Wide Open East

[atlantabbq99]

The Hawks have already shown that they can dominate the Pacers even without Horford.

As for Miami, we will see how things shake up there.

The Hawk are not going to lose any key players, Teague, Horford, Millsap, Korver, Carrol, and Louis. And actually, the Hawks will add Bebe and Dennis will be one year better.

Depending on how things shake up in Miami, the Hawks could compete for #1 or #2 in the east, even without signing Carmelo or Lebron.

[mr_grabb]

Jenkins will also be a welcomed addition to the bench.

[Hawk Eye]

It's all going to depend on one simple thing...health. Overall team health at that.

[hisalness56]

Came here to see what you guys thought of Payne but saw this thread. Realistically I can't see you guys (or us) competing for anything but the 4 seed

Really I don't realistically see 1 or 2 for anyone besides Miami and Indiana. Miami if everyone comes back is 1. Indiana, though you dominated them is a very good regular season team and still won 60 some games and made the eastern conference finals. And if the Bulls get Melo, or a healthy Rose they are probably 3rd. That leaves you guys and us to battle it out for the 4 and 5 seeds

[SBM]

Came here to see what you guys thought of Payne but saw this thread. Realistically I can't see you guys (or us) competing for anything but the 4 seed

Really I don't realistically see 1 or 2 for anyone besides Miami and Indiana. Miami if everyone comes back is 1. Indiana, though you dominated them is a very good regular season team and still won 60 some games and made the eastern conference finals. And if the Bulls get Melo, or a healthy Rose they are probably 3rd. That leaves you guys and us to battle it out for the 4 and 5 seeds

He is another wasted pick

[ATLHawksfan21]

Came here to see what you guys thought of Payne but saw this thread. Realistically I can't see you guys (or us) competing for anything but the 4 seed

Really I don't realistically see 1 or 2 for anyone besides Miami and Indiana. Miami if everyone comes back is 1. Indiana, though you dominated them is a very good regular season team and still won 60 some games and made the eastern conference finals. And if the Bulls get Melo, or a healthy Rose they are probably 3rd. That leaves you guys and us to battle it out for the 4 and 5 seeds

Congrats on making the playoffs. I personally didn't know much about Payne before the draft. After studying up on him, he looks to be a promising prospect who should be able to contribute immediately which is nice.

What is your take on the Ariza/Gortat situation. Which one do you think the Wiz will bring back and how will the Wiz replace the one that is left hanging?

I feel like the Hawks are currently a 3-5 seed, but we can move up to a 1-4 seed if we find a wing better than Carroll and Miami doesn't get substantially better.

Indy struggled throughout the 2nd half of the season and they may lose Stephenson. I don't think it's unrealistic to think that they will finish with a worse record than they had last year.

Chicago is a huge question mark. Will Rose be his usual self? Will they get Melo? I think they are the 1 seed if both of those are yes. They could end up in the bottom half of the playoff bracket if both are no.

Miami will most likely coast some this regular season. They have now been to 4 straight Finals which takes a huge toll on the players since their offseason is much shorter. Will D. Wade sit out even more regular season games this year than he did last? Miami also had the luxury of being injury free through the whole season.

[hisalness56]

Congrats on making the playoffs. I personally didn't know much about Payne before the draft. After studying up on him, he looks to be a promising prospect who should be able to contribute immediately which is nice.

What is your take on the Ariza/Gortat situation. Which one do you think the Wiz will bring back and how will the Wiz replace the one that is left hanging?

I feel like the Hawks are currently a 3-5 seed, but we can move up to a 1-4 seed if we find a wing better than Carroll and Miami doesn't get substantially better.

Indy struggled throughout the 2nd half of the season and they may lose Stephenson. I don't think it's unrealistic to think that they will finish with a worse record than they had last year.

Chicago is a huge question mark. Will Rose be his usual self? Will they get Melo? I think they are the 1 seed if both of those are yes. They could end up in the bottom half of the playoff bracket if both are no.

