Official East Predictions Thread, Let's Go Baby!

[3ddman23]

Sure, maybe but Finals is a wild take. Maybe it happens but i would think it means Mosley is no longer they head coach, if that happens.

It’s not that wild the east is wide open that goes without saying despite all of the above commentary. Cleveland obviously the favorite but again obviously them punting the playoffs two years in a row is uh, obvious.

It is wild. Magic have not won a playoff series in 15 years and now people are predicting they're going to win 3, this season.

Why are you so focused on the past which were completely different rosters & front offices. What happened in the past means nothing now. When the magic went to the finals in 09 they literally had only won maybe 1 playoff series in 10 years before that finals run. So yes winning 3 can happen. Will it happen probably not but it definitely can happen.

[3ddman23]

Did you have the Pacers in the finals last season? I doubt it.

I did not but they were in the ECF the year prior.

Seems pretty moot in comparison to the Magic who can't even win a single series, let alone 3.

Pacers play the cavs like the magic did and they probably get bounced in the first round as well. It's all about match ups and the luck of the draw. They had an extremely lucky and easy path to the ecf that playoffs.

[JujitsuFlip]

Did you have the Pacers in the finals last season? I doubt it.

I did not but they were in the ECF the year prior.

Seems pretty moot in comparison to the Magic who can't even win a single series, let alone 3.

Pacers play the cavs like the magic did and they probably get bounced in the first round as well. It's all about match ups and the luck of the draw. They had an extremely lucky and easy path to the ecf that playoffs.

Sure, it's what I've been saying. The Magic play too slow and don't take or make enough 3 pointers... If the Pacers or any other team played like that, I agree, they're not going to win any playoff series.

But Mosley is still the head coach, coaching like it's 2004, so what changed?

[JujitsuFlip]

It’s not that wild the east is wide open that goes without saying despite all of the above commentary. Cleveland obviously the favorite but again obviously them punting the playoffs two years in a row is uh, obvious.

It is wild. Magic have not won a playoff series in 15 years and now people are predicting they're going to win 3, this season.

Why are you so focused on the past which were completely different rosters & front offices. What happened in the past means nothing now. When the magic went to the finals in 09 they literally had only won maybe 1 playoff series in 10 years before that finals run. So yes winning 3 can happen. Will it happen probably not but it definitely can happen.

The season before, the Magic won a series, just like the Thunder...

I tried to google it, i could not find a team with that long of a drought that just turned it on, one season. There is almost always a precursor season or 2.

[3ddman23]

It is wild. Magic have not won a playoff series in 15 years and now people are predicting they're going to win 3, this season.

Why are you so focused on the past which were completely different rosters & front offices. What happened in the past means nothing now. When the magic went to the finals in 09 they literally had only won maybe 1 playoff series in 10 years before that finals run. So yes winning 3 can happen. Will it happen probably not but it definitely can happen.

The season before, the Magic won a series, just like the Thunder...

I tried to google it, i could not find a team with that long of a drought that just turned it on, one season. There is almost always a precursor season or 2.

And that's cool, but why so hell bent on the finals for a team that is still so young and has its core locked up for the next 4-5 seasons. They have time still. Most magic fans would be absolutely cool with them just getting out of the first round next season. This could be 08 &09 all over again for the magic. We just don't know what is gonna happen. The games need to be played.

[JujitsuFlip]

Why are you so focused on the past which were completely different rosters & front offices. What happened in the past means nothing now. When the magic went to the finals in 09 they literally had only won maybe 1 playoff series in 10 years before that finals run. So yes winning 3 can happen. Will it happen probably not but it definitely can happen.

The season before, the Magic won a series, just like the Thunder...

I tried to google it, i could not find a team with that long of a drought that just turned it on, one season. There is almost always a precursor season or 2.

And that's cool, but why so hell bent on the finals for a team that is still so young and has its core locked up for the next 4-5 seasons. They have time still. Most magic fans would be absolutely cool with them just getting out of the first round next season. This could be 08 &09 all over again for the magic. We just don't know what is gonna happen. The games need to be played.

