Second best team in the East?

[Ice Man]

Even when Rose comes back, Indiana will still be better, due to rust and lack of chemistry. I don't expect the bulls to re-pass the pacers until next season. And that's assuming Rose makes a full recovery.

Eh, maybe. The Pacers are on pace to win 51 games this year. The only reason that people think they're any good at all is that they've beaten the Heat a few times, and there's nobody else in the East. I'm not saying that the Bulls with a rusty Rose would be awesome, but it doesn't take awesome to beat the Pacers. It just takes pretty good.

I can't remember the last time a team was so much better than the rest of the teams in the conference as Miami is this year in the East. The 6-ring Bulls were never *that* much better than the opposition, not even in the 72-win season. The East is just so weak apart from Miami.

[LikeABosh]

1 Heat
2 Pacers
3 Bulls
4 Boston
5 Nets
6 hawks
7 Knicks
8. Bucks

That 7 seed of yours destroyed your 1 seed by 20 points both times they played.

Yes, and we've also lost to the bucks, the pistons, the wizards and so on. Most of our losses haven't even come against the top tier teams (Only 4 or 5). The knicks aren't in great company

[JSmooth93]

Did every one forget what the playoffs are about?
I firmly believe that with the top heavy teams this season, if you aren't fielding a top 5 player or two top 10 players, you're not winning a championship.
The teams with the top 4 players are basically nearly guaranteed Conference finalists. The Spurs just complicate things a bit.
Who's more likely to score 45 in a playoff game. ( Granger-Geroge)/Lebron/CP3/Melo/KD/Kobe/TP/Rose

One of these things is not like the others.

And you know it's usually the opponent that you disregard whom you fear most, and I see a lot of heat fans discriminating the Knicks among elite Eastern conference competition.

[JSmooth93]

1 Heat
2 Pacers
3 Bulls
4 Boston
5 Nets
6 hawks
7 Knicks
8. Bucks

That 7 seed of yours destroyed your 1 seed by 20 points both times they played.

Yes, and we've also lost to the bucks, the pistons, the wizards and so on. Most of our losses haven't even come against the top tier teams (Only 4 or 5). The knicks aren't in great company

Really, as I recall, the stat at the time was that Wade/Lebron/Bosh have only lost by 20+ in a game that they've all played what 3 times?
And two of those were against us.

[Flash3]

Really, as I recall, the stat at the time was that Wade/Lebron/Bosh have only lost by 20+ in a game that they've all played what 3 times?
And two of those were against us.

The Heat were also like 1-6 or 1-8 against Chicago and Boston in the regular season yet went 8-3 against them in the post-season.

Reg season and Post season are 2 different things altogether.

[LikeABosh]

Really, as I recall, the stat at the time was that Wade/Lebron/Bosh have only lost by 20+ in a game that they've all played what 3 times?
And two of those were against us.

Sadly, that's not true. There were two +20 blowouts in the 10-11 season alone. But anyways, what is your point?

[NZB2323]

It's the Pacers. If Rose comes back, it's the Bulls.

[LakerFanMan]

It's the Pacers. If Rose comes back, it's the Bulls.

I agree with this, depending on how close Rose is to full speed. It might take him a while to get his game back.

[GreenBloodedC]

Yes, Iove it when Knick fans argue w/ Heat fans. I hope some Indiana fans join the mix.

Sorry, the Bulls is a pretty solid team. But even w/ Rose, I believe that Indiana is still better.

[SuperflyKnick]

1 Heat
2 Pacers
3 Bulls
4 Boston
5 Nets
6 hawks
7 Knicks
8. Bucks

The Knicks 7th.

[GoodSir]

Really, as I recall, the stat at the time was that Wade/Lebron/Bosh have only lost by 20+ in a game that they've all played what 3 times?
And two of those were against us.

I can recall 4 or 5 alone from the past two seasons(not this season). So no, you're wrong.

[winter_mute_13]

As a Pacer fan, I'd like to say Pacers. But IMO the gap between the Heat and the Pacers is larger than between the Pacers and the the #3 team.

I don't have a clear opinion on the #3 team, but I think the Knicks and Bulls are pretty strong, the Nets are still a question mark to me but potentially strong, and the Celtics of course are still very dangerous.

In any case, the Heat are still far and away the top team in the East. The Pacers have certain matchup advantages, which gives us a chance, and IMO the Pacers will certainly give them a stiff fight. But clearly the Heat are still the odds-on favorite.

[NYs Finest]

1 Heat
2 Pacers
3 Bulls
4 Boston
5 Nets
6 hawks
7 Knicks
8. Bucks

The Knicks 7th.

The Knicks are maybe the most scrutiized and hated team on here, so basically people are looking for any reason to knock them.

Theyre not playing well definitely, but you know that until they prove it in the playoffs, nobody, especially on this site, is gonna give them any respect.

If the Knicks beat the Heat again on Sunday, it won't have much merit with anyone.

So I choose to just ignore it lmao.

[Nuntius]

Yes, Iove it when Knick fans argue w/ Heat fans. I hope some Indiana fans join the mix.

Nah, we (well, at least I) enjoy watching

[GoodSir]

I miss the argument and trash talk with Bulls fans

Please come back D.Rose

[Nuntius]

But IMO the gap between the Heat and the Pacers is larger than between the Pacers and the the #3 team.

Hey, no one is arguing the opposite

[Trader_Joe]

1 Heat
2 Pacers
3 Bulls
4 Boston
5 Nets
6 hawks
7 Knicks
8. Bucks

The Knicks 7th.

Since NY's hot start they have essentially been a .500 team.

18-5
to
34-20

16-15 over that time.

[bobbyc]

After the Heat, you can rank the Bulls, Pacers, Nets, and Knicks in pretty much any order. They all seem to have one other team they can't beat, actually (at least so far).

The Knicks haven't beaten the Bulls (0-3).

The Nets haven't beaten the Heat (0-3).

The Pacers haven't beaten the Nets (0-2).

The Bulls haven't beaten the Pacers (0-2).

The Heat haven't beaten the Pacers or the Knicks (0-4).

Agree they are all pretty much on the same level. There is really no point to put them in an order, unless you are really bored.

Also, not sure why people are putting Boston ahead of Atlanta and BKN when they are clearly not as good this season.

[omerome]

1 Heat
2 Pacers
3 Bulls
4 Boston
5 Nets
6 hawks
7 Knicks
8. Bucks

The Knicks 7th.

Since NY's hot start they have essentially been a .500 team.

18-5
to
34-20

16-15 over that time.

And despite their recent struggles, they are currently the #2 seed in the East.

You are what your record says you are.

[pacers33granger]

I'd say it's pretty close between Indy, Chicago, and New York/Brooklyn. LOL at people mentioning the Celtics as the 2nd best team in the East though.