SI: Raptors 4th in East power rankings

[Stolen Identity]

http://www.si.com/nba/2014/08/25/easter ... iers-bulls

4. Toronto Raptors – In terms of net rating (pace-adjusted point differential), only two teams in the East last season outperformed Toronto: Miami and Indiana. Neither will be as formidable as they were last season, setting up the Raptors to fill the void as one of the better teams in the conference. It wouldn't come as much of a surprise for Toronto to finish third to Cleveland and Chicago, particularly with DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross all still developing. The Raptors aren't threatening to unseat the best teams in the conference yet, but rare are the two-way teams with legitimate upward mobility.

SI's Overall East standings

1. Cleveland
2. Chicago
3. Washington
4. Toronto
5. Atlanta
6. Charlotte
7. Miami
8. New York

9. Brooklyn
10. Indiana
11. Detroit
12. Orlando
13. Boston
14. Milwaukee
15. Philadelphia

[cram]

Raptors are going to be 1st in the conference. Just wait.

[Bankai]

I like how they say we are 3rd but then rank us at 4 just because.

[Jordan1498]

People overrate Washington too much man ..

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[Raptors_Dynasty]

I like how they say we are 3rd but then rank us at 4 just because.

The riding of Washington's weiner after beating an offensively weak Bulls team has become common this off season

[UnderdogRaptors]

if we beat the washed up bulls would we be getting all this praise lmao?

[Stolen Identity]

Since most of you are on Washington, here's the projection and past year quote:

3. Washington Wizards – Frankly, Washington underperformed for much of the 2013-14 season. Too often the Wiz played down to the level of their competition, which resulted in 44 wins and the No. 5 seed (out of a tiebreaker with the No. 6 Nets) for a team that should have been in the running for third. Another year of progress for John Wall and Bradley Beal should help, as will the keynote acquisition of Pierce. With the latter, Washington adds a needed creator to get its offense out of all-too-familiar jams, all while maintaining defensive competence. That on its own would be valuable, but to bring in Pierce while also retaining Marcin Gortat and fleshing out the frontcourt reserves (with Kris Humphries and DeJuan Blair) positions the Wizards for a fascinating run.

Check the bold.

When was that Washington team in the running for 3rd ? I know there was a good chunk of the basketball community who had them getting into the playoffs, but 3rd ?

And "played down to the level of their competition" line seems like the writer is making an excuse. You win or you lose. Circumstances matter, but every circumstance is different through out the course of the year. How much more can you play down to an already weakened Eastern Conference ?


I don't mind them at 3rd, just don't agree with what was said in the bold.

[IceIceBelly]

Caboclo will carry us to the number 2 seed

[Raps Maniac]

if we beat the washed up bulls would we be getting all this praise lmao?

Are you asking us if you laughed your ass off?

[UnderdogRaptors]

if we beat the washed up bulls would we be getting all this praise lmao?

Are you asking us if you laughed your ass off?

[tdotboyy]

Washington is severely overrated SMH and I agree with that list except WE ARE THIRD but Charlotte will be 4TH, HAWKS 5TH AND WIZ 6TH..... 8TH WILL BE BATTLE BETWEEN THE NY TEAMS

[arbsn]

The only reason Washington may be better is Gortat who is a beast and nobody on our team will be able to guard... But I'd take KLow/DD over Wall/Beal right now

[Matty]

The Wizards got lucky last year doing well in their Eastern conference games, which won't be such a joy ride anymore with more parity. Against real competition aka Western opponents they were 11-19 while we were 15-13. That's really the difference between a contender and a pretender in the East; how you perform vs the West.

[Berserk_Raptor]

Wizards may be considered better than us because of experience, but i can live with this ranking.

[RaptorNews]

I feel like Pierce is going to be a downgrade for Wash. The only thing I really like is their bench bigs

[dacrusha]

Is there something I'm missing about the Bulls?

They were mediocre last year, switched Boozer for Gasol, and everyone seems to be giving the Bulls a big boost for MVP-form Rose coming back... even though it's pretty clear that Rose will never regain that form again.

[BlackIce]

Is there something I'm missing about the Bulls?

They were mediocre last year, switched Boozer for Gasol, and everyone seems to be giving the Bulls a big boost for MVP-form Rose coming back... even though it's pretty clear that Rose will never regain that form again.

By all accounts Rose is back healthy, he doesn't have to be MVP level to be a huge upgrade over who was playing PG last year. They added one of the best player's in Europe too in Mirotić, he's a nice compliment to Rose/Gibson/Noah/Gasol and can play pick and pop basketball which should help space the floor.

By your logic we made no major moves outside of resigning our core and adding Lou so we likely won't improve either by a big margin. Of course internal growth is a factor for us and continued quality play by Lowry. Likewise, a healthy Rose for CHI and adding a legit post presence offensively in Gasol. McDermott should help space as well. That said I'll be cheering for the Raptors but your approach is simplistic imo.

[Throwback24]

if we beat the washed up bulls would we be getting all this praise lmao?

Weren't we actively trying to avoid them while everyone wanted their hands on us? I'm not sure we could have beaten the Bulls...

[cammac]

Is there something I'm missing about the Bulls?

They were mediocre last year, switched Boozer for Gasol, and everyone seems to be giving the Bulls a big boost for MVP-form Rose coming back... even though it's pretty clear that Rose will never regain that form again.

By all accounts Rose is back healthy, he doesn't have to be MVP level to be a huge upgrade over who was playing PG last year. They added one of the best player's in Europe too in Mirotić, he's a nice compliment to Rose/Gibson/Noah/Gasol and can play pick and pop basketball which should help space the floor.

By your logic we made no major moves outside of resigning our core and adding Lou so we likely won't improve either by a big margin. Of course internal growth is a factor for us and continued quality play by Lowry. Likewise, a healthy Rose for CHI and adding a legit post presence offensively in Gasol. McDermott should help space as well. That said I'll be cheering for the Raptors but your approach is simplistic imo.

Your approach is simplistic as well to start Mirotic may be a good player but Mirza Teletovic a similar player took 1 1/2 years to become semi productive for Brooklyn.
McDermott was great in summer league at 22 playing mostly poor players. But that doesn't change his negatives in being slow, un-athletic and poor defensively. Yes he can shoot but then so could Novak you have to be in position.
A 80% healthy Rose which best you can hope for isn't a top 10 PG in this league plus still injury concerns would take the minus if he plays 35 games.
Pau was a great player and put up decent statistics on a god awful LAL team someone had to and he averaged less than 60 games the last 3 years.
Noah great defensive C that had a good offensive season and played 80 games last year before averaged less than 60. The way Thibs coaches he put stress on the players.
Jimmy Butler very good defensive SG needs to score can he?
TY = Amir
Lowry & DeMar better than Rose & Butler
Brooks & Hinrich not equal to Vasquez & Williams and Brooks won't pull off the Augustine miracle if Rose is hurt.
Ross better than McDermott
Dunleavy & Snell would take JJ, Hamilton, Fields & Bruno over them
Slight edge if healthy Pau, Ty & Mirotic over Amir, Patterson & Hansbrough
Noah & Pau better than Jonas, Amir & Bebe but gap will close substantially.

[BackseatBoss]

I really think that Blair and Humphries are being severely overrated by absolutely everyone.