Eastern Conference 2021-22 Predictions

[theBigLip]

All this discussion of whether we make the playoffs or not got me thinking of who will make it in the East? And does making the playin count as making the playoffs? Here are my thoughts:

1. Brooklyn - if they were healthy, they would have won it all
2. Milwaukee - they got their mojo now.
3. Miami - Lowry helps, but I still don't see them winning the East.
4. Philly - pretty sure Simmons gets moved. They could have had Harden for Simmons. Depending who they get, they could move up.
5. Atlanta - impressive playoff run and certainly stepped it up as a team. Hard to bump them into the top 4 though.
6. Boston - new coach, a few new players? Tatum and Brown are an awesome young duo, but they still need a better roster.

Now is where things get tricky.

7-12. Washington, Indiana, New York, Chicago, Toronto, Detroit. Two of these teams do not make the playin. Each of these teams has some flaws, and rosters are still a bit fluid. But we certainly have a chance to get into the playin, and if we're playing good, we can get into the playoffs. Of course, we will get smoked by Brooklyn or Milwaukee, but we would be in.

Lottery bound
13. Charlotte - trading players for draft picks tells you where they are
14. Orlando - I really like Suggs and Wagner in the draft, but I think they have another year before sniffing the playoffs.
15. Cleveland - perennial loser without LBJ

[theBigLip]

I looked these odds up AFTER I did my original post. Looks like I'm a bit of a homer and bumped the Pistons up a bit

Brooklyn Nets +225
Milwaukee Bucks +850
Philadelphia 76ers +1600
Miami Heat +2500
Atlanta Hawks +3500
Boston Celtics +4000
New York Knicks +8000

Chicago Bulls +10000
Indiana Pacers +10000
Charlotte Hornets +10000

Toronto Raptors +15000
Washington Wizards +15000

Cleveland Cavaliers +50000
Detroit Pistons +50000
Orlando Magic +50000

[LaSheed]

Yeah thought it would be a fairly easy list to make but it gets tough. Tiers are easiest I suppose.

But Nets and Bucks are clear top teams and I think the Bucks have to make a move or 2 because Nets have had a great offseason.

[bstein14]

Surprised that no one wanted Bruce Brown for more $.

[chrbal]

Surprised that no one wanted Bruce Brown for more $.

I’m thinking he took the best offer the Nets could give him. Honestly speaking he’s better off there for another season building up how he’s a valuable player if the only offers he was getting was like say $7 million per but you join the Knicks.

[bstein14]

I think 99% of the general board will have the Pistons in the bottom 3 or 4 in the East with Cleveland, Orlando, and maybe Washington. Washington is tough to say for sure because Beal may or may not be there the full year they could jump into the tank if they trade him.

[bstein14]

I think we most likely finish 11th or 12th in the east, just missing the play-in games by a few games.

I think we're for sure better than Cleveland and Orlando, and on a similar level to Washington and Toronto. Charlotte and Chicago are both a bit of wild cards and will depend on how all their new players mesh.

Overall if you look at the league I think we likely finish ahead of 3-4 teams in the east and 3-4 teams in the West and finsh with the 7th to 9th worst record in the league overall. Maybe 32-50 this year, and then we flip that to 50-32 next year as we take a big leap forward with a key FA signing, Cade's 2nd year and Bey/Stewart as 3rd year starters.

[buzzkilloton]

1.Nets
2.Bucks
3.Sixers
4.Heat
5.Hawks
6.Celtics
7.Bulls-Huge off season added Lonzo/DDR and now have full season of Vuc maybe should be higher
8.Hornets
9.Knicks
10.Pacers

I'd say these 10 are the locks to be ahead of us. They have way more talent and nothing this offseason has made them worse. Of course crazy injuries can happen to any team but on paper I dont see us passing any of them.


11.Wizards-Beal hasnt demanded a trade and is said to love Washington. Kuzma/Harrell/KCP win more games then Russ
12.Raps
13.Pistons
14.Cavs
15-Magic

As far as the bottom 5 I think the Wizard are ahead but Beal could maybe be traded. Kind of seems he may want to stay there though. I feel like the Raps have more talent then us with guys like Siakam/FVV/OG/Boucher and adding Barnes but we shall see if they trade Pascal and what they rec.

I really think the close 3 teams will be Cavs/Pistons/Magic. Cavs have Sexton/Garland/Mobley/Allen feels about as good as us. Magic were wrecked by injury last season and traded a bunch of guys. Isaac/Fultz/G.Harris/Ross/Wcjr and then added Suggs and Wagner. I think the Magic are worse but its going to be close as all these teams are similar young rosters that have talent and all added possible rookie of the year candidates.

[The Moose]

1. Nets
2.76ers
3. Bucks
4. Heat
5. Hawks
6. Celtics
7. Bulls
8, Knicks

9. Hornets
10. Pacers
11. Wizards

12. Raptors
13. Pistons
14. Cavs
15. Magic

Raptors and Pistons might switch, but this is my rough guess

[tmorgan]

It would take a remarkable rookie year from Cade, massive improvement from Killian, more efficiency from Jerami, and a step forward for Bey and Stew for this squad to make the playoffs. Which is fine, pretty sure that’s the plan, one more lotto pick.

I think some of those things happen, but not nearly all.

Prediction: 31-51, 12th in the East, seventh worst record overall.

Please note that I predicted last season’s record perfectly.

