Official East Predictions Thread, Let's Go Baby!

[Rainman66]

Toronto 4?!?! Not trying to debate but that would be a shock for sure.

Gradey D who averaged 14 a game last year may be an 11 or 12 man in raptors rotation next year, thats how deep this Raptors team is, there is some optimism to beleive albeit small that raptors can gain HCA or be top 6/7 next year.

You think so?

Presumably IQ, RJ, Ingram, Barnes and Yacka Purtle are the starting 5, right? What 5 or 6 guys are you placing ahead of Gradey Richard in the rotation?

I would love to see GD play a bigger role but I see him as a starter replacement in case of injury right my rotation prediction looks like:
PG:IQ 32 Shead 16
SG:RJ 24 Agbaji 12 Jkw 12
SF: BI 30 Battle 12 Cmb 6
PF:Barnes 36 Cmb 8 Sandro M 4
C:Poetl 32 Sandro M 12 Mogbo 4

[JujitsuFlip]

Gradey D who averaged 14 a game last year may be an 11 or 12 man in raptors rotation next year, thats how deep this Raptors team is, there is some optimism to beleive albeit small that raptors can gain HCA or be top 6/7 next year.

You think so?

Presumably IQ, RJ, Ingram, Barnes and Yacka Purtle are the starting 5, right? What 5 or 6 guys are you placing ahead of Gradey Richard in the rotation?

I would love to see GD play a bigger role but I see him as a starter replacement in case of injury right my rotation prediction looks like:
PG:IQ 32 Shead 16
SG:RJ 24 Agbaji 12 Jkw 12
SF: BI 30 Battle 12 Cmb 6
PF:Barnes 36 Cmb 8 Sandro M 4
C:Poetl 32 Sandro M 12 Mogbo 4

So why are Battle and Walker going to beat Dick out this season but were unable to last season? I guess to a lesser extent Agbaji too.

[picc]

The Pacers are gonna be a lot better than any of you think and the reason is in my sig and avi.

True Contenders
1. Cavs
2. Knicks

Fringe Contenders
3. Hawks
4. Magic

Scrappy Next Tier
5. Pistons
6. Pacers

Play-Ins
7. Bucks
8. Sixers
9. Heat
10. Raptors

I expect Giannis to be injured for part of the year with the load he's gonna have to carry (sans any real 2nd OR 3rd option) and that will put the Bucks in the play-in, at least, combined with the coaching malpractice of Doc Rivers.

The Sixers should get enough games out of Maxey and PG to be decent and they have alright depth. I think there being zero expectations for Embiid will actually help the team. But this also depends on if Quentin Grimes is back. They'll also be getting their great rookie back.

Spo will voodoo magic the Heat into the play in again somehow.

I have the Hawks and Magic as fringe contenders but I would be zero percent shocked to see Atlanta upset someone and get to the finals somehow. Trae has a lot of weapons this year and I think he's about to turn ALL THE WAY UP on the league.

Cleveland is my overall favorite and I still think they would have got to the finals if no injuries last year.

I think the Celtics are going to suck. Truly. Jaylen Brown and Derrick White are very good players, but the rest of the roster is TRASH outside of Pritchard in the 2025/6 NBA landscape, where teams are stacked with depth in the starting lineup and bench. I also think people are underestimating how much Al Horford did for that team. They are thin and will not survive any injuries whatsoever, which will happen at some point.

[Rainman66]

You think so?

Presumably IQ, RJ, Ingram, Barnes and Yacka Purtle are the starting 5, right? What 5 or 6 guys are you placing ahead of Gradey Richard in the rotation?

I would love to see GD play a bigger role but I see him as a starter replacement in case of injury right my rotation prediction looks like:
PG:IQ 32 Shead 16
SG:RJ 24 Agbaji 12 Jkw 12
SF: BI 30 Battle 12 Cmb 6
PF:Barnes 36 Cmb 8 Sandro M 4
C:Poetl 32 Sandro M 12 Mogbo 4

So why are Battle and Walker going to beat Dick out this season but were unable to last season? I guess to a lesser extent Agbaji too.

GD doesn't have the size/strength or D to play the 3 he won't beat Battle/Cmb in those areas but as a starter replacement sure, (He also logged heavy minutes as a starter replacement last year too). I suppose he could beat Jkw or Agbaji for mins but its the same thing lack of D and also the raptors were tanking last year.

-i mean if were comparing Jkw/agbaji end of bench minutes here dont ya think the raptors being a higher seeded team is making a compelling case?

[Syd-TK3]

Much like the West prediction thread I want to stir up the pot with a lot you, place your predictions first, those who do earn my respect

East is harder to do out side of the top 4 IMO for the East.

I'm not a East person. But here goes

Being a Laker fan and the fact I rooted for Knicks last year, I'm banking them on #1 this year, Lakers/Knicks finals heard it here first, what a better stage for "Lebronny" to go out on right?