I'm not lol i think they're bounced early, once again. You gotta ask the people in this thread that think the Magic are Finals bound, why they feel that way.

[3ddman23]

The season before, the Magic won a series, just like the Thunder...

I tried to google it, i could not find a team with that long of a drought that just turned it on, one season. There is almost always a precursor season or 2.

And that's cool, but why so hell bent on the finals for a team that is still so young and has its core locked up for the next 4-5 seasons. They have time still. Most magic fans would be absolutely cool with them just getting out of the first round next season. This could be 08 &09 all over again for the magic. We just don't know what is gonna happen. The games need to be played.

I'm not lol i think they're bounced early, once again. You gotta ask the people in this thread that think the Magic are Finals bound, why they feel that way.

There just bold predictions... There is really nothing to it. The east is at its weakest it's ever been. The magic made a move to improve it's roster. They have fared pretty well vs the teams that are predicted to be in front of them (cavs & knicks). People are looking to Paolo & Franz to take the next step after showing glimpse in an injury plagued season the year before. People are looking for the team to make at least make some marginal improvements from 3.

If they stay healthy I think people are just saying there is a small chance they can go deep.

If the magic are a top 4 seed, and have home court in the first round ( they have been a pretty strong team at home the last few seasons). Are you predicting they get bounced in the first round? If so who is bouncing them? Our are insinuating that getting knocked out in the second round is getting bounced early?

[Bologna Smasher]

I honestly would not be surprised to see the Magic at the top of the east next year if they can stay healthy. I think a lot of people forgot how well they were playing before the injuries took them out. Even then, they were still being competitive. It definitely showed how important Suggs is to that team, though, so he IMO is they key guy they need to make sure is good.

Bane fits perfectly into that team and fills a role they badly needed. Cole Anthony and Caldwell-Pope were essentially addition by subtraction based off of the way they were playing last year. Outside of their starting five, they have pretty good depth now with Tyus Jones. Always a had good big man rotation. Da Silva should also be improved this year. I do think they need an obvious upgrade to Wendell Carter Jr. at the starting center spot, though.

[JujitsuFlip]

And that's cool, but why so hell bent on the finals for a team that is still so young and has its core locked up for the next 4-5 seasons. They have time still. Most magic fans would be absolutely cool with them just getting out of the first round next season. This could be 08 &09 all over again for the magic. We just don't know what is gonna happen. The games need to be played.

I'm not lol i think they're bounced early, once again. You gotta ask the people in this thread that think the Magic are Finals bound, why they feel that way.

There just bold predictions... There is really nothing to it. The east is at its weakest it's ever been. The magic made a move to improve it's roster. They have fared pretty well vs the teams that are predicted to be in front of them (cavs & knicks). People are looking to Paolo & Franz to take the next step after showing glimpse in an injury plagued season the year before. People are looking for the team to make at least make some marginal improvements from 3.

If they stay healthy I think people are just saying there is a small chance they can go deep.

If the magic are a top 4 seed, and have home court in the first round ( they have been a pretty strong team at home the last few seasons). Are you predicting they get bounced in the first round? If so who is bouncing them? Our are insinuating that getting knocked out in the second round is getting bounced early?

I'm just saying they're not going to the Finals lol I'm pushing back hard against that narrative.

But i also do not buy any of their stock in general, until they fire Mosley. They play so slow and are so inefficient from 3, it is just not conducive to winning in the playoffs, in the current NBA. If it was 2004, they would probably be favored to win the title.

[basketballRob]

Did you have the Pacers in the finals last season? I doubt it.

I did not but they were in the ECF the year prior.

Seems pretty moot in comparison to the Magic who can't even win a single series, let alone 3.

It's really up for grabs with no dominant teams in the East.

The Magic didn't make the playoffs in 93-94 and made the finals the next year. As an example, you were asking for. They picked up Horace Grant in the offseason before they made the finals.

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

[JujitsuFlip]

Did you have the Pacers in the finals last season? I doubt it.