[JohnReese]

Nets
Bucks
Sixers
Heat
Hawks
Celtics
Knicks
Bulls

Wizards
Hornets
Pistons
Cavs

Raptors
Pacers
Magic

[ElectricMayhem]

Playoffs:
Brooklyn Nets
Milwaukee Bucks
Atlanta Hawks
Miami Heat
Philadelphia 76ers
Indiana Pacers

Play-In:
Boston Celtics
Chicago Bulls
New York Knicks
Charlotte Hornets

The Rest:
Detroit Pistons
Toronto Raptors
Washington Wizards
Cleveland Cavaliers
Orlando Magic

[vege]

So, I went to the trouble of checking every roster in the east so far. I know it's early in the offseason, but some rosters are so dysfunctional.

Boston wil probably play their guys all out of position, I mean Smart is their PG, their bench is absolutely brutal.

Brooklyn bigs are a joke.

Milwaukee has no guards depth yet.

Indiana has no one to play PF, they'll continue to play Sabonis and Turner together, with no depth behind them.

Then Cleveland is an even bigger mess, I have them starting 2 Cs and 3 guards. And their bench is even worse.

Last season, Toronto's roster was a mess, and they still have the same holes.

Chicago depth chart is so chaotic, and who's going to play defense in that starting lineup (Lonzo can't defend 5guys, and PWill should be a full time PF), and their bench doesn't have good defenders either (other than Caruso). Vuc is their only legit big (I imagine they'll bring Markkanen back)

The Knicks team is so bad, their wings are terrible, Barrett, Fournier and a bunch of nobodies, assuming Rose and Quickey split the PG minutes.

Charlotte improved their roster, but they're still so thin upfront, they'll probably bring Byiombo back, because other than a 6'7 PJ Washington, Mason Plumlee is their only big.

Washington is super deep, their rookie should be a 3rd stringer, but their team improved a lot from last season imo and they were the 8th seed already.

Philly is a mess. They shopped Simmons without the intention of trading him, and they have some serious holes in their team. Their only Forwards are Tobias and Niang, unless Green is back. Drummond as Embiid's backup? I'd pay to watch their practice.

What I am trying to say is, rosters are way too flawled at this point. We can't predict the standings. The other thing is, our roster is super ballanced position/fit wise. I wish we had better players but assuming we bring our rfa back, our roster is set already.

Assuming Garza or Livers will be a 2 way contract and we sign both. That's a well constructed roster, kudos for our imcompetent GM.

Detroit
Isaiah Stewart / Kelly Olynyk / Jahlil Okafor / (Luka Garza)
Jerami Grant / Trey Lyles / Sekou Doumboya
Saddiq Bey / Josh Jackson / (Isaiah Livers) / (Chris Smith)
Cade Cunningham / (Hamidou Diallo) / (Frank Jackson)
Killian Hayes / Cory Joseph / (Saben Lee)

[buzzkilloton]

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2112251&start=80

General has a thread going right now ranking the East. Looks like every person there has us bottom 3 pretty much. Always interesting seeing what people without fandom for your team think.

[DBC10]

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2112251&start=80

General has a thread going right now ranking the East. Looks like every person there has us bottom 3 pretty much. Always interesting seeing what people without fandom for your team think.

Yeah, for everyone outside the fanbase that say we're going to be in the bottom tier and the inside fanbase saying we're going to be an extra +10, +20 wins next season. Almost always the answer lies somewhere in between.

I'd wager we're better, but not to the fact we'll be playoff bound

[bstein14]

If we aren't good enough to be in the play in game, the hope is Weaver again pushes for a bigger youth movement after the trade deadline and we work our way down into the bottom 3 in the East again.

I'd expect:

55+ WinsNets, Bucks, Sixers

45-54 wins Knicks, Hawks, Heat

35-44 wins Celtics, Bulls, Pacers, Hornets

34 or fewer wins Cavs, Pistons, Wizards, Magic, Raptors

[Sort]

It is so hard to see the Pistons making such a significant leap from so low last year to playoffs. So much will depend upon the development of Hayes and Cade and whether or not Pistons will get the rebounding and any kind of interior defense from anyone not named Stewart.

Having said that, outside of the Nets and Bucks, there will be some underperforming teams in the east. Who knows what the 76ers will even look like. The Bulls certainly look a lock for the playoffs after all their win-now moves, but teams like Knicks, Heat, Celtis, Pacers, and Hornets could be all over the place.

The positive elements the faithful can keep in mind is who actually watched Piston games last year? I mean, understanding that Beef Stew and Bey are legit players in this league with potential to keep improving. And really, out of KOC from the Ringer, what national pundit didn't think Hayes was a bust last year and sees his great passing and defense?

I'm not of mind to think people understand just how much improvement could happen or just how well Cade's game translates to the NBA. Pistons could certainly make the playoffs.

[Snakebites]

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2112251&start=80

General has a thread going right now ranking the East. Looks like every person there has us bottom 3 pretty much. Always interesting seeing what people without fandom for your team think.

I mean, we finished dead last in the East this year with minimal non-rookie external improvements.

It’s reasonable to think we’ll be bottom three again, though obviously as fans we hope otherwise.

[flow]

Hornets & Bulls will surprise.

.

[theBigLip]

As much as I thought we would get into the playoffs this year, after starting this thread, I certainly have to reconsider that position. It is possible, but not very likely. I guess my preference would be to show improvement, trade Grant for good assets at the trade deadline (also ensuring the tank) and get in the lottery one more year. Then be in the playoffs for the remainder of Cade's career