Sports Illustrated - Power Rankings - East

Treebeard · Post #1 » by **Treebeard** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 5:32 pm

Sports Illustrated (Posted: Thu August 15, 2013 11:36AM; Updated: Thu August 15, 2013)

Chris Mannix

Eastern Conference Power Rankings

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nba/ne ... z2c3lo17Nv

.... 12. Milwaukee Bucks: GM John Hammond took a two-by-four to a roster that, frankly, wasn't winning anything anyway. Replacing Brandon Jennings, Monta Ellis and J.J. Redick with O.J. Mayo, Brandon Knight and Luke Ridnour isn't an upgrade, no matter how little you liked the Jennings-Ellis backcourt. What the Bucks do have is a rising star in center Larry Sanders, a power forward who intrigues them in John Henson, a solid forward in Ersan Ilyasova and a fascinating point forward prospect in Giannis Antetokounmpo. A youth movement was probably the way to go in Milwaukee, but it could have some painful consequences this season.

MAHONEY: Henson among young players on spot in 2013-14

PkrsBcksGphsMqt · Post #2 » by **PkrsBcksGphsMqt** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 5:47 pm

I'd settle for 12th in the East. Hopefully were even worse though.

Post #3 » by **ReasonablySober** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 5:56 pm

Unless the young kids in Orlando take a leap or the Bucks get nailed by injuries in the front court, #12 is the floor. If they hit that, I'll be happy.

Nebula1 · Post #4 » by **Nebula1** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 5:59 pm

I think Charlotte is the only shot of being better than Milwaukee and personally would call 13th the floor. Obviously I hope we trade Ersan and really go after the lottery.

Mostly I agree with this ranking.

emunney · Post #5 » by **emunney** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 6:03 pm

I'll be surprised if the Celtics aren't the 2nd worst team in the East. Let's look at their big men again:

Kris Humphries
Kelly Olynyk
Brandon Bass
Jared Sullinger

Brad Stevens has his work cut out for him.

Nebula1 · Post #6 » by **Nebula1** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 6:08 pm

emunney wrote:I'll be surprised if the Celtics aren't the 2nd worst team in the East. Let's look at their big men again:

Kris Humphries
Kelly Olynyk
Brandon Bass
Jared Sullinger

Brad Stevens has his work cut out for him.

I agree with that too. Boston won't be very good, if not the worst. I think the bottom five are:

Charlotte
Milwaukee
Orlando
Boston
Philadelphia

I also think this is the season Miami is unable to retain its 1 seed and believe Brooklyn will be very good. I do agree Brooklyn, Miami, Chicago and Indiana are likely the top 4 in the East.

No-Man · Post #7 » by **No-Man** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 6:44 pm

Milwaukee should be better than Boston (0 defensive presence inside, no shooters, Rondo will get mad when they start losing and he comes from ACL, and he's actually pretty overrated as a player and prime talent) and Bobcats (new coach who has never being a HC in the league, too young team, more talented but worse on D than the Bucks).

I think Milwaukee will finish 11th most likely, with an 8th pick in the 2014 Draft.

But, if you trade Ilyasova for expirings+picks and start Antetokoumpo at SF... you could be even worse than Orlando.

So,

Milwaukee
Boston
Charlotte
Orlando
Philadelphia

worthlessBucks · Post #8 » by **worthlessBucks** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 6:50 pm

I think the Celtic and Raptors are below us. Masai will blow that to pieces (i.e Gay) for sure at some point this year. It's the smart thing to do given their roster, Masai likely wants an asset back for Gay and he wasn't getting that in the rumored salary dump to Detroit. I imagine we'll run neck to neck with Atlanta most of the year, let the rivalry continue.

emunney · Post #9 » by **emunney** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 7:13 pm

Oh, I think Atlanta will be even better than they were last year. I think they're the 5 seed.

eagle13 · Post #10 » by **eagle13** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 7:14 pm

EAST SEED
11-Milwaukee
12-Orlando
13-Charlotte
14-Boston
15-Philly

DRAFT ORDER Pre-Lottery
8-Milwaukee
7-Utah
6-Orlando
5-Sacramento
4-Charlotte
3-Boston
2-Philly
1-Phoenix

fansinceforever · Post #11 » by **fansinceforever** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 7:16 pm

Yeh I'd bet on Atlanta being better than us. Celtics and Orlando are worse unless their youth takes a major step forward collectively. I think Toronto could be on our level. I really think we're going to struggle to score the basketball.

fansinceforever · Post #12 » by **fansinceforever** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 7:20 pm

forgot about Philly.

