Who is the 3rd best team in the East?

[LoveMyRaps]

I don't know why people believe 76ers are a lock to finish top 2 in the East, especially when you consider Embiid's durability.
They have ZERO depth. Arguably one of the worst benches in the league. Embiid's gonna be forced to play big minutes and if he goes down, who's gonna step up? Kyle O'Quinn? LOOOL.

I honestly believe the Raptors and Celtics will finish with a better regular season record than Philly.

Add Philly to the poll if you're serious OP.

I don't think Scott, Smith, Neto, Ennis, Burke, O'Quinn and young guys like Smith, Thybulle is the worst bench in the league. Wtf. Simmons was playing some C last season, Horford is definitely going to take some minutes in playoffs so Embiid rests, O'Quinn isn't even a bad backup.

I think Pacers usually surprise people, but it shouldn't be a surprise they will do well this year with Oladipo coming back.

I don't know why people still say the Sixers have bad depth. I think that's its been said so much in the past that people just believe it to be true no matter what. Sixers bench is arguably better than the Raptors, and their starting lineup is clearly better. I don't know what that guy is smoking insisting that the Raptors will finish better than them. Heck I'd give the Celtics a better chance at that.

LOL 76ers bench is better than Raptors??? Okay buddy.
Aside from Scott, Ennis, and maybe Smith the rest of the bench pieces are bums.

[AK47MVP]

Sixers bench is arguably better than the Raptors.

How? I would like to see your thinking process on that one.

[Asif16]

I guess we're back to overhyping the Celtics again. They lost a serious amount of depth from a team that was already mediocre last season.

All they did was replace Kyrie/ Kemba and Horford /Kanter.

Kyrie to Kemba is practically neither a upgrade or a downgrade. Horford to Kanter is a massive Downgrade. Are we just assuming there gonna be better this year just because of better chemistry?

[Jabroni Lames]

Raptors are second best regular season team and 3rd best playoff team. Went 17-5 without Kawhi last year, Siakam’s improving at a very fast rate, will have full season with Gasol, and Anunoby will be 22 and healthy. They’re definitely more talented than Boston.

Lowry > Kemba
Powell < Brown
Siakam >> Tatum
Ibaka = Hayward
Gasol >>> Kanter

Van Vleet < Smart
Anunoby > Ojeleye

Didn't realize how weak the Celtics were. They are banking on big-time improvement from Brown, Tatum and Hayward. Otherwise, it's a good situation for Stevens coaching up underdogs, which is what he's good at. Not managing egotistical superstars with high expectations.

[Asif16]

Like other have already mentioned in this thread in regarss to the Pacers.....if they can stay Healthy (Dip obviously)....they have a legit shot at being a top 3 team.

[Plain Old Josh]

In the regular season, the Raptors. In the playoffs, the Pacers. The Pacers are a sneaky finals contender once they get healthy.

[BBallFreak]

Every last one of the teams in the poll have major question marks (as do the Sixers IMO)

For Philly, it's depth and that go to scorer that they lost to Miami. They have a great starting 5 but who is going to be the man in crunch time? Will Simmons develop his jump shot enough to take over the role? Can Embiid stay healthy? How will they handle minutes when their depth isn't necessarily capable? Will going big in a world full of small ball teams help them or hurt them?

For Boston, losing Horford was awful, though I think Kemba will be a better fit than Kyrie. And what about Hayward? Do Brown and Tatum develop into all-stars? Does he step up and return to form? If that happens, they're the clear answer here IMO, but that has to happen.

For Indiana it's about health, in particular Victor Oladipo's health. If he can come back early and and get into the rhythm, they could be the team. Otherwise, I'm not sure. They lost some pieces and swapped them out. I'm really high on Brogdan there, but I'm not sure about Lamb or Warren. I also feel like they're going to miss Thad Young.

For Toronto, I honestly have no faith in them. Without Kawhi I just don't see them being the team to fear. They'll be OK, but unless Siakam or FVV become that guy, I don't see them as more than a solid team.

For Orlando, how will their point guard play stack up? If no one steps up, I have serious doubts about them.

For Brooklyn, I'm not sure they actually improved (until KD comes back, then obviously they improve a great deal). Irving replacing Russell is interesting, and Allen and Jordan at center should be good, but they struck me as a chemistry team, and they have a lot of youth. We know what Kyrie can do to team chemistry.

For Miami, how will Butler get along with all those young players? We know he has issues with team chemistry as well, so will he end up killing Winslow, Bam, DJJ, Herro, and Okpala or will he be on best behavior given that he's where he wanted to go all along? Also, is Miami's supporting cast strong enough to get there? I have serious doubts.

