ESPN Projection for Pistons: 35-47, #11 in East

[Laimbeer]

1. Cavs
2. Bulls
3. Hawks
4. Heat
5. Wizards
6. Raptors
7. Bucks
8. Celtics
9. Pacers
10. Hornets
11. Pistons
12. Nets
13. Magic
14. Knicks
15. Sixers

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13431310/2015-summer-forecast-east-standings

[hoophabit]

1. Cavs
2. Bulls
3. Hawks
4. Heat
5. Wizards
6. Raptors
7. Bucks
8. Celtics
9. Pacers
10. Hornets
11. Pistons
12. Nets
13. Magic
14. Knicks
15. Sixers

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13431310/2015-summer-forecast-east-standings

Last year's finish was:

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

I suppose the Heat ought to be really pleased, and the Nets more than a little put out, but the Pistons were moved up a spot and that's not so bad. I don't know what their last year forecast was, but I'll bet the Bucks weren't at 6th. It's just some guy's opinion.

[DocRI]

Wasn't 35 wins EXACTLY our over/under from Vegas? So yeah, literally zero surprise here.

And by the way, per the article we're tied for 10th / 11th with the Hornets, who are also projected at 35.

[zeebneeb]

This is going to be a really, really fun year. Enjoy it fellow fans as its not often you get to watch everyone eat crow.

Hell we are going to have to put out whatever the opposite of a scarecrow is, to be able to feed all these people.

CAW! CAW!

[engelbert321]

Not surprising. We shouldn't be rated higher. But we will be better this season. COUNT THAT BABY AND A FOUL

[aad]

We gonna prove alot of people wrong

[Laimbeer]

Linked in the Trade forum and people are saying we're too high.

[Blkbrd671]

2. Bulls
6. Raptors
7. Bucks
8. Celtics
9. Pacers
10. Hornets
11. Pistons


Bulls losing Thibs i think is going to be a lot bigger than most think. I still think they make the playoffs, but i have big question mark.

Raptors.............really, they got off to a hot start but sucked in the 2nd half. I'd put us tied with them.

Pacers- Don't see how they improved, if anything they are less experienced
Hornets- i think position vs position except SF , we are better
Celtics-- they had a strong finish to last season, i don't think they improved enough to be better than us. Much like the raptors they got hot and won games. I don't think its something they'll consistently do with that roster.

[Snakebites]

Shrug.

We might have hopes for our team, but the reality is that we haven't had a halfway decent season in 6 years. We've proven absolutely nothing and nobody who isn't a fan is going to give us one ounce of respect until we do.

And they shouldn't. Now, if we make big strides this year and its still the same old crap next year with these rankings, THEN you can get pissed. Until then, it is what it is, and we can have faith but we shouldn't ask anyone else to.

[zeebneeb]

Linked in the Trade forum and people are saying we're too high.

Both mods as well.

It's kind of amazing that people have opinions that are so poorly formulated, or thought out.

An old saying comes to mind;

"Better to let people think your ignorant then to open your mouth and remove all doubt".

[Blkbrd671]

Shrug.

We might have hopes for our team, but the reality is that we haven't had a halfway decent season in 6 years. We've proven absolutely nothing and nobody who isn't a fan is going to give us one ounce of respect until we do.

And they shouldn't. Now, if we make big strides this year and its still the same old crap next year with these rankings, THEN you can get pissed. Until then, it is what it is, and we can have faith but we shouldn't ask anyone else to.

nice post snake. Very good point

[Pharaoh]

IF Illyasova fails

IF KCP doesn't improve at all

IF Dre doesn't improve at all

IF RJ's finish to last season was a mirage

IF Morris is a head case

IF SJ is overwhelmed


We'll finish where we did last season.

That's a lot of ifs though

[zeebneeb]

IF Illyasova fails

IF KCP doesn't improve at all

IF Dre doesn't improve at all

IF RJ's finish to last season was a mirage

IF Morris is a head case

IF SJ is overwhelmed


We'll finish where we did last season.

That's a lot of ifs though

You forgot the most important "if".

If Stan Van Gundy has forgotten how to coach his system with players that perfectly fit.

[DCintheD]

Detroit vs everybody.

[Joe Berry]

The Pistons first have to prove they are better than the Hornets, Pacers, Celtics & Bucks. All of those teams are kind of on the same level, you could even add the Magic & Knicks to that group. There are 5 good teams in the east, the rest has to prove that they are more than just an average or mediocre team. I think 35 wins would be some kind of worst case if someone important gets injured but its not out of the question.

[pistontr]

we have said this since 2007.

We gonna prove alot of people wrong

[zeebneeb]

we have said this since 2007.

We gonna prove alot of people wrong

This is year is different for obvious reasons.

Could unforseen events crater this team? Of course. Unforseen events happen all the time. That's life.

This team, this entire team from owner to athletic trainer is different. Piston fans know that but remain cautious. I get it, I really do. Anything can happen in this life.

With that said, look at the team and take all the crazy things that could go wrong and just imagine a normal season for this particular team. Nothing amazing happens, nothing horrible happens. At worst with the players to the coaches, the personnel fit the system. 45 wins, and the playoffs.

This year really is different. Stan has absolutely made sure of that. Real players, real coaches, real results.

[Neptune]

I can see us being 11th or lower if Reggie starts at the 1. Folks gotta get out of la-la land man, Reggie was like 7-18 while leading this team. Plus, we lost 16pts and 10rebs from Moose and replaced him with Illyasova whose not even a starting caliber player. Shoot, why would anyone believe in us.

Now if Jennings starts and we fix our problem at the 4, I got us going 42-40.

[vic]

The only way you think this team finishes remotely close to last year is if you predict an Andre Drummond injury or if you don't actually understand basketball.

The team we're looking at this year has absolutely no similarity to anything the Pistons have put on the court in the past seven years.

This team is not trotting out three Biggs at the same time.

This team actually has three point shooters.

This team has a point guard that can get into the paint and is taller than 510

This team is not bringing its best player on the bench.

This team is not over 50% soft

This team has a coach that makes sense

If you think this year is going to be anything like the past seven years... you had no clue what you were watching the past seven years.

[fekz]

we have said this since 2007.

We gonna prove alot of people wrong

any of those teams besides last year's convoluted team have SVG at the helm?