Early Top 8 in the East projections.

[TDotsfinest97]

1. Pacers
2. Cavs
3. Heat
4. Bulls
5. Raptors
6. Hawks
7. Wizards
8. Pistons

who's winning the atlantic?

[Grolgar]

I think the overall quality in the East will be much improved this season with everyone making the playoffs above .500. However, I could see the 1 seed having an historically low number of wins (Side question: What is the lowest number of wins for a 1 seed?). Here's my guess with obviously a lot of variables:

1. Cavs 54-28
2. Pacers 52-30
3. Wiz 47-35
4. Nets 44-38
5. Bulls 52-30
6. Heat 46-36
7. Hawks 45-37
8. Knicks 44-38

I've got the Raptors (43-39) and Hornets (42-42) missing the playoffs. I like the Raptors, but I just think they're in for a tough year. I don't know why. I wouldn't argue with replacing them with the Nets. I also think the Knicks play a lot better with Phil ensuring that the organization has some continuity, vision, and structure. It'll be an interesting year out East.

[165bows]

Cavs
Pacers

Wiz
Bulls
Raps

Hornets
Heat
Hawks

By record. Going to be a little tougher making the playoffs in the east this year.

Still some moves to be made though. Atlanta has cap space, as does Charlotte. Heat have a couple balls in the air as well.

[watpho71]

My 2014-15 NBA rankings as projected on 07/12/2014:

1. CHI, 2. TOR, 3. CLE, 4. MIA, 5. IND, 6. WAS, 7. CHA, 8. BKN

9. ATL

*edit on 07/16/14 after Stephenson signed in CHA
ATL 8 to 9 and CHA 10 to 7

[TDotsfinest97]

Bulls are being ranked too high and are overrated

Everyone thought in the playoffs that the Bulls would easily eliminate the Wizards

Look what happened, Wizards in 5


Until Derrick Rose can prove he's back at the MVP level he was, the Bulls are nothing but a 5th-8th seed to me

[Detective]

Dat feel when apparently according to the general majority of the GB, there will be no Atlantic Division winner in the Top 4, despite knowing that Philly, NYC, Boston and BKN will be less than productive, and one other mystery team within the same division being clearly better.

[Hello Brooklyn]

Pacers
Cavaliers
Bulls
Nets
Heat
Raptors
Wizards
Hornets

[Trader_Joe]

Kind of pointless doing them right now but watching TV is more pointless so I'll do it.

1. Cleveland - any team with LBJ has a good chance at 60 games
2. Chicago - what is there to say other that it all depends on Rose?
3. Indiana - losing Stephenson could be good in the long run, might hurt short term.
4. Washington - best deal of the off season was PP. This could be a 50 win team vying for the CFs
5. Toronto - seems to be stuck in the treadmill until Ross improves dramatically or Jonas does. If they both do they would be elite.

This is where it gets hazy...

6. Charlotte - losing McBob hurts, but they still have money and a shot at them getting a FA
7. Brooklyn - if D.Will/JJ/AK/Lopez play 60+ games on average each they'll get in. They won 49 with less.. much less.
8. Atlanta - Decent team but they tend to have bad luck and I'm not sold on Teague or their depth.

Miami - relying on Wade is tough. Not sure Bosh can do it alone still.
Detroit - until they resolve Smith/Monroe, I think theyll lose.
Boston - I think they move Rondo and tank ultimately.
NY - they should tank. They may not need to some nights.
Orlando - the pieces are there. Time to find role players and fit.
Milwaukee - They will be bad....but better.
Philly - They may not be better

[Bubstubbler]

With FA's signing now.

Assuming Lance goes back to Indy, i got.

1- Bulls.
2- Cavs.
3- Pacers.
4- Raptors.
5- Wizards.
6- Heat.
7- Hawks.
8- Pistons.

That's impossible. Have to factor in divisions.

To be fair, the OP didn't ask who the top 8 seeds would be, he just asked who the "top 8" teams would be. OP's phrasing is ambiguous and can reasonably be construed several different ways, such as "top 8 best teams" or "top 8 win totals," not necessarily "top 8 seeds."

It's quite common for people to talk about who the 8 best teams will be and do a sort of power ranking, so it's certainly not unreasonable for people to just go with that interpretation rather than who the top 8 seeds will be.

Since OP gave me the option, I chose to interpret his question in the vein of a power ranking based on projected win totals, since that's how I wanted the question to be

[Little Digger]

I think the overall quality in the East will be much improved this season with everyone making the playoffs above .500. .

That's an amazing prediction..If you're right, I nominate you for KING OF THE WORLD!

[TDotsfinest97]

TOP 8 EASTERN TEAMS

1.Pacers
2.Cavs
3.Bulls
4.Wizards
5.Heat
6.Raptors
7.Hawks
8.Nets

[Hello Brooklyn]

My goodness do people not understand divisions?

Atlantic
Central
Southeast

Holy crap

And seriously? The Nets are gonna be better than the Raptors? Especially since they lost the guy that actually saved them from elimination in the 1st round? Please stop the madness.

