Eastern Powers

[Test of Wills]

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

Those are my 4 Tiers in the East. I think Orlando and Detroit could maybe switch spots but as if now I'm not counting out Detroit because they destroyed Orlando last year in the playoffs and both teams look the same. Philly, Toronto, Washington and Cleveland can all interchange during the season. It'll be wild for that last playoff spot with Chicago, Miami, Atlanta and may be a couple of teams from the last tier in the hunt for the 8th spot.

[Serpo]

Atlanta in my estimation is a tier beyond Miami and Chicago. I don't see them any better then your bottom tier teams. They're paper thin. Decent s5 ( but not great ) and then quite a drop-off.

With all the trouble they have / had with their FA's this season ( Childress bolting , beeing cheap with Josh Smith ) they're not making the playoffs this year. Look what happened to Chicago last season when something similar occured.

[dockingsched]

when the games matter, i'll take cleveland over all those tier 2 teams and arguably detroit too.

[FlashTheKilla]

I see it more like this:

1. Boston
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2. Detroit
3. Orlando
4. Cleveland
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5. Toronto
6. Washington
7. Philadelphia
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8. Miami
9. Atlanta
10. Chicago
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Bottom 5

Celtics are still a step above everyone else.
Could easily see Detroit moving up OR down, Orlando stays where they are, Cleveland could move down. Toronto stays where they are, Washington stays, Philly could move UP. Miami and Atlanta could both move UP. Only team in the bottom 5 that has a chance is Milwaukee.

[Test of Wills]

Until LeBron gets a real supporting cast his team won't be scary. I mean imagine if you could give LeBron someone like Michael Redd or a real big then we are talking something but until then LeBron's team ain't much of a threat...

[Gordon Bombay]

Until LeBron gets a real supporting cast his team won't be scary. I mean imagine if you could give LeBron someone like Michael Redd or a real big then we are talking something but until then LeBron's team ain't much of a threat...

you can rank us wherever you want and if you feel that we're 7th then thats fine but im pretty sure detroit is not going to be happy with the quality of their first round opponent (some reward for the 2nd seed)...actaully if you asked all the other teams, cleveland is probably the team that teams least want to face in the first round outside of boston with or without another big-time acquisition

[Silk Wilkes]

when the games matter, i'll take cleveland over all those tier 2 teams and arguably detroit too.

I think you mean, you'll take LeBron. That man is one scary mamajama when he's focused. I'm not sure there's a player in the league better than LeBron if he thinks his team is on the brink of losing.

[RealSuperfan]

Until LeBron gets a real supporting cast his team won't be scary. I mean imagine if you could give LeBron someone like Michael Redd or a real big then we are talking something but until then LeBron's team ain't much of a threat...

you can rank us wherever you want and if you feel that we're 7th then thats fine but im pretty sure detroit is not going to be happy with the quality of their first round opponent (some reward for the 2nd seed)...actaully if you asked all the other teams, cleveland is probably the team that teams least want to face in the first round outside of boston with or without another big-time acquisition

Quite true. Imagine busting your ass all season for the 2nd seed only to have to face Cleveland in the first round. Regardless of if you're team gets by, they will not get by unscathed. Chances are LeBron's pushing you to seven, and he's the last player I want to battle against in a deciding game seven.

[cwas2882]

Eh, He's 0 - 2 in game 7's. I can think of scarier people to face

[Captain_Morgan]

You mean the Orients?

[halfHAVOC]

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

[B Mac]

Eh, He's 0 - 2 in game 7's. I can think of scarier people to face

Its the 5-0 in game 6's that you should worry about.

[celticfan42487]

In last year's playoffs I believe CLE and DET equally were tough to beat as one another. The only real diffrence was Ray Allen was doing great in 1/2 of the games against DET and 0 of the games against CLE.

When it came down to it though DET was difficult because of their teamwork and how much you were forced to execute. CLE as a mix of that and mostly physical punishment. They may or may not have the talest team but they certainly have the biggest combination of strength and height for their rotation. Ben Wallance and Anderson Varejo put a hurting on the opposing team. And Big Z's perfect European Center attributes are painfully too.

ORL got a little exposed in the playoffs in my opinion. To be beat like they did by DET without Chauncey Billups really shows how much they have to go with polishing their teamwork for playoff basketball.

I still think CLE is on the verge of making a move, there is no way they have 20 million in expirings and just let that expire. At this point I think they are just trying to re-sign Delonte West for cheap so if they need one of Boobie or West to trade with expirings to pick up a disgruntled or aging "star" player. Sorta like their Ray Allen.

[cwas2882]

Yep. Make sure you're up 3-2 entering game 6 or you may as well not even show up

[Sixercise]

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

[Rooster]

5-0 in game 6s? Cleveland lost to Detroit in 2006 in game 6.

Game 1: DET
Game 2: DET
Game 3: CLE
Game 4: CLE
Game 5: CLE
Game 6: DET
Game 7: DET

(EDIT: For your viewing pleasure...

http://www.nba.com/games/20060519/DETCLE/recap.html)

These lists all look pretty good btw. Of course, there isn't that much variation, but I don't see why there should be.

[B Mac]

5-0 in game 6s? Cleveland lost to Detroit in 2006 in game 6.

Game 1: DET
Game 2: DET
Game 3: CLE
Game 4: CLE
Game 5: CLE
Game 6: DET
Game 7: DET

(EDIT: For your viewing pleasure...

http://www.nba.com/games/20060519/DETCLE/recap.html)

These lists all look pretty good btw. Of course, there isn't that much variation, but I don't see why there should be.

Just when I about had that game out of my mind too. Stupid Flip Murray.

I stand corrected.

[Kobe>Jordan>God]

The Easter Bunny has the power to lay eggs and hide them. Warning: eggs may be brown inside.

[GSWhoopfan]

Miami might have a top trio in the league. Big "if", but quite possible.

I can see them making a run at the Magic. They are not the 8th or 9th best in the East.

[Hydroponic3385]

People STILL put Washington ahead of Cleveland? Really? Do the past 3 years mean nothing? And don't say "well the Wizards have always been hurt" cuz the Cavs were ranked either 1st or 2nd (i forget which) in games missed due to injuries last year, and their holdouts and big trade didn't exactly help their situation either. If you want to put Cleveland behind Boston, Detroit, heck I'd even take Philly and Orlando cuz who knows...but Washington? You can't even say Cleveland hasn't improved since last year, cuz Washington hasn't either.