Top 8 teams in the east next season

giberish · Post #21 » by **giberish** » Tue Jul 8, 2025 6:45 pm

Duffman100 wrote:
Magic_Johnny12 wrote:
kwajo wrote:
Should they though? The team is in the upper end of mid-pack in salaries right now, it's not like they went out there and loaded up on max players to compete, they have a roster with half the guys on rookie deals. They'll probably end up being a play-in team or lower playoff seed and that's right around where the salaries would project them to be (not that salary spending = wins, but whatever).

Top-12 payroll in the league (among teams that are clearly contending).

Top-6 in the East.

Neck and neck in payroll with teams like Denver/LAC/Philly

If you have this much money allocated to your core and do NOT having contending aspirations something is terribly terribly wrong.

I think there's a bit more nuance than this.

I wouldn't say they need to be a title contender, but if they can't make the playoffs in next season's EC then something is very seriously wrong with their roster building and payroll.

flytimes11 · Post #22 » by **flytimes11** » Tue Jul 8, 2025 6:47 pm

Why do people keep putting pistons over hawks? Hawks had a bunch of injuries last year and only finished with 4 less wins than detroit.

Post #23 » by **Duffman100** » Tue Jul 8, 2025 6:54 pm

giberish wrote:
Duffman100 wrote:
Magic_Johnny12 wrote:
Top-12 payroll in the league (among teams that are clearly contending).

Top-6 in the East.

Neck and neck in payroll with teams like Denver/LAC/Philly

If you have this much money allocated to your core and do NOT having contending aspirations something is terribly terribly wrong.

I think there's a bit more nuance than this.

I wouldn't say they need to be a title contender, but if they can't make the playoffs in next season's EC then something is very seriously wrong with their roster building and payroll.

Yup I can agree with that.

XtremeDunkz · Post #24 » by **XtremeDunkz** » Tue Jul 8, 2025 6:57 pm

People really sleeping on Philly. I know there's a lot of health concerns but damn

WargamesX · Post #25 » by **WargamesX** » Tue Jul 8, 2025 7:09 pm

Honestly 7 and 8 are up for grabs in my mind.

Bhut Jolokia · Post #26 » by **Bhut Jolokia** » Tue Jul 8, 2025 7:16 pm

flytimes11 wrote:Why do people keep putting pistons over hawks? Hawks had a bunch of injuries last year and only finished with 4 less wins than detroit.

If they play each other in the first round as #4 vs #5 the Pistons will beat the Hawks in 7 games. I believe Cade Cunningham is a better player than Trae Young as the top players. Plus, Porzingis is usually a big health risk and is not really dependable come playoff time.

slos · Post #27 » by **slos** » Tue Jul 8, 2025 7:17 pm

1. New York Knicks
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
3. Orlando Magic
4. Milwaukee Bucks
5. Atlanta Hawks
6. Detroit Pistons

7. Chicago Bulls
8. Philadelphia 76ers
9. Toronto Raptors
10. Miami Heat

11. Charlotte Hornets
12. Washington Wizards
13. Indiana Pacers
14. Boston Celtics
15. Brooklyn Nets

basketballRob · Post #28 » by **basketballRob** » Tue Jul 8, 2025 7:47 pm

Orlando
Knicks
Atlanta
Detroit
Philadelphia
Boston
Cleveland
Toronto

I don't think the Cavs will be as healthy as they were last season

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SA37 · Post #29 » by **SA37** » Tue Jul 8, 2025 8:02 pm

Of course with the caveat FA is not over:

1. Cleveland
2. Knicks
3. 76ers
4. Orlando
5. Milwaukee
6. Miami
-----------------
7. Atlanta
8. Detroit
9. Indiana
10. Toronto
-----------------
11. Boston
12. Washington
13. Chicago
14. Charlotte
15. Brooklyn

Post #30 » by **eyriq** » Tue Jul 8, 2025 8:04 pm

aad wrote:Cavs
Knicks
Magic
Bucks
Pistons
Hawks
Celtics
Pacers

Bump the Hawks up two slots

JXL · Post #31 » by **JXL** » Tue Jul 8, 2025 8:15 pm

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

- Top 3 is basically a lock.
- Detroit IMHO has had a pretty solid offseason, and now with playoff experience should be even better.
- Atlanta had a great offseason, but the reason they're behind Detroit: Cade > Trae
- Indiana shouldn't have a massive dropoff because their depth is that good
- Boston and Milwaukee look lost, more so Milwaukee because who's gonna be their PG?
- Philly is basically going nowhere, even if (a BIIIIIIG if) Embiid stays healthy
- Miami is a play-in team again.
- 11-15 is basically going to tank for AJ Dybansta.

