ECF Next Year?

[JujitsuFlip]

I think people are sleeping on Boston, I think Simons could go 2017 Thomas on the league with Mazzula helping him. The championship pedigree and the lack of championship hangover will refresh the new core even without their best player. I think they are great gatekeepers to the ECF. People mistake gap year as an uncompetitive year.

I've really gotta see if they re-sign Horford or Kornet and also if they try to dump 1 more guy, who it is.

I like Williams at the 5, he's just a rookie.

I also want to see how fast or slow Brown comes back from meniscus surgery.

I also wanna see to a lesser degree if Tatum is on the Kobe recovery timeline or the KD recovery timeline, it makes a difference.

[jkvonny]

I voted Knicks and Pacers.. but anything can happen from Cavs, Knicks.. to Boston, Pacers, Hawks? Orlando.. Why wasn’t Boston one of the teams in the poll? Did I miss something.. I still think Trae the best guard in the East besides Brunson and Ball I don’t think Dame should be the priority in Milwaukee..Insane Knicks didn’t make the finals this year they are the team still imo in the East.. u can argue that Knicks and Pacers could run it back but it’s the east and it’s up for grabs

Edit.. forgot this guy Hali is out for the year supposedly

Bos is listed among "other " on the poll

[Warspite]

I think people are sleeping on Boston, I think Simons could go 2017 Thomas on the league with Mazzula helping him. The championship pedigree and the lack of championship hangover will refresh the new core even without their best player. I think they are great gatekeepers to the ECF. People mistake gap year as an uncompetitive year.

The Celtics might be the least talented team in the East. Duke might have more NBA talent.

[eyriq]

Voted for Orlando and New York. Great to see Orlando getting the recognition it deserves.

[tbhawksfan1]

Hawks keep making moves. Still one or two more players to add

[itrsteve]

Would be cool to see Atlanta, Orlando or Detroit.

Not going to bother making predictions, but I think those three will be above the play-in line.

[Los_29]

NYK and Orlando. Orlando looks so good on paper right now. I think Bane can help unlock Banchero and Wagner.

[SuperflyKnick]

Voted Orlando vs Cleveland.

Cleveland has an excellent, talented starting 5, a solid bench and continuity.

Guessing Orlando stays healthier this season, and get natural improvements from Franz/Paolo/Suggs, plus obviously addition of Bane.

NY takes a step back after getting Dolaned out in the middle of nowhere.

Dolaned ??? The knicks already had a top 3 starting lineup in their first year together. Another year and adding more depth will only make them better. This was holding this team back with his short rotations and playing players 45 mins a game. No offensive plan what so ever and even his defensive alignment was all over the place. I think they are in a very good place to be favourites to finals once they add another backup big to push KAT to the 4 permanent

[Hoop Hunter]

We will see a Pacers-Knicks rematch. The Pacers will hold steady with their deep team, Nembhard taking point for the year and Mathurin getting to start. Haliburton will come back right before the playoffs and they'll shock the world AGAIN and win the 2026 NBA title.

I love your enthusiasm. We can always hope.

[jezzerinho]

Gonna try to summarise whether the ECF contenders fixed their playoff issues in the offseason, trying not to descend into cliché ....

Boston
Issues were health and cap restrictions. They're gonna have to sweat those out over time. Lost Jrue and Porz as a result. Incomings are bandaids.

SIGNIFICANTLY DISIMPROVED

Cleveland
Subjectively, they lack a tough streak. Flat track bullies? Home arena is a cauldron and yet their playoff record there is shaky. Leadership or dawg type required to get over the hump? Cap constrained in order to allow extensions. Ball is their main acquisition but lost depth with Jerome and Okoro. Ball, if available, adds talent.

AT BEST UNCHANGED.

Indiana
Lost their talismanic star for the year. Very interesting to see how big the Hali factor is by comparing the 2 seasons. It's likely to have been pretty big.

SIGNIFICANTLY DISIMPROVED

New York
Only question is whether KAT is a guy for the playoffs or not? They ran up against a red-hot Indiana. Big change in coaching upcoming - an adjustment period will be needed. Thibs was a reasonable playoff coach but didn't use NYs depth.

UNCHANGED OR SLIGHT UPTICK

Detroit
Young team. Lack experience. Came good as season progressed. Added versatile and experienced LeVert at the expense of talented but flawed Schroeder. But may lose Beasley to prosecution. Expect internal growth.

UNCHANGED OR SLIGHT UPTICK

Atlanta
The whole always less than the sum of the parts. While Trae remains, those questions linger. Have addressed defence with NAW and added even more offense with Porz and Kennard. Talent has improved. Fit/cohesion looks better, but with Atl you never know.

SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED

Orlando
Young core. Horrible on offense, esp ball movement and shooting. Addressed by getting Tyus and Bane. Both will hurt their Top5 defense but will improve offense by a greater proportion. Coach is great at relating to young players and driving team ethic but is he a ECF level coach?

SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED

Milwaukee
Giannis plus a ragtag band but cap and lack of draft picks has them mired. Limited ability to improve. Lillard will miss season start and is getting old. Lost BroLo. However, resigned KPJ, who despite having been a scumbag played lights out late season and made a good snag in Trent Jr..

SLIGHTLY IMPROVED

Based off that, I think NYK have to be favourites. Orlando probably second favourites.

Milwaukee not a great team but they have a killer in GA. Cleveland great team but they have no killer.

Then Atlanta and Indiana

Then Boston and Detroit.

[CP War Hawks]

Homer in me but the Hawks should be contending for homecourt. Bos is down several pegs, but are right there in the tier group of Hawks, Pistons, Orl, etc.

Been waiting on how a wide open season will play out the way NFL wildcards can be. Love to see the majority of teams just doing their best and see how it settles at the end.

[jezzerinho]

Better put a pin in this poll. Big deals not done yet!

[metalinguss]

Don’t sleep on the Hawks.

[cupcakesnake]

If the Magic can make things work offensively this year, I think they'd have a nice chance in a series against either the Knicks or Cavs.

I really like the Knicks, but the defense is going to have holes as long as it's built around Brunson/Towns unless a coach can figure out how to shore that up. It's the kind of thing that makes you vulnerable.

[littlerock2277]

I am just going to follow the trend of when an eastern conference team loses in the ECFinals they end up making the finals the following year. Has happened the past 3 years now. Voted knicks