Eastern Conference 2021-22 Predictions

[buzzkilloton]

Interesting that people think Indiana is a good team.

Not good just a treadmill team. Too good for anything bu maybe late lotto if injuries hit them but not good enough to ever win a series in the playoffs. Worst place to be in the NBA.

[theBigLip]

1. Nets
2. Bucks
3. 76ers
4. Hawks
5. Heat
6. Bulls
7. Celtics
8. Knicks
9. Pacers
10. Pistons
11. Hornets
12. Cavs
13. Wizards
14. Raptors
15. Magic

I could see the Pistons finishing close to that spot, but I don't see how the Pacers finish ahead Of Detroit. That team is junk. Charlotte, that I could see. The East has a bunch of good teams this year.

Pacers team is junk? OK

Rick Carlisle as coach - you might have heard of him!

If healthy they'll be better than us but they're always a 5-8 seed. Think their owners like it that way though



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Crap, I forgot about Carlisle. That makes the Pacers much tougher than what I was thinking. Our playoff odds are minuscule.

[SamFlow]

I think the biggest question is How good do you think Cade will be his FIRST year. Not later on, but his first year up and running.

1. Luka twin superstar
2. starting all star.
3. backup all star.
4. best player on the team.
5. good starter.
6. bench player.

I figure 4 or 5. for his first year.

I was thinking inidana was going to falter.....damn, rick carlisle. Now I have to think different.
Hornets, cavs, wizards, raptors, magic... putting us 10th. So getting play in would be near the top.
As for games won, I could see going from this year to 30-35... 40 best case scenario unless Cade proves to be 1 or 2 this year.

[Pharaoh]

Yea we need a couple more Top 5 picks so we should tank the next 2 years and develop them and play the young guys so once those guys are developed 2 years from when they’re drafted we’ll be ready to go and extend Hayes, Stewart and Bey with Cade the following year so we can contend in 2027 and make the play in game. 2029 championship for sure.

I don't believe that's the way to go. As I've stated you can really win big in the league with a roster of under 25 year olds.

I think the path we're on is going to result in a Lotto pick next year...with a little luck that could get us a stud but:

It's too soon to tell if Hayes or Bey (or Grant) can't be a legit #2 to Cade.

It's too soon to tell anything really except:

We're incredibly young.


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[Liqourish]

I think Detroit finished bottom 3 in the East, but I think they’ll be competitive.

I don’t think the draft Gods will allow up to move up again. We aren’t Cleveland. But I think we could land top 5. Lots of potential big guys. Which is good for us with Killian/Cade/Saddiq being our core to build around IMO (if Hayes progresses). Adding a long term big to Stewart is perfect. Let them learn from Grant for a year or so. And then spend in free agency.

[Tecmo]

I think Detroit finished bottom 3 in the East, but I think they’ll be competitive.

I don’t think the draft Gods will allow up to move up again. We aren’t Cleveland. But I think we could land top 5. Lots of potential big guys. Which is good for us with Killian/Cade/Saddiq being our core to build around IMO (if Hayes progresses). Adding a long term big to Stewart is perfect. Let them learn from Grant for a year or so. And then spend in free agency.

I agree about landing top 5 and I also think that the '22 draft isn't one where you need the first pick to land a talented player. I know there is a lot of hype for Holmgren, but he's also undersized at 195 pounds for a 7.0 tall dude. I'm skeptical he's a for sure #1 draft pick.

There are a few guys that the Pistons could land with a top 5 pick.

Other random thoughts.

1) OKC seems destined to get pick #1 with their tank job; I'm not impressed with Presti acquiring a ton of picks.
2) Bey, Stewart, Hayes, and even Cade are on a path to getting paid; it will be interesting to see if Weaver looks to extend some of them early.
3) I think the Pistons are a '22 lottery team, but I'm hoping for even the 8th seed in the playoffs; it's important to get the squad experience in playoff since it becomes more physical, stars get whistles, focus on reviews etc. They have to learn how the NBA becomes different in the playoffs.

[FloridaMan78]

Just to be clear, Top 5 pick means the team held out players and tanked. That doesn’t mean compete for playoffs. Even Toronto got lucky and moved up in the draft lottery but still tanked their last half of the season.

Wanting a Top 5 pick means you want the team to do worse than 25-57 that season. And even doing that bad means you might only get the 7th pick.

[bstein14]

Obviously the best case scenario is that we play well, see improvements, lose a lot of close games... and finish with 30-32 wins.... and then luck out and get a top 4 pick again. 7th worst record has a 32% chance at landing a top 4 pick, which is actually a pretty decent chance... should happen about once every 3 years. Being the worst team in the league is pretty much a 50/50 chance at a top 4 pick.


The big thing is, we should see improvement in wins each year for Bey/Grant over their 4 year rookie deals with us. Just need to make sure we keep trending up. I'd be happy with the following because it means we're consistently getting better... and its not easy to win 50 games in the NBA so doing it in Cade's 3rd season would be good for us. The hope that by 23-24 we're good enough to compete to win a playoff series in Bey/Grant's 4th year and Cade's 3rd year.

21-22 season: 30 wins <Still Lottery>
22-23 season: 40 wins <8th seed>
23-24 season: 50 wins <4/5 seed and playoff series win>

[zeebneeb]

I am going on the record that I don't see the Pistons finishing anywhere near the bottom. I know everyone is talking about other teams improving, but so have the Pistons by both drafting Cade, signing free agents, and internal growth.

Gonna be close to the playoffs, or squeak in.

