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That is, if these are the three top teams in the eastern conference now and for the end of the regular season. Could another team emerge sooner than later and knock one of the off their perch?

If the Raptors are able to trade and acquire either Gerald Wallace or Harrington--watch out. West is settling in well in at shooting guard for the Cavaliers as oppose to trying to prove season after season that he's capable of being an effective lead guard. He's back to his old role now. And Boston remains an interesting team with the hope that Tony Allen can perform consistently off the bench and the intrigue of a possible new player acquisition (McDyess? Trade for Joe Smith or Marshall) is forthcoming.

Atlanta? Orlando? Detroit? New York? Which one team or two could crack this seemingly entrenched trio at the top?

Washington is without Arenas and Haywood while Atlanta will be without Smith.

i think nothing has been established yet. its so early in the season. this is a late december convo.

Toronto? What is so great about them that makes you think they are entrenched as a top-3 team in the East? Sure, they could end up there, but it's hardly a slamdunk like it probably is with Boston (and to a lesser extent Cleveland).

Magic, Heat, Pistons, Pacers, Sixers might all be there as well. After Boston it's kind of a crapshoot for #2 as far as the Cavs, Heat, Magic, Pistons, Pacers, Raptors and Hawks are concerned. I wouldn't be surprised if any one of these teams was #2.

Bleeding Green wrote:Toronto? What is so great about them that makes you think they are entrenched as a top-3 team in the East? Sure, they could end up there, but it's hardly a slamdunk like it probably is with Boston (and to a lesser extent Cleveland).

If you consider this point made by Green17 from CB. The Raptors are a team to be reckon with. Do you remember the game in Boston versus Toronto? If they can maintain this penchant for shooting a high efficiency, then you've a tough team to defeat in the east. If they can improve at rebounding as a team and get better defensively. They've as good of a chance to be an elite team in the east as Boston or Cleveland. Especially, if they could land Gerald Wallace. Of course, injuries can derail any team's hopes... But, O'Neal seems to be fitting in nicely along side Bosh in the front court, thus far. Toronto won't be a team that other teams and fans in the east can write-off nor discredit.

Toronto continues to obliterate opposing defenses with their dead-eye shooting, as they once again sit amongst the league leaders in field goal percentage, three-point shooting, and free throw efficiency. Also similar to last year, this team moves the ball with the best of them and constantly displays a team-first attitude as opposed to the popular one-on-one style that many teams and individuals have adopted in today's game.

http://www.celticsblog.com/2008/11/10/6 ... e-new-look

“My teammates do a great job of finding the open guy,” Bosh said. “That’s what we’re taught to do, and that’s where we make our bread and butter. If we see a guy open, we have to get it to him.”

Jose Calderon has done a better job than anyone in the Eastern Conference of getting his teammates the ball in position to score. He’s averaging a conference-high 9.3 assists and has a 5.6 assist-to-turnover ratio after leading the league in that category (5.38) last season.

Calderon was superb in his last trip to the TD Banknorth Garden, scoring 24 points and dishing out 13 assists in a 114-112 victory on Jan. 23. The 114 points were the most the Celtics gave up at home in 2007-08, and the Raptors shot 58.0 percent, including 71.4 percent (15-of-21) from 3-point range - the most efficient game any team had against Boston the entire season.

Toronto was tops in the East in 3-point percentage (.392) last season, and is hitting 44.7 percent from beyond the arc so far in 2008-09.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid ... 02&prov=ap

I don't think any other team will be as good as whichever of Boston and Cleveland stay healthy, except maybe Detroit.

Orlando matches up regrettably well with us, or at least did last season, but I don't think they're actually as good.

Detroit still has 4 All-Star level talents, plus Stuckey and some role players. Cleveland has an All-World level talent plus some good role players and a tendency to play hard. Those are the teams in the East that worry me, just as they did last season.

And the Lakers, with a lot more depth than last season, worry me in the West. I hope Kobe wears down.

i think bleeding green's point was seven games in means nothing period.

Toronto is definitely a nice team, along with Philly on paper and Orlando...but it's Cleveland and Detroit that are entrenched as 2/3.

How about Atlanta? They've looked very good so far and have also made us look not so bad for going 7 last year.

Rocky5000 wrote:How about Atlanta? They've looked very good so far and have also made us look not so bad for going 7 last year.

before the playoff series, there may never have been a team that did less with so much lottery talent...well the old clipshow? brand, odom, miles, qrich etc

TheCelticTruth wrote:i think bleeding green's point was seven games in means nothing period.

