East just got much tougher

[HeatFanSince87]

I know I know, it's all the west right now, but two teams in the east just got much, much stronger.

The Bulls, for whatever reason didnt mesh this season, but still regardless could be a playoff team next season, even with no additions, now you add Beasly(I think they take him). And the Heat, who will all know with a healthy Wade and Marion to go along with Rose, Haslem, etc could easly be a top 4-5 team in the East. That being said, the lottery just assured(as much BS as it is), the some power is coming back to the East. Imagine had the Sonics and Wolves got 1-2, that would have made the west even tougher!

Thoughts?

[Iputsomepantson]

I dunno if the Heat would be a top 4-5 team in the East next year...even with Beasley or Rose. They have a too many holes, but they are definitely a near lock for the playoffs.

[Miami's Finest]

Yep the Bulls are like San Antonio when they got Duncan after one weak season. We saw how good they could be when they swept us a year ago, now add a player like Rose and Beasley and they can be scary.

[HeatFanSince87]

I said could, we can agree to disagree. We had an injured Wade all season, a coach who had one foot out the door, Shaq, before he was traded quit on us and became a cancer, and Haslem, Wright and Williams missed a ton of games too injury.

We will have a healthy and MOTIVATED Wade, with a full training camp with Marion, healthy Haslem, hopefully Derrick Rose and with a creative free agent move could nab another player. A franchise player, an allstar in Marion and a future all-star in Rose, and a few other pick ups to what we have with a new hungry, young coach, I will not be surprised to see us top 5..just my opnion

[SA37]

Miami should be a playoff team next year, assuming injuries don't kill the team again. I don't think the Heat will be a top team in the East though. I think they'll be that pesky team no one wants to really face in the playoffs because they'll have a team that is good enough to keep games competitive and then the opposing team has to figure out how to beat Dwyane Wade in the 4th.

[BRINGTHEPAIN]

Beazley is the absolute perfect fit for Chicago. They are going to be incredible if they can tweak just a couple of perimeter players. The weakness of interior offense has been eliminated with Beazley. This looks a lot like Duncan's rookie season, the Bulls could dominate the East.

[C3]

I'm not sure who will be better, Rose, or Beasley. I will be happy with either.

With that being said: Both Miami and Chicago won this 2 player lottery.

I think the problem with both our teams, is that we played under performing big men too many entitlement minutes. We got dragged down by relying to heavily on past reputations.

I'm hoping that this 08 draft enables both Miami, and Chicago to rise back up into the playoffs.

The east did get much stronger. The two teams that arguably least needed these picks, got them.

[HeatSince88]

I dunno, did the West improve by adding Oden and Durant last year? Those teams didn't make the playoffs, and Seattle was downright awful.

Meanwhile Atlanta at #3 got the big man they needed and made some noise in the East.

Things happen ... the injury to Oden, the deconstruction of Seattle's roster, players taken elsewhere surprising a bit. So it's impossible to say any conference has gained or lost until we see the outcomes of these picks.

[heat4life]

In all honesty though, Atlanta "barely" made the playoffs and the fact that they gave Boston fits for 7 games speaks louder of Boston deficiencies than Atlanta's readiness to contend.

[kundanp333]

90% probable that the heat will make the playoffs next year... you have to remember riley literally threw the season. We never had our starting line up play. etc. ...i dont think the east got that much tougher...although some of the eastern conference teams are developing at a high rate... such as the hawks and the sixers as well as the bobcats... def. not the bucks haha..

[HeatSince88]

In all honesty though, Atlanta "barely" made the playoffs and the fact that they gave Boston fits for 7 games speaks louder of Boston deficiencies than Atlanta's readiness to contend.

Nonetheless, Atlanta did far more than Seattle, who picked ahead of them.

I'm just saying we can't conclude whether the East or West got better until we actually see the impact these guys have.

Who knows, maybe Anthony Randolph turns into the biggest stud of them all for the Kings or somebody ... maybe Derrick Rose shreds his knee for the Bulls and is never the same ... etc. I'm happy with where we are at #2, but it doesn't guarantee anything.

[heat4life]

True. With draft picks, we just don't know. Even if it plays out that the East got better, they are still WAY behind the West IMO.

[anorexorcism]

As I said in the other thread, both of our teams were in the playoffs fighting each other only 2 years ago and a year ago. You guys were smart to clean house this past year, getting rid of garbage like Payton, Walker and Shaq.

The amazing is that with these picks, neither of our teams will have had more than one losing season and we'll be back in the playoff picture (if not near the top).

I just really worry about D-Wade's health.

Next year's east will be stacked.

1 - Boston
2 - Chicago
3 - Miami
4 - Detroit
5 - Orlando
6 - Cleveland
7 - Atlanta
8 - Milwaukee

Washington is going to disappear (I predict they are not going to be able to keep Arenas or Jamison) and Skiles is going to shock everyone and take that team to the playoffs. Philly will not be able to match Iguodala.

[Hood President]

i dont see milluake or washington making the playoffs next year. maybe the year after. i think atlant will improve record wise if they can keep smith and bibby for a full season. new york has dantonoi, philly may match igudala and if that happens should be over .500. detroit my reshape if they dont go to the finals. boston big 2 1/2 will have 2 more good seasons n them. etc

atlanta, boston, cleveland, philly, orlando should make it. the other 2 spots are up for grabs.