Central Division looking very strong now...

FluffySockNinja · Post #1 » by **FluffySockNinja** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 4:00 am

Cavs obviously adding LeBron, Bulls adding Gasol, Indy will still be strong, rising young Bucks squad and our Pistons.

There is going to be a lot of punishing basketball ahead which I think bodes well for our long term future as we will certainly have to toughen up to survive.

Whoever comes out on top is going to be battle hardened that's for sure.

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E-Z · Post #2 » by **E-Z** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 4:46 am

Any team with LeBron becomes a title contender. Chicago's offense will hold them back, even with Gasol. The Bucks probably won't do anything with an undersized back-court with inefficient play-makers. The Pacers still don't have their point guard, so they'll be just as inefficient as Chicago if not worse (if Stephenson leaves). Detroit? Well, I'd rather be realistic than optimistic here. The team has to get its house in order before any real aspirations can be realized.

Phase one was the front office personnel. Phase two was the draft. We're in phase three (free agency), and obviously things can still happen here. Monroe or Smith may not be here next season. Same for Jennings, and other guys. The core of the team hasn't been fully established yet. Without that, Detroit's out of the picture. But we knew this already right?

ImHeisenberg · Post #3 » by **ImHeisenberg** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 4:49 am

Chicago's fate is still ultimately tied to Derrick Rose's health. But, if he's healthy, the top 3 EC teams will be Chicago, Indiana and Cleveland.

Doesn't really change much in the greater scheme of things. Detroit still sucks way too much to even concern themselves with what is happening at the top of the food chain. They need to improve to where they're not getting blown out by 20 by the Jazz or Bucks, like last season.

Joe Berry · Post #4 » by **Joe Berry** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 10:23 am

It would be a miracle if the Pistons would make the playoffs next season, i am fully expecting another lottery season.

SVG needs time to fix this mess, including trading Smith & Jennings. Its probably the best to establish better trade values for those guys first anyway. As long as Dre/Moose will be the focus off this team going forward i am fine with this.

ImHeisenberg · Post #5 » by **ImHeisenberg** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 1:21 pm

Joe Asberry wrote:It would be a miracle if the Pistons would make the playoffs next season, i am fully expecting another lottery season.

SVG needs time to fix this mess, including trading Smith & Jennings. Its probably the best to establish better trade values for those guys first anyway. As long as Dre/Moose will be the focus off this team going forward i am fine with this.

You're right. This team would need an absolutely dramatic change to make that leap in an eastern conference who has improved.

SVG nor Gores have promised a playoff berth, just that his goal is for continual improvement and winning as much as they can.

In the east we have Indy, Chicago, Cleveland, Miami, Washington, Atlanta, Toronto, Brooklyn and Charlotte as the top 9 teams. We'll probably finish 10th or 11th.

The Penguin · Post #6 » by **The Penguin** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 1:45 pm

ImHeisenberg wrote:
Joe Asberry wrote:It would be a miracle if the Pistons would make the playoffs next season, i am fully expecting another lottery season.

SVG needs time to fix this mess, including trading Smith & Jennings. Its probably the best to establish better trade values for those guys first anyway. As long as Dre/Moose will be the focus off this team going forward i am fine with this.

You're right. This team would need an absolutely dramatic change to make that leap in an eastern conference who has improved.

SVG nor Gores has not promised a playoff berth, just that his goal is for continual improvement and winning as much as they can.

In the east we have Indy, Chicago, Cleveland, Miami, Washington, Atlanta, Toronto, Brooklyn and Charlotte as the top 9 teams. We'll probably finish 10th or 11th.

The Knicks could also see some real improvement by flipping out Felton for Calderon, hiring Phil/Fisher and Melo not playing while dreaming about being Lebron's sidekick. Boston with a healthy Rondo and Orlando could also be better than last year.

I think this years top priority should be establishing trade value for Smith & Jennings. Entering the summer of 15 with Drummond/Monroe/KCP/Meeks, a very high draft pick, any young players/picks we can get out of Smith & Jennings, and $40 mil of open cap space is a pretty good spot to find ourselves in.

ImHeisenberg · Post #7 » by **ImHeisenberg** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 2:55 pm

The Penguin wrote:The Knicks could also see some real improvement by flipping out Felton for Calderon, hiring Phil/Fisher and Melo not playing while dreaming about being Lebron's sidekick. Boston with a healthy Rondo and Orlando could also be better than last year.