No. My point is that Toronto isn't good enough to be considered entrenched as a top-3 team in the East. Only team that should be able to claim this is Boston.

Toronto could finish anywhere from 2-8 as far as I can see.

Detroit doesn't worry me, they are a team that has in recent years relied on solid team offense to outperform their potential offensively. And they're relying on AI @ the point. Great player, but when he's @ the point very turnover prone, and doesn't always make quick decisions well. And Stuckey's not ready. In any event, AI or Stuckey starting at the point versus our defense is futile. That said they didn't worry me to begin with, so this isn't necessarily a criticism of the big trade.

The only other two teams that I feel can really be a threat out of the Eastern Conference in Philly (Brand should be close enough to his old self soon enough, Iggy's underrated, and Thad Young is coming along nicely) and Miami (with good play from Beasley and a healthy Dorell Wright).

I think Detroit could easily end up the 2nd best team in the East when all is said and done (behind Boston, of course). As for the rest, it wouldn't shock me if Orlando closed the gap with the top teams, particularly if they make a move to add a quality veteran or two. Some people have also mentioned the Hawks, but I haven't had the chance to see them play yet this season, so I'll reserve comment on until Weds.

chakdaddy wrote:Toronto is definitely a nice team, along with Philly on paper and Orlando...but it's Cleveland and Detroit that are entrenched as 2/3.

I think Detroit is falling off...they won't be top 3 by year's end. Even after giving them time to gel with Iverson, I see them as an inverse-Denver in the sense that they *will* defend (though not as well with AI) but won't score (I just don't see how he, Rip, and Stuckey can share the ball enough)

Rocky5000 wrote:How about Atlanta? They've looked very good so far and have also made us look not so bad for going 7 last year.

Remember that Atlanta was much better (W vs. L) at the end of the season after they acquired Bibby. We faced a better team than indicated by their record. I think they are for real.

Cleveland is for real, too, it seems - but we shall see.

Detroit isn't quite Detroit anymore, but with Iverson -- again we shall see!

I'm still not buying Atlanta...it's early in the season. I want to see their record and how they're playing after 30 games or so before I believe in them.

Cleveland, sure, they'll be up there, but I think this year is going to be even more exacerbated than last year in the sense that in the East, there's Boston and then everyone else. We'll be the only 60-win team in the East...my prediction

MyInsatiableOne wrote:I'm still not buying Atlanta...it's early in the season. I want to see their record and how they're playing after 30 games or so before I believe in them.

Cleveland, sure, they'll be up there, but I think this year is going to be even more exacerbated than last year in the sense that in the East, there's Boston and then everyone else. We'll be the only 60-win team in the East...my prediction

Give credit where it's due. Atlanta took Boston to 7 games last postseason; stunning nearly everyone. They have a very solid team this season and with a few moves could be in contention for top 3 in the east.

As a Raps fan I wouldn't put us in the top 3 yet. I think we've got the potential to enter the top 3 but I still fear Orlando and Detroit. Atlanta's making me pretty nervous too with the way they've been playing.

Both Cleveland and Toronto have the means necessary to make a HUGE acquisition at the deadline. Until then, Boston is the clear cut #1 with Detroit at #2 and it's a toss up at #3 Cleveland/Toronto.

To be on topic, the Atlanta Hawks, and Orlando Magic have the talent to upend any of these teams.

piston fan just came to check in on the boston crowd

2 things
1. the people saying the pistons arent a good team anymore, i would have to contest that point. I have been watching every game this season (except the boston one, at someone's house without cable, how convenient) and the pistons are starting to come together at this point. I think a hugeproblem right now is rip's slump and the creation of a new method of play since iverson is here. With time, we will get to the point where we are ready to challenge boston.

2. as far as the forum topic, i do not see any of those teams coming outta nowhere and taking both the pistons or you guys off 1/2. the playoffs, they can take us into deep series' but in the end, pistons celtics conference finals.

RapZilla wrote:As a Raps fan I wouldn't put us in the top 3 yet. I think we've got the potential to enter the top 3 but I still fear Orlando and Detroit. Atlanta's making me pretty nervous too with the way they've been playing.

Well, for the reasons I'd provided... The potential at least for this season is there. Like Atlanta, Toronto needs to turn the page on defense. That is, change your coaching philosophy in that area or bring in a player with the mindset to inspire everyone else.