,CLE,TOR,PHIL

TOR and PHIL are a little iffy due to the critical flaws [perimeter defense for TOR and 3point shooting for PHIL] but the rest should be there due to star power.

cleveland will be in the playoffs. they'll be better this next year than last year b/c the team they have now will actually have practiced & spent time together. they have a decent unit, & nice complementary players for LBJ.

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

The point that should be taken from the OP is: If this second batch of DA picks turns out as good as his last batch of late round picks - we will have lots of options in 2/3 years. People who think we have a 3 or 4 year window don't understand the greatness of DA. Being able to turn late round picks into value is what turns Champions into Dynasties (See Surs, San Antonio). We will be able to keep the ones that fit best (like we did with Rondo and Perk) and trade the others along with expirings for Value (like we did with West, Seb, GG, Al, Gomes etc).

And the OP left out Gabe and POB.

Rondo/TA/Giddens/Walker/Davis/Powe/Perkins/POB/Gabe - that is a LOT of high-upside youth for an 'aging' team!

You never know what will happen, which is the beauty with sports but personally I think the East could be pretty unpredictable next season. There is no reason why most teams could not improve. Here are some of my thoughts on our rivals.

Atlanta
If they keep that core together they should get better. Smith, Johnson and Horford are all very talented and a full season with a healthy Bibby will help. What will their roster be though with question marks over Smith and Childress?

Charlotte
One of the few teams that may still stink, based on Larry Brown's performance in recent years and Jordan's ineptness in the Front Office. But they keep adding decent young players (Augustin) and maybe Larry Brown actually gets something out of them.

Chicago
Vinny Del Negro I think could really be a good coach but rookie coaches need to go through their growing pains. They need to trade Ben Gordon and maybe Deng and get some quality new players in as the contract issues and coaching debacle killed some of those players confidence I think. This team should be better on paper but they said the same thing last year.

Cleveland
LeBron. Say no more. Wally's expiring contract may get them some more help as well.

Detroit
They either return with their core and a new coach and will be there towards the end again or they make a major move and start heading in a new direction. Either way you would expect them to be good again.

Indiana
Probably aren't going to be that much better but Rush, Hibbert and Ford are solid additions. They need to continue to get rid of the clowns that have been dragging a good franchise down (Tinsley, Williams etc).

Miami
How can they not get better than the worst team in the league with a healthy Wade, Marion (or whoever they trade him for) and Beasely? Not contenders but you would think playoffs are a possibility.

Milwaukee
Redd, Bogut and Jefferson are a pretty strong trio to build a team around. Skiles has a history of doing well early in his time with a team and the new GM (Hammond is it?) will continue to try things I think. Again, not contenders but definitely playoff possibilities.

New Jersey
Some talent there (Carter, Harris, Yi). I would love Sean Williams in Green. But I think they are building (or destroying I suppose) for Brooklyn and LeBron.

New York
Things cant get worse can they? If they trade Randolph and waive Marbury, that is a massive potential lift right there. And a core of Duhon/Robinson, Crawford, Balkman, Lee, Curry and Gallinari plus some freshness from D'Antoni should make a difference. Playoffs are a stretch but you would expect a marked improvement.

Orlando
Should be top three or four in the East. Howard is a beast and Turkoglu is a great all round player. Bench is their issue.

Philly
Good mix of youth and experience now, Cheeks is a pretty good coach too. They should be in with a chance to advance a few rounds you would think. Will Brand be healthy?

Toronto
How will Bosh and O'Neal work out? Will Bargnani do anything or be a bust of Kandi Man proportions? They could be real dangerous though I don't think Mitchell is a good enough coach to get them deep into the playoffs as shown by bad first round losses the last two years. But Doc got us there so who knows.

Washington
I am not an Arenas fan. But if I was a Wizards fan I would be wanting some pretty serious results for that sort of money. Butler is a beast, I would love him on our team.