I think this years top priority should be establishing trade value for Smith & Jennings. Entering the summer of 15 with Drummond/Monroe/KCP/Meeks, a very high draft pick, any young players/picks we can get out of Smith & Jennings, and $40 mil of open cap space is a pretty good spot to find ourselves in.

I'm not bullish on the Knicks. Yes, Calderon is an upgrade offensively over Felton, but still a minus defender. And, they sacrificed their rim protector to get him. Their options at center are Andrea Bargnani and Cole Aldrich.

Orlando probably doesn't improve too much as they gave away their veteran backcourt, now starting the turnover prone Payton and Dipo.

But,

RTM · Post #8 » by **RTM** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 2:58 pm

But we added Jodie Meeks.

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ComboGuardCity · Post #9 » by **ComboGuardCity** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 3:26 pm

ImHeisenberg wrote:
Joe Asberry wrote:It would be a miracle if the Pistons would make the playoffs next season, i am fully expecting another lottery season.

SVG needs time to fix this mess, including trading Smith & Jennings. Its probably the best to establish better trade values for those guys first anyway. As long as Dre/Moose will be the focus off this team going forward i am fine with this.

You're right. This team would need an absolutely dramatic change to make that leap in an eastern conference who has improved.

SVG nor Gores have promised a playoff berth, just that his goal is for continual improvement and winning as much as they can.

In the east we have Indy, Chicago, Cleveland, Miami, Washington, Atlanta, Toronto, Brooklyn and Charlotte as the top 9 teams. We'll probably finish 10th or 11th.

Brooklyn is going nowhere fast IMO. I'm a little more optimistic than most but up until the all star break we were hanging around with the likes of Atlanta, Charlotte, and Brooklyn.

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Notanoob · Post #10 » by **Notanoob** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 4:30 pm

ImHeisenberg wrote:
The Penguin wrote:The Knicks could also see some real improvement by flipping out Felton for Calderon, hiring Phil/Fisher and Melo not playing while dreaming about being Lebron's sidekick. Boston with a healthy Rondo and Orlando could also be better than last year.

I think this years top priority should be establishing trade value for Smith & Jennings. Entering the summer of 15 with Drummond/Monroe/KCP/Meeks, a very high draft pick, any young players/picks we can get out of Smith & Jennings, and $40 mil of open cap space is a pretty good spot to find ourselves in.

I'm not bullish on the Knicks. Yes, Calderon is an upgrade offensively over Felton, but still a minus defender. And, they sacrificed their rim protector to get him. Their options at center are Andrea Bargnani and Cole Aldrich.

Orlando probably doesn't improve too much as they gave away their veteran backcourt, now starting the turnover prone Payton and Dipo.

But,

They did get Dalembert in that trade, he's their rim protector.

ImHeisenberg · Post #11 » by **ImHeisenberg** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 4:41 pm

Notanoob wrote:They did get Dalembert in that trade, he's their rim protector.

Like most people, I forgot Dalembert was even involved in that deal. :lol:

wallace72 · Post #12 » by **wallace72** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 5:32 pm

RTM wrote:But we added Jodie Meeks.

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+ a new GM & Coaching staff

RasheedTupac · Post #13 » by **RasheedTupac** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 5:39 pm

ImHeisenberg wrote:
Joe Asberry wrote:It would be a miracle if the Pistons would make the playoffs next season, i am fully expecting another lottery season.

SVG needs time to fix this mess, including trading Smith & Jennings. Its probably the best to establish better trade values for those guys first anyway. As long as Dre/Moose will be the focus off this team going forward i am fine with this.

You're right. This team would need an absolutely dramatic change to make that leap in an eastern conference who has improved.

SVG nor Gores have promised a playoff berth, just that his goal is for continual improvement and winning as much as they can.

In the east we have Indy, Chicago, Cleveland, Miami, Washington, Atlanta, Toronto, Brooklyn and Charlotte as the top 9 teams. We'll probably finish 10th or 11th.

Hate how everyone on here looks at Toronto, atl, and Charlotte like they are elite teams lmao. They are horrible and had a decent season last year in a historically bad eastern conference.

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