I see it as

1)Bulls(assuming Rose is healthy even 80%)
2)Cavs
3)Raps
4)Wiz
5)Pacers
6)Heat
7)Hawks
8)Hornets

make no mistake though this year the east will be much stronger that means the hornets may be a bit above .500 like last season but end up 8th.

Raptors fans are getting way too butthurt, because Nets fans think were gonna be better than them.

The Nets are going back to the JJ/Lopez/Johnson core that won them 49 games. I don't think its hard to believe that we can do that again and be better than Raptors. We proved we were better than them in the playoffs.

And no Pierce did not win us that series. He wasn't even our best player, Johnson was. And his production can be replaced with younger players. Plus Lopez is our best player overall anyway.

[Bubstubbler]

1. Pacers
2. Cavs
3. Heat
4. Bulls
5. Raptors
6. Hawks
7. Wizards
8. Pistons

who's winning the atlantic?

Where did OP say he was specifically asking about seeding?

[WBaronsBigdog4]

I can see the East having quite the shake up this year with plenty of surprises. It is much harder and more open to predict than the West, mostly because they are for the most part, limited teams or structurally dysfunctional teams. PS I'm a 76ers/Warriors fan.

1. Wizards - Young team with star talent. John Wall will take the next step and be a top tier player. Has less baggage and issues than the Pacers.
2. Pacers - Talented team, but question marks over maturity and togetherness. They are the default top east team, and representative in the Finals if they can get their act together, Lance included.
3. Cavs - LeBron will have the Cav's winning 50+ games on ability alone. Team dynamics are a mess. They have three No. 1 draft picks at the same position, go figure.
4. Heat - Teams with 4 straight NBA finals appearances don't just suddenly disappear. Expect a strong showing by the Heat.
5. Hornets - Improving team that is getting better every year through solid draft picks and signings. I'd have them top 4 if Hayward was signed.
6. Bulls - Their coach and defense will see them through the season. DRose is still far away from being an MVP and the team needs time to adjust to him. Expect greater improvement in 2015.
7. Raptors - Perfect team to scrap to 50 wins and go out in the first round. Good time but do not have the talent to go far.
8. Knicks/Hawks/Nets/Pistons - Does not really matter here. It will be a fight for the No. 8 spot with the team simply making up numbers. A tier below the top 7.

[TDotsfinest97]

1. Pacers
2. Cavs
3. Heat
4. Bulls
5. Raptors
6. Hawks
7. Wizards
8. Pistons

who's winning the atlantic?

Where did OP say he was specifically asking about seeding?

My mistake didn't see that

[TDotsfinest97]

My goodness do people not understand divisions?

Atlantic
Central
Southeast

Holy crap

And seriously? The Nets are gonna be better than the Raptors? Especially since they lost the guy that actually saved them from elimination in the 1st round? Please stop the madness.

I see it as

1)Bulls(assuming Rose is healthy even 80%)
2)Cavs
3)Raps
4)Wiz
5)Pacers
6)Heat
7)Hawks
8)Hornets

make no mistake though this year the east will be much stronger that means the hornets may be a bit above .500 like last season but end up 8th.

Raptors fans are getting way too butthurt, because Nets fans think were gonna be better than them.

The Nets are going back to the JJ/Lopez/Johnson core that won them 49 games. I don't think its hard to believe that we can do that again and be better than Raptors. We proved we were better than them in the playoffs.

And no Pierce did not win us that series. He wasn't even our best player, Johnson was. And his production can be replaced with younger players. Plus Lopez is our best player overall anyway.

Not an attack or anything I just don't know forreal but how's your bench

[Heat3]

Stopped reading after I saw the Bobcats mentioned 3 times. That isn't our name. Keep up with things.

Wtf when are you going to update your sig then ?

[JohnnyNightrain]

Bulls are being ranked too high and are overrated

Everyone thought in the playoffs that the Bulls would easily eliminate the Wizards

Look what happened, Wizards in 5


Until Derrick Rose can prove he's back at the MVP level he was, the Bulls are nothing but a 5th-8th seed to me

I don't think so. The Bulls lost both of their leading scorers last year, got no bodies in return, and still finished fourth, only eight games behind the top seed. I mean if Indiana lost George and West, and got no one back to put in the rotation, I highly doubt they finish anywhere near the top half of the bracket. This offseason, they're losing Boozer and Augustin and adding Rose, Gasol, Mirotic and McDermott. You can argue that the East is even weaker now, too. More competitive, but there is no sure-fire team like Miami and if Indy loses Lance they take a big step back. If they finished fourth last season and the East is more open now, with no clearly favored team, how do the Bulls fall even lower after improving with their additions? They were already a fourth seed with out Rose.

[Liver_Pooty]

Stopped reading after I saw the Bobcats mentioned 3 times. That isn't our name. Keep up with things.

Wtf when are you going to update your sig then ?

[Nowitness]

Factoring in divisions:

1. Cavs
2. Bulls
3. Wizards
4. Raptors
5. Pacers
6. Heat
7. Nets
8. Hornets

Just Missing Out: DET, ATL, NYK

East will probably be a lot more competitive than people think.