MVP = Luka of course

Date is 8/8/2025 for future reference :

1. Knicks - Knicks vs Lakers finals baby!
2. Cavs
3. Magic - if and only if healthy
4. Hawks, My surprise team for the East, a long shot.
5. Pacers
6. Bucks
7. Pistons
8. Bos
9. Bulls, moving up if they get Kuminga?
10. Heat
11. Tor
12. Hornets
13. 76ers, health is key once again
14. Nets, might move them up?
15. Wizards, sorry Wiz fans.

toronto at 11 is a riot. thread lost all credibility there

Im confident in the team but this definitely not a true statement lol I personally think they just gonna be team that works really hard and pulls off alot of wins in a broken east

[SlimShady83]

toronto at 11 is a riot. thread lost all credibility there

Oh no I lost credibility I never knew I had, I guess others also have to those who have also placed Toronto around 9, 10, 11 spot too

[cgf]

Likely Contenders:
CLE / NYK / ORL

Potential Contenders / Fighting for HCA in round 1:
ATL / DET

Fighting for the 6th seed:
IND / MIA / MIL / TOR

Fighting for the 10th seed / Potential Tankers:
BOS / CHI / PHI

Likely Tankers:
BKN / CHA / WSH

- Atlanta is the most confusing team for me. Whenever Jalen Johnson has been healthy they've been a very tricksy opponent and a healthy KP is a huge upgrade over Capela's ghost...but those two key pieces have just been so damn fragile. If healthy and clicking they could win a ring..or they could limp into the playoffs & lose in round one; or even the play-in if things really went wrong for them.

- I've been high on that young core for a couple years now and if Detroit traded Harris, Holland and FRP for Lauri, I'd have them in the first tier...though Ivey coming back could put them there regardless.

- I still really like what Indiana has even without Hali or Turner...who was often a liability against us...and can see breakthough campaigns from Nembhard, Mathurin, Toppin, and Walker.

- Love the Giannis/Turner fit, just can't sell myself on those guards / wings.

- Toronto is interesting to me if they can stay healthy, though I still think they'll need to go through the play-in, as I think I like Indy for that final spot in the top 6.

- Not a Boston or Philly believer, and with Chicago wanting it more, I could see the Bulls reprising their role as the east's designated 10th seed.

[Clav]

toronto at 11 is a riot. thread lost all credibility there

Oh no I lost credibility I never knew I had, I guess others also have to those who have also placed Toronto around 9, 10, 11 spot too

I put them at 10, and struggled to find a place for this team out of most of the East. They have a pretty good top-5, and Mogbo (who pleasantly surprised me last year as a neutral). Shead was decent as well but is still a young player. We may be undervaluing their potential.

Ingram Quickley Barrett Barnes Poeltl are all pretty good, but they don't space the floor the best. It's a big wing lineup.... The one issue with the roster I see is initiation. Quickley is decent, Shead can help, but the team might suffer from traps and doubles as none of the roster stand out as threats off the dribble. Spacing is a little less than optimal, but all are good in certain areas on the court. Defense I'm not sure where they end up.

Anyway, I hope they prove me wrong

[JujitsuFlip]

I still really like what Indiana has even without Hali or Turner...who was often a liability against us...and can see breakthough campaigns from Nembhard, Mathurin, Toppin, and Walker.

Turner was a +3 for the ECF. Below are his teammates +/- in the ECF.

Siakam +36
Nesmith +33
Hali +29
Sheppard +16
Bradley +15 (only 4 games played)
Walker +6 (only 2 games played)
Nembhard -7
Bryant -8 (only 4 games played)
TJ -10
Toppin -16
Mathurin -37

[GiannisAnte34]

The Pacers are gonna be a lot better than any of you think and the reason is in my sig and avi.

True Contenders
1. Cavs
2. Knicks

Fringe Contenders
3. Hawks
4. Magic

Scrappy Next Tier
5. Pistons
6. Pacers

Play-Ins
7. Bucks
8. Sixers
9. Heat
10. Raptors

I expect Giannis to be injured for part of the year with the load he's gonna have to carry (sans any real 2nd OR 3rd option) and that will put the Bucks in the play-in, at least, combined with the coaching malpractice of Doc Rivers.

The Sixers should get enough games out of Maxey and PG to be decent and they have alright depth. I think there being zero expectations for Embiid will actually help the team. But this also depends on if Quentin Grimes is back. They'll also be getting their great rookie back.

Spo will voodoo magic the Heat into the play in again somehow.

I have the Hawks and Magic as fringe contenders but I would be zero percent shocked to see Atlanta upset someone and get to the finals somehow. Trae has a lot of weapons this year and I think he's about to turn ALL THE WAY UP on the league.