So at the current moment I'm voting for Boston as I do believe Philly will finish second in spite of my doubts, but my vote isn't a very firm one. The East should be incredibly interesting this year...

[Asif16]

In the regular season, the Raptors. In the playoffs, the Pacers. The Pacers are a sneaky finals contender once they get healthy.

If they could have somehow kept Bogdonavic, they would have had a legit shot of winning the east Imo

[Duffman100]

I'm going Raptors here and trying not to be biased.

Basically Celtics frontcourt weakness vs Raptors wing weakness and I think the Raps come out on top.

[jacoby1us]

Either Indiana or Boston.

[Fantaxp7]

Philly will be interesting, I could see them being lumped into the Boston, Toronto, Indiana level. Horford is a nice addition but the subtraction of Butler is bigger.

I think on paper they are better but not by much.

[SerialChiller]

Im gonna say Toronto...but its very close between them and Boston.

[AK47MVP]

Philly will be interesting, I could see them being lumped into the Boston, Toronto, Indiana level. Horford is a nice addition but the subtraction of Butler is bigger.
.

And do not forget loss of Redick.

[GeorgeMarcus]

Philly will be interesting, I could see them being lumped into the Boston, Toronto, Indiana level. Horford is a nice addition but the subtraction of Butler is bigger.
.

And do not forget loss of Redick.

Richardson is a lot better than Redick, and our bench is a lot better too

[AK47MVP]

Philly will be interesting, I could see them being lumped into the Boston, Toronto, Indiana level. Horford is a nice addition but the subtraction of Butler is bigger.
.

And do not forget loss of Redick.

Richardson is a lot better than Redick, and our bench is a lot better too

LMAO. Ok, lets wait for the season to start to see who is right. Can't believe how underappreciated Redick's shooting was for Philly.

[GeorgeMarcus]

And do not forget loss of Redick.

Richardson is a lot better than Redick, and our bench is a lot better too

LMAO. Ok, lets wait for the season to start to see who is right. Can't believe how underappreciated Redick's shooting was for Philly.

You don’t think Richardson is better than Redick? LMAO indeed...

When you can’t dribble, pass, or defend and consistently get exploited in the playoffs, you have to shoot better than 39.7 from 3 to earn your keep.

[cupcakesnake]

i need to see Boston play defense without Horford before I think they're 3rd best. Can they play defense around Kanter? Or is Time Lord ready to contribute 20mpg?
Too many questions on that roster. Tatum, Brown and Hayward are high variables. All 3 of them could be all-star level players, or they could all be like last year (that is to say: Not good at all).

I don't know how well Toronto will score. It's not just Kawhi, they have less shooting this year with Green and Kawhi being replaced by Norm and OG. I also don't know how long they hold onto their vets. But I know they're going to play elite defense and play good team basketball. I'm going Toronto as a safer bet.

[Asif16]

And do not forget loss of Redick.

Richardson is a lot better than Redick, and our bench is a lot better too

LMAO. Ok, lets wait for the season to start to see who is right. Can't believe how underappreciated Redick's shooting was for Philly.

Richardson is a defintely a better player than Reddick. That really shouldnt be a discussion.

It's loss of Jimmy Butler which is going to hurt. Lack of go to wing scorers on Philly is concerning. Unless they expect Tobias Harris to become that Man

[Asif16]

i need to see Boston play defense without Horford before I think they're 3rd best. Can they play defense around Kanter? Or is Time Lord ready to contribute 20mpg?
Too many questions on that roster. Tatum, Brown and Hayward are high variables. All 3 of them could be all-star level players, or they could all be like last year (that is to say: Not good at all).

I don't know how well Toronto will score. It's not just Kawhi, they have less shooting this year with Green and Kawhi being replaced by Norm and OG. I also don't know how long they hold onto their vets. But I know they're going to play elite defense and play good team basketball. I'm going Toronto as a safer bet.

We're replacing Green with Matt Thomas. Shooting should be around the same as last year for Toronto. Middle of the pack

[OakleyDokely]

For Toronto, I honestly have no faith in them. Without Kawhi I just don't see them being the team to fear. They'll be OK, but unless Siakam or FVV become that guy, I don't see them as more than a solid team.

Having "that guy" is more important in the playoffs than in the regular season.

Raps went 17-5 without Kawhi in the lineup. Raps played good team ball and Siakam/Lowry picked up the scoring load in his absence.

Not saying the Raps are guaranteed to finish 3rd, but they will be in the mix.