Ranking the Eastern Conference
Posted: 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.
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.