Cleveland is my overall favorite and I still think they would have got to the finals if no injuries last year.

I think the Celtics are going to suck. Truly. Jaylen Brown and Derrick White are very good players, but the rest of the roster is TRASH outside of Pritchard in the 2025/6 NBA landscape, where teams are stacked with depth in the starting lineup and bench. I also think people are underestimating how much Al Horford did for that team. They are thin and will not survive any injuries whatsoever, which will happen at some point.

The Bucks added Turner and shed two defensive liabilities. Wouldn’t that make life much easier for Giannis on defense? Lopez was awful defensively, Turner is a massive upgrade there. Lillard is an undersized and old guard that got swapped for much younger and taller guards.

Meanwhile the Pacers lost Hali and Turner but somehow they’re better than the Bucks? That’s a hard pass for me and I fully respect their depth but you also got huge contributions from Hali and Turner all year

[Wolveswin]

The East is so weak, I have at least one team doing an all in-trade with a team that just can’t face another day running the gauntlet that is the Western conference.

Leader in clubhouse is Hawks. They Don’t own their future (own 1sts owed), 31M expiring KP contract + Risacher + Sexy owed 1sts (due to NOP dumb draft day trade) = about any win-now player from West made available.

Star player from West + Healthy Trae + JJ + deep roster (nice offseason) = top team/true contender in weak East.

[Jadoogar]

I would love to see GD play a bigger role but I see him as a starter replacement in case of injury right my rotation prediction looks like:
PG:IQ 32 Shead 16
SG:RJ 24 Agbaji 12 Jkw 12
SF: BI 30 Battle 12 Cmb 6
PF:Barnes 36 Cmb 8 Sandro M 4
C:Poetl 32 Sandro M 12 Mogbo 4

So why are Battle and Walker going to beat Dick out this season but were unable to last season? I guess to a lesser extent Agbaji too.

GD doesn't have the size/strength or D to play the 3 he won't beat Battle/Cmb in those areas but as a starter replacement sure, (He also logged heavy minutes as a starter replacement last year too). I suppose he could beat Jkw or Agbaji for mins but its the same thing lack of D and also the raptors were tanking last year.

-i mean if were comparing Jkw/agbaji end of bench minutes here dont ya think the raptors being a higher seeded team is making a compelling case?

why is Gradey dick's playing time the measuring stick for if the team is going to be good? Dick averaged 14 points on below average percentages, he's not that good.

[Rainman66]

So why are Battle and Walker going to beat Dick out this season but were unable to last season? I guess to a lesser extent Agbaji too.

GD doesn't have the size/strength or D to play the 3 he won't beat Battle/Cmb in those areas but as a starter replacement sure, (He also logged heavy minutes as a starter replacement last year too). I suppose he could beat Jkw or Agbaji for mins but its the same thing lack of D and also the raptors were tanking last year.

-i mean if were comparing Jkw/agbaji end of bench minutes here dont ya think the raptors being a higher seeded team is making a compelling case?

why is Gradey dick's playing time the measuring stick for if the team is going to be good? Dick averaged 14 points on below average percentages, he's not that good.

it was merely a talking point to showcase Toronto's depth, somehow it became a measuring stick for how good GD is lol basically the point got blown out of context.

[cgf]

The East is so weak, I have at least one team doing an all in-trade with a team that just can’t face another day running the gauntlet that is the Western conference.

Leader in clubhouse is Hawks. They Don’t own their future (own 1sts owed), 31M expiring KP contract + Risacher + Sexy owed 1sts (due to NOP dumb draft day trade) = about any win-now player from West made available.

Star player from West + Healthy Trae + JJ + deep roster (nice offseason) = top team/true contender in weak East.

Do western conference fans actually feel better about themselves when they repeat this mantra? The west has 3 likely contenders…OKC / DEN / MIN…just like the east; NYK / CLE / ORL. With 1-2 potential contenders if things break their way / they make the right move.

[cgf]

I still really like what Indiana has even without Hali or Turner...who was often a liability against us...and can see breakthough campaigns from Nembhard, Mathurin, Toppin, and Walker.

Turner was a +3 for the ECF. Below are his teammates +/- in the ECF.

Siakam +36
Nesmith +33
Hali +29
Sheppard +16
Bradley +15 (only 4 games played)
Walker +6 (only 2 games played)
Nembhard -7
Bryant -8 (only 4 games played)
TJ -10
Toppin -16
Mathurin -37

Lies, damn lies, and statistics, ya know? How many of those games did he close?

Game 6 it was Obi & Siakam holding us off. Turner almost gave game 4 away before getting benched for Obi, and Turner was a mess in OT of game 1, after Obi had been pivotal in their comeback.

Game two was their only win in the ecf that he didn’t get played off the court in.