I did not but they were in the ECF the year prior.

Seems pretty moot in comparison to the Magic who can't even win a single series, let alone 3.

It's really up for grabs with no dominant teams in the East.

The Magic didn't make the playoffs in 93-94 and made the finals the next year. As an example, you were asking for. They picked up Horace Grant in the offseason before they made the finals.

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

Great example, thanks.

Crazy how signing Grant to start PF, to a lesser extent signing Shaw to be the back-up PG, and moving Royal to the starting 3 is all it took to go from 1st round exit to Finals.

[jezzerinho]

I'm not lol i think they're bounced early, once again. You gotta ask the people in this thread that think the Magic are Finals bound, why they feel that way.

There just bold predictions... There is really nothing to it. The east is at its weakest it's ever been. The magic made a move to improve it's roster. They have fared pretty well vs the teams that are predicted to be in front of them (cavs & knicks). People are looking to Paolo & Franz to take the next step after showing glimpse in an injury plagued season the year before. People are looking for the team to make at least make some marginal improvements from 3.

If they stay healthy I think people are just saying there is a small chance they can go deep.

If the magic are a top 4 seed, and have home court in the first round ( they have been a pretty strong team at home the last few seasons). Are you predicting they get bounced in the first round? If so who is bouncing them? Our are insinuating that getting knocked out in the second round is getting bounced early?

I'm just saying they're not going to the Finals lol I'm pushing back hard against that narrative.

But i also do not buy any of their stock in general, until they fire Mosley. They play so slow and are so inefficient from 3, it is just not conducive to winning in the playoffs, in the current NBA. If it was 2004, they would probably be favored to win the title.

I'm one of the people on here who had Orlando at No. 1. I doubt my fellow ORL board posters would call me a fanboy homer either! But as far as I'm concerned that's regular season standings. I would have much less confidence in the Magic postseason, even though they are built to suit postseason play.

My guess would be that the Knicks win the East after a slow start to the regular season due to coaching changes and rotation switch ups.

The Magic will hopefully get a high seeding and make use of it by getting to the 2nd round at least.

[165bows]

The season before, the Magic won a series, just like the Thunder...

I tried to google it, i could not find a team with that long of a drought that just turned it on, one season. There is almost always a precursor season or 2.

And that's cool, but why so hell bent on the finals for a team that is still so young and has its core locked up for the next 4-5 seasons. They have time still. Most magic fans would be absolutely cool with them just getting out of the first round next season. This could be 08 &09 all over again for the magic. We just don't know what is gonna happen. The games need to be played.

I'm not lol i think they're bounced early, once again. You gotta ask the people in this thread that think the Magic are Finals bound, why they feel that way.

The whole east is injured and outside of Cleveland it's a total crap shoot maybe? God this isn't that complicated the east is down like a whole all star team.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

I'm not lol i think they're bounced early, once again. You gotta ask the people in this thread that think the Magic are Finals bound, why they feel that way.

There just bold predictions... There is really nothing to it. The east is at its weakest it's ever been. The magic made a move to improve it's roster. They have fared pretty well vs the teams that are predicted to be in front of them (cavs & knicks). People are looking to Paolo & Franz to take the next step after showing glimpse in an injury plagued season the year before. People are looking for the team to make at least make some marginal improvements from 3.

If they stay healthy I think people are just saying there is a small chance they can go deep.

If the magic are a top 4 seed, and have home court in the first round ( they have been a pretty strong team at home the last few seasons). Are you predicting they get bounced in the first round? If so who is bouncing them? Our are insinuating that getting knocked out in the second round is getting bounced early?

I'm just saying they're not going to the Finals lol I'm pushing back hard against that narrative.

But i also do not buy any of their stock in general, until they fire Mosley. They play so slow and are so inefficient from 3, it is just not conducive to winning in the playoffs, in the current NBA. If it was 2004, they would probably be favored to win the title.

Well, the Cavs played faster and shot well from 3 and loss in the 2nd round. Winning is hard. For the East, it’s anyone’s ball game this season.