Miami will most likely coast some this regular season. They have now been to 4 straight Finals which takes a huge toll on the players since their offseason is much shorter. Will D. Wade sit out even more regular season games this year than he did last? Miami also had the luxury of being injury free through the whole season.

I think Miami will somehow end up retooling into a 1 or 2. Getting Napier was huge I think. Depending on what happens with Stephenson, and if Hibbert figures out what is going on then Indy is anywhere from 1 to maybe 4 if they have a bad season. PG will keep getting better and if Stephenson walks they'll have a little bit of money to play with. Chicago could be anywhere from 1 to 6 but I think McBuckets is going to help more than people realize... if Thibs plays him.

Wiz fans are split on Ariza and Gortat. I am in the camp of let Ariza walk if he asks for over 7 maybe 8 mil a year, I don't trust that this wasn't just a contract year and I think someone will offer close to 10. I'd want to roll with Webster and Porter and let Otto play. Webster just had back surgery so I'm sure Ariza will try and leverage that in contract talks. A lot of Wiz fans want us to go after Monroe so Gortat would obviously be out in that situation but he can't play a lick of defense so I think I'd rather keep Gortat (although I love Monroe's post game) especially since we traded him for our this years first round pick. Plus I think Monroe is looking for a max deal that some team will undeservedly give him.

I'd love to try and move Nene in the offseason as well to clear his contract and bring in someone like Jordan Hill or Ed Davis

[ATL Boy]

I do believe the Heat are gonna be the number 1 seed, because I can't see Lebron leaving this year. Pacers are taking a step back, even if they don't lose Stephenson, that team is not a sure fire 2 seed imo. We were the 3 seed with Al, so unless Melo signs with the Bulls, I too can realistically see us fighting for the 2 seed.

[atlantabbq99]

Came here to see what you guys thought of Payne but saw this thread. Realistically I can't see you guys (or us) competing for anything but the 4 seed

Really I don't realistically see 1 or 2 for anyone besides Miami and Indiana. Miami if everyone comes back is 1. Indiana, though you dominated them is a very good regular season team and still won 60 some games and made the eastern conference finals. And if the Bulls get Melo, or a healthy Rose they are probably 3rd. That leaves you guys and us to battle it out for the 4 and 5 seeds

No only are the Hawks not going to loose key players, and get the addition of Bebe and Dennis, but the key players will be one year better, because now they have one year experience in Budz system.

We saw this with Teague and Millsap at the end of the year and saw them play elite basketball against the Pacers becuase they were becoming more comfortable and focused on Budz's system.

[atlantabbq99]

Pacers - The Hawks already exposed them for having chemistry and leadership issues.

Heat - Will probably retain all their stars and will probably remain dominate, but Hawks went .500 against the Heat and showed that they have weakness with 3pt shooting and rebounding.

Raptors - A team that could get better next year, because their young guys will be one year better, but they will lose Lowry.

Bulls - Rose looked horrible last year with one bad knee, he will be shell of his former self with two bad knees, no matter what Bulls homers say. Rose is spiraling down Steve Francis territory. Bulls could get Carmelo, but so what, i don't trust Carmelo led teams and in addition Thibs and the Bulls management relationship is getting worst everyday.

Nets - A team of old players that just got one year older and they could lose Livingston.

Wizards - A team that actually get better, although the Pacers did expose them for being soft in the playoffs. If Wall can turn into a leader the Wizards can do very well, but Wall has never shown he wants to lead.

Hornets - They could be better, but i think that depends on Vonleh's development, which i think is 2-3 years away.

Cavs - A team full of young talent, but they have serious chemistry issues and players are looking to get out of Cleveland.


I'm only worried about the Wizards. I really don't know why people are over hyping the Bulls again. I don't know if people have noticed this, but Thib's coaching style leads to players getting hurt and worn down.