LUKE23 · Post #13 » by **LUKE23** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 7:25 pm

Ballparking it off top of my head:

1. Miami
2. Brooklyn
3. Chicago
4. Indiana
5. Atlanta
6. New York
7. Washington
8. Cleveland
9. Detroit
10. Milwaukee-36 wins
11. Toronto
12. Orlando
13. Boston
14. Charlotte
15. Philly

Nebula1 · Post #14 » by **Nebula1** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 7:39 pm

Just curious, but why are you guys so bearish on Charlotte? I think they've improved their roster and both MKG and Walker have another season under their belts. I think they may surprise some (relative) and are better than Boston.

Walker/Sessions
Henderson/Gordon
MKG/Taylor
Zeller/McRoberts
Jefferson/Biyombo

raferfenix · Post #15 » by **raferfenix** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 7:41 pm

Our best hope for sucking is that Larry Sanders is out of commission for any length of time.

If that happens our defense collapses and we become absolutely terrible on both sides of the ball.

SkilesTheLimit · Post #16 » by **SkilesTheLimit** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 7:57 pm

Nebula1 wrote:Just curious, but why are you guys so bearish on Charlotte? I think they've improved their roster and both MKG and Walker have another season under their belts. I think they may surprise some (relative) and are better than Boston.

Walker/Sessions
Henderson/Gordon
MKG/Taylor
Zeller/McRoberts
Jefferson/Biyombo

I don't think they are any good because Walker never was or ever will be a true PG. MKG had an underwhelming rookie year and Zeller is a rookie. Jefferson is a black hole and is allergic to playing defense. I say they are a 25 win team.

Bfinkish · Post #17 » by **Bfinkish** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 8:01 pm

raferfenix wrote:Our best hope for sucking is that Larry Sanders is out of commission for any length of time.

If that happens our defense collapses and we become absolutely terrible on both sides of the ball.

LedZepp007 · Post #18 » by **LedZepp007** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 8:07 pm

Toronto is better than us. We can't consistently score. We really need to trade Ersan. With that we have a chance at the top 3. Which could save our franchise.

Nebula1 · Post #19 » by **Nebula1** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 8:10 pm

SkilesTheLimit wrote:
Nebula1 wrote:Just curious, but why are you guys so bearish on Charlotte? I think they've improved their roster and both MKG and Walker have another season under their belts. I think they may surprise some (relative) and are better than Boston.

Walker/Sessions
Henderson/Gordon
MKG/Taylor
Zeller/McRoberts
Jefferson/Biyombo

I don't think they are any good because Walker never was or ever will be a true PG. MKG had an underwhelming rookie year and Zeller is a rookie. Jefferson is a black hole and is allergic to playing defense. I say they are a 25 win team.

Well I think you're wrong about Walker and they have a very pass-first backup. MKG has an easy base to improve upon and should continue to be a quality defender. MKG does need to show a big step forward, however. Zeller is a nice, solid pick who is likely a net positive. Jefferson gives them some scoring they didn't have and Biyombo gives them a defensive option.

I aslo like Jeff Taylor a bunch and McRoberts is an okay reserve. Gordon is a decent reserve as well, considering Henderson has the opportunity to show his worth.

I put them around 32 wins and close to Milwaukee. I assume the two teams split their contests against each other.

Ron Swanson · Post #20 » by **Ron Swanson** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 8:24 pm

Nebula1 wrote:
SkilesTheLimit wrote:
Nebula1 wrote:Just curious, but why are you guys so bearish on Charlotte? I think they've improved their roster and both MKG and Walker have another season under their belts. I think they may surprise some (relative) and are better than Boston.

Walker/Sessions
Henderson/Gordon
MKG/Taylor
Zeller/McRoberts
Jefferson/Biyombo

I don't think they are any good because Walker never was or ever will be a true PG. MKG had an underwhelming rookie year and Zeller is a rookie. Jefferson is a black hole and is allergic to playing defense. I say they are a 25 win team.

Well I think you're wrong about Walker and they have a very pass-first backup. MKG has an easy base to improve upon and should continue to be a quality defender. MKG does need to show a big step forward, however. Zeller is a nice, solid pick who is likely a net positive. Jefferson gives them some scoring they didn't have and Biyombo gives them a defensive option.

I aslo like Jeff Taylor a bunch and McRoberts is an okay reserve. Gordon is a decent reserve as well, considering Henderson has the opportunity to show his worth.

I put them around 32 wins and close to Milwaukee. I assume the two teams split their contests against each other.

I agree. I don't know how people can say that we've made "net upgrades" and then say that Charlotte hasn't improved. Whatever you think of Al Jefferson, he along with Zeller is a DRASTIC upgrade over Mullens and Biyombo (probably the worst frontcourt in the league last year).

They now have guys that can score in the post, so that means less shots that Walker has to take. MKG is still only 19, and he also didn't have as terrible a rookie year as people tend to think he did. So a strong 2nd year wouldn't be a surprise, and if that's the case, this team can easily crack 30 wins, with the best case scenario being fighting for that 8th seed. I see Milwaukee and Charlotte having very similar seasons record-wise.