SuperflyKnick · Post #32 » by **SuperflyKnick** » Tue Jul 8, 2025 8:18 pm

Bhut Jolokia wrote:Eastern Conference -

Regular Season:

1. Cavs
2. Knicks

3. Magic
4. Hawks
5. Pistons
6. Heat

7. Pacers
8. Celtics
9. Bucks
10. Sixers

Playoffs:

1st round: #1Cavs beat #8 Celtics, #2Knicks beat #7Pacers, #6Heat beat #3Magic, #5Pistons beat #4Hawks

2nd Round: #1Cavs beat #5Pistons, #6Heat beat #2Knicks

ECF: #1Cavs beat #6Heat in 6 games

Miami homer I see …. Not only they magically beat the magic but also beat the knicks, why not beat the cavs and go to the finals

Bhut Jolokia · Post #33 » by **Bhut Jolokia** » Tue Jul 8, 2025 8:38 pm

SuperflyKnick wrote:
Bhut Jolokia wrote:Eastern Conference -

Regular Season:

1. Cavs
2. Knicks

3. Magic
4. Hawks
5. Pistons
6. Heat

7. Pacers
8. Celtics
9. Bucks
10. Sixers

Playoffs:

1st round: #1Cavs beat #8 Celtics, #2Knicks beat #7Pacers, #6Heat beat #3Magic, #5Pistons beat #4Hawks

2nd Round: #1Cavs beat #5Pistons, #6Heat beat #2Knicks

ECF: #1Cavs beat #6Heat in 6 games

Miami homer I see …. Not only they magically beat the magic but also beat the knicks, why not beat the cavs and go to the finals

I like to see some upsets every year so why not with one of the best coaches in the NBA in Spoelstra. The Heat just added Western Conference All-Star snub and NBA champion Norman Powell, coming off his best year.

The Magic are a young team that could get upset by a more experienced Heat team. Plus, the Knicks have to adjust to a new coach so things may not work out as planned.

The East is wide open so anything could happen.

iggymcfrack · Post #34 » by **iggymcfrack** » Tue Jul 8, 2025 8:41 pm

1. Cleveland
2. Orlando
3. New York
4. Boston
5. Atlanta
6. Detroit
7. Milwaukee
8. Miami

Philly’s in the same tier with Milwaukee and Miami and has a higher ceiling, but also a lower floor.

MaxZaslofskyJr · Post #35 » by **MaxZaslofskyJr** » Tue Jul 8, 2025 8:59 pm

BigGargamel wrote:As the rosters stand right now, I'd probably go with the following. Feel pretty good about the top 2 and 3 and 4, after that, who knows.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. New York Knicks
3. Orlando Magic
4. Atlanta Hawks
5. Miami Heat
6. Detroit Pistons
7. Milwaukee Bucks
8. Philadelphia 76ers

9. Toronto Raptors
10. Boston Celtics
11. Chicago Bulls
12. Indiana Pacers
13. Charlotte Hornets
14. Washington Wizards
15. Brooklyn Nets

As a lifelong Nets fan, I can say that you've probably ranked them a little too high.

RunOKC · Post #36 » by **RunOKC** » Tue Jul 8, 2025 9:17 pm

Reg Season

Cavs
Magic
Knicks
76ers - feel like people are sleeping on the 76ers. As long as they stay relatively healthy they should be a top 4 lock.
Hawks
Heat
Bucks
Pistons

JJ_PR · Post #37 » by **JJ_PR** » Tue Jul 8, 2025 9:21 pm

Cleveland Cavaliers
New York Knicks
Orlando Magic
Atlanta Hawks
Detroit Pistons
Toronto Raptors
Milwaukee Bucks
Philadelphia 76ers

JujitsuFlip · Post #38 » by **JujitsuFlip** » Tue Jul 8, 2025 9:25 pm

basketballRob wrote:Orlando
Knicks
Atlanta
Detroit
Philadelphia
Boston
Cleveland
Toronto

I don't think the Cavs will be as healthy as they were last season

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They were the 2nd most injured team in the NBA in 2023-24 and still won 48 games lol

Having them as a 7th seed play-in team is nasty work.

JT3000 · Post #39 » by **JT3000** » Tue Jul 8, 2025 9:42 pm

XtremeDunkz wrote:People really sleeping on Philly. I know there's a lot of health concerns but damn

There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on... shame on you. Fool me... you can't get fooled again.

Bhut Jolokia wrote:
SuperflyKnick wrote:
Bhut Jolokia wrote:Eastern Conference -

Regular Season:

1. Cavs
2. Knicks

3. Magic
4. Hawks
5. Pistons
6. Heat

7. Pacers
8. Celtics
9. Bucks
10. Sixers

Playoffs:

1st round: #1Cavs beat #8 Celtics, #2Knicks beat #7Pacers, #6Heat beat #3Magic, #5Pistons beat #4Hawks

2nd Round: #1Cavs beat #5Pistons, #6Heat beat #2Knicks

ECF: #1Cavs beat #6Heat in 6 games

Miami homer I see …. Not only they magically beat the magic but also beat the knicks, why not beat the cavs and go to the finals

I like to see some upsets every year so why not with one of the best coaches in the NBA in Spoelstra. The Heat just added Western Conference All-Star snub and NBA champion Norman Powell, coming off his best year.

The Magic are a young team that could get upset by a more experienced Heat team. Plus, the Knicks have to adjust to a new coach so things may not work out as planned.

The East is wide open so anything could happen.

basketballRob · Post #40 » by **basketballRob** » Tue Jul 8, 2025 9:57 pm

JujitsuFlip wrote:
basketballRob wrote:Orlando
Knicks
Atlanta
Detroit
Philadelphia
Boston
Cleveland
Toronto

I don't think the Cavs will be as healthy as they were last season

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They were the 2nd most injured team in the NBA in 2023-24 and still won 48 games lol

Having them as a 7th seed play-in team is nasty work.

You're right. They should be 6th.

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