[JujitsuFlip]

I still really like what Indiana has even without Hali or Turner...who was often a liability against us...and can see breakthough campaigns from Nembhard, Mathurin, Toppin, and Walker.

Turner was a +3 for the ECF. Below are his teammates +/- in the ECF.

Siakam +36
Nesmith +33
Hali +29
Sheppard +16
Bradley +15 (only 4 games played)
Walker +6 (only 2 games played)
Nembhard -7
Bryant -8 (only 4 games played)
TJ -10
Toppin -16
Mathurin -37

Lies, damn lies, and statistics, ya know? How many of those games did he close?

Game 6 it was Obi & Siakam holding us off. Turner almost gave game 4 away before getting benched for Obi, and Turner was a mess in OT of game 1, after Obi had been pivotal in their comeback.

Game two was their only win in the ecf that he didn’t get played off the court in.

Toppin was only -6 in game 6 and only -1 in game 4, for comparison Turner was a zero in game 4 and a +11 in game 6.

Game 1 was good for Toppin, +9 vs Turner's -3.

[Wolveswin]

The East is so weak, I have at least one team doing an all in-trade with a team that just can’t face another day running the gauntlet that is the Western conference.

Leader in clubhouse is Hawks. They Don’t own their future (own 1sts owed), 31M expiring KP contract + Risacher + Sexy owed 1sts (due to NOP dumb draft day trade) = about any win-now player from West made available.

Star player from West + Healthy Trae + JJ + deep roster (nice offseason) = top team/true contender in weak East.

Do western conference fans actually feel better about themselves when they repeat this mantra? The west has 3 likely contenders…OKC / DEN / MIN…just like the east; NYK / CLE / ORL. With 1-2 potential contenders if things break their way / they make the right move.

Are you really going to die on the hill “east isn’t weak?”

I mean, head to head last two years .551 and .577. Which doesn’t tell full story. West teams have to beat East teams AFTER surviving their own conference game grinders. Sometimes that night off against an East team is tough to rally.

Then we add East lost 3x top players to Achilles injuries for this season. 2x of which are arguably top 5 players in their conference.

That hill is indefensible.

[cgf]

The East is so weak, I have at least one team doing an all in-trade with a team that just can’t face another day running the gauntlet that is the Western conference.

Leader in clubhouse is Hawks. They Don’t own their future (own 1sts owed), 31M expiring KP contract + Risacher + Sexy owed 1sts (due to NOP dumb draft day trade) = about any win-now player from West made available.

Star player from West + Healthy Trae + JJ + deep roster (nice offseason) = top team/true contender in weak East.

Do western conference fans actually feel better about themselves when they repeat this mantra? The west has 3 likely contenders…OKC / DEN / MIN…just like the east; NYK / CLE / ORL. With 1-2 potential contenders if things break their way / they make the right move.

Are you really going to die on the hill “east isn’t weak?”

I mean, head to head last two years .551 and .577. Which doesn’t tell full story. West teams have to beat East teams AFTER surviving their own conference game grinders. Sometimes that night off against an East team is tough to rally.

Then we add East lost 3x top players to Achilles injuries for this season. 2x of which are arguably top 5 players in their conference.

That hill is indefensible.

If you want to be serious, the difference between the conferences is with the play-in teams, not the top 5s. If you just want to repeat old memes, then as you were.

[cgf]

Turner was a +3 for the ECF. Below are his teammates +/- in the ECF.

Siakam +36
Nesmith +33
Hali +29
Sheppard +16
Bradley +15 (only 4 games played)
Walker +6 (only 2 games played)
Nembhard -7
Bryant -8 (only 4 games played)
TJ -10
Toppin -16
Mathurin -37

Lies, damn lies, and statistics, ya know? How many of those games did he close?

Game 6 it was Obi & Siakam holding us off. Turner almost gave game 4 away before getting benched for Obi, and Turner was a mess in OT of game 1, after Obi had been pivotal in their comeback.

Game two was their only win in the ecf that he didn’t get played off the court in.

Toppin was only -6 in game 6 and only -1 in game 4, for comparison Turner was a zero in game 4 and a +11 in game 6.

Game 1 was good for Toppin, +9 vs Turner's -3.

A perfect illustration of the flaws of single game +-

[JujitsuFlip]

Lies, damn lies, and statistics, ya know? How many of those games did he close?

Game 6 it was Obi & Siakam holding us off. Turner almost gave game 4 away before getting benched for Obi, and Turner was a mess in OT of game 1, after Obi had been pivotal in their comeback.

Game two was their only win in the ecf that he didn’t get played off the court in.

Toppin was only -6 in game 6 and only -1 in game 4, for comparison Turner was a zero in game 4 and a +11 in game 6.

Game 1 was good for Toppin, +9 vs Turner's -3.

A perfect illustration of the flaws of single game +-

Maybe or is it possible Turner was not as awful as you recall, earlier in these games?