[brackdan70]

Here goes nothing:

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

I like your tiers and general order.
I think Indy is higher and Philly is lower.

[JujitsuFlip]

And that's cool, but why so hell bent on the finals for a team that is still so young and has its core locked up for the next 4-5 seasons. They have time still. Most magic fans would be absolutely cool with them just getting out of the first round next season. This could be 08 &09 all over again for the magic. We just don't know what is gonna happen. The games need to be played.

I'm not lol i think they're bounced early, once again. You gotta ask the people in this thread that think the Magic are Finals bound, why they feel that way.

The whole east is injured and outside of Cleveland it's a total crap shoot maybe? God this isn't that complicated the east is down like a whole all star team.

Sure, in that case Wizards to the Finals because Middleton and McCollum are like that.

Just because the Celtics sold off half their core and the Pacers lost 40% of their starters, doesn't mean the Magic are Finals bound lol we still gotta use logic and say wait, maybe we should see if these guys can win a single series before we gas them up.

[itrsteve]

it seems particularly celtic fans are hyping the magic up for a deep playoff run more than any one

Yeah it's a giant conspiracy that we cooked up together.

[JujitsuFlip]

There just bold predictions... There is really nothing to it. The east is at its weakest it's ever been. The magic made a move to improve it's roster. They have fared pretty well vs the teams that are predicted to be in front of them (cavs & knicks). People are looking to Paolo & Franz to take the next step after showing glimpse in an injury plagued season the year before. People are looking for the team to make at least make some marginal improvements from 3.

If they stay healthy I think people are just saying there is a small chance they can go deep.

If the magic are a top 4 seed, and have home court in the first round ( they have been a pretty strong team at home the last few seasons). Are you predicting they get bounced in the first round? If so who is bouncing them? Our are insinuating that getting knocked out in the second round is getting bounced early?

I'm just saying they're not going to the Finals lol I'm pushing back hard against that narrative.

But i also do not buy any of their stock in general, until they fire Mosley. They play so slow and are so inefficient from 3, it is just not conducive to winning in the playoffs, in the current NBA. If it was 2004, they would probably be favored to win the title.

Well, the Cavs played faster and shot well from 3 and loss in the 2nd round. Winning is hard. For the East, it’s anyone’s ball game this season.

The Cavs did not shoot well in that 2nd round though...

Cavs shot 29.4% from 3 in that series vs the Pacers 42.1%

On the season the Cavs shot 38.3% from deep (2nd best in the NBA) vs the Pacers season average of 36.8%

So the Cavs went -8.9% from behind the arc in that series where the Pacers from their season norm were +5.3%

If anything, this strengthens my point that the Magic shooting poor percentage and low volume from 3 already puts them behind the 8 ball once the playoffs start.

Just for reference the Magic were dead last in the NBA last regular season at 31.5% then dropped to a putrid 26.3% in the playoffs, again good for dead last. To me, it's a scheme issue and starts and ends with Mosley but that's just my guess.

[SA37]

Here goes nothing:

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

I like your tiers and general order.
I think Indy is higher and Philly is lower.

Yeah, I took a bit of a risk putting Indy so low -- and putting Boston at 10 -- but Indiana has lost both Turner and Haliburton and have only added Jay Huff (solid player) to my knowledge. Boston's frontcourt is atrocious, so maybe I screwed up putting them at 10.

Not sure on Embiid's status, but if he is going to be out for significant time, then agree Philly would need to be lower.

[JujitsuFlip]

Here goes nothing:

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

I like your tiers and general order.
I think Indy is higher and Philly is lower.

Yeah, I took a bit of a risk putting Indy so low -- and putting Boston at 10 -- but Indiana has lost both Turner and Haliburton and have only added Jay Huff (solid player) to my knowledge. Boston's frontcourt is atrocious, so maybe I screwed up putting them at 10.

Not sure on Embiid's status, but if he is going to be out for significant time, then agree Philly would need to be lower.

I think PG and Embiid are out to start the season but i am not positive on that.