[Pharaoh]

I am going on the record that I don't see the Pistons finishing anywhere near the bottom. I know everyone is talking about other teams improving, but so have the Pistons by both drafting Cade, signing free agents, and internal growth.

Gonna be close to the playoffs, or squeak in.

Which teams finish beneath us in the standings?

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[bstein14]

I am going on the record that I don't see the Pistons finishing anywhere near the bottom. I know everyone is talking about other teams improving, but so have the Pistons by both drafting Cade, signing free agents, and internal growth.

Gonna be close to the playoffs, or squeak in.

Which teams finish beneath us in the standings?

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I can see how we finish 10th to make the play in games. For that 5 teams need to be below us.

1. Cavs
2. Orlando
3. Toronto sells Paskal and commits to rebuild
4. Wizards sell Beal and commit to rebuild
5. 1 more team has injury or chemistry issues out of Indy, New York, Charlotte, or Philly.

It's not easy or even liekly, but it's possible we win 34 or 35 games and finish 10th if things go well for us combined with some luck.

[Pharaoh]

I am going on the record that I don't see the Pistons finishing anywhere near the bottom. I know everyone is talking about other teams improving, but so have the Pistons by both drafting Cade, signing free agents, and internal growth.

Gonna be close to the playoffs, or squeak in.

Which teams finish beneath us in the standings?

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I can see how we finish 10th to make the play in games. For that 5 teams need to be below us.

1. Cavs
2. Orlando
3. Toronto sells Paskal and commits to rebuild
4. Wizards sell Beal and commit to rebuild
5. 1 more team has injury or chemistry issues out of Indy, New York, Charlotte, or Philly.

It's not easy or even liekly, but it's possible we win 34 or 35 games and finish 10th if things go well for us combined with some luck.

What indicates that Toronto and Washington are looking to commit to a rebuild?

You're reaching IMO.

We're on that Magic & Cavs level and both those teams should be improved this coming season.

ORL added 2 top 8 picks + Isaac & Fultz will be back.

Cavs added Mobley, kept Allen and it's unlikely Nance misses so much of the season.

I'm not being pessimistic but I do think we are in that bottom tier of the East despite landing Cade and internal development.

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[bstein14]

Which teams finish beneath us in the standings?

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I can see how we finish 10th to make the play in games. For that 5 teams need to be below us.

1. Cavs
2. Orlando
3. Toronto sells Paskal and commits to rebuild
4. Wizards sell Beal and commit to rebuild
5. 1 more team has injury or chemistry issues out of Indy, New York, Charlotte, or Philly.

It's not easy or even likely, but it's possible we win 34 or 35 games and finish 10th if things go well for us combined with some luck.

What indicates that Toronto and Washington are looking to commit to a rebuild?

You're reaching IMO.

We're on that Magic & Cavs level and both those teams should be improved this coming season.

ORL added 2 top 8 picks + Isaac & Fultz will be back.

Cavs added Mobley, kept Allen and it's unlikely Nance misses so much of the season.

I'm not being pessimistic but I do think we are in that bottom tier of the East despite landing Cade and internal development.

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I agree its not probably. Toronto has been rumored to be listening to offers for Pascal. Washington would likely only occur if the new players don't fit well and they end up near the bottom at the trade deadline. Neither of those scenarios are happening for sure but both are certainly possible.

Like I said, I don't see us making the play-in game partly because the East is more balanced this year beyond the top two (Nets & Bucks), but I don't think its impossible either.

[440BB]

With the upgrades of the Eastern conference teams I'd like to see the Pistons elevate their game and be very competitive, but still end up in the 10-12th spot. Good development against stronger opponents and a good lottery pick too.

I think it's good that the conference got better now as a means of developing our team. When we begin to make some noise in '23 we'll be better prepared for the playoff grind.

[chrbal]

I am going on the record that I don't see the Pistons finishing anywhere near the bottom. I know everyone is talking about other teams improving, but so have the Pistons by both drafting Cade, signing free agents, and internal growth.

Gonna be close to the playoffs, or squeak in.

Which teams finish beneath us in the standings?

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I can see how we finish 10th to make the play in games. For that 5 teams need to be below us.

1. Cavs
2. Orlando
3. Toronto sells Paskal and commits to rebuild
4. Wizards sell Beal and commit to rebuild
5. 1 more team has injury or chemistry issues out of Indy, New York, Charlotte, or Philly.

It's not easy or even liekly, but it's possible we win 34 or 35 games and finish 10th if things go well for us combined with some luck.

Watch on YouTube

I mean sure, but that’s also assuming Detroit stays healthy and the younger guys perform on top of a lot of that.

But honestly we’re the bottom tier with Cleveland and Orlando. We most likely aren’t going to be able to keep up with the 4 teams of group 5. Washington and/or Toronto could slip up, but they are the two that could just about go either way.

[bstein14]

Which teams finish beneath us in the standings?

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I can see how we finish 10th to make the play in games. For that 5 teams need to be below us.

1. Cavs
2. Orlando
3. Toronto sells Paskal and commits to rebuild
4. Wizards sell Beal and commit to rebuild
5. 1 more team has injury or chemistry issues out of Indy, New York, Charlotte, or Philly.

It's not easy or even liekly, but it's possible we win 34 or 35 games and finish 10th if things go well for us combined with some luck.

Watch on YouTube

I mean sure, but that’s also assuming Detroit stays healthy and the younger guys perform on top of a lot of that.

But honestly we’re the bottom tier with Cleveland and Orlando. We most likely aren’t going to be able to keep up with the 4 teams of group 5. Washington and/or Toronto could slip up, but they are the two that could just about go either way.

For sure, I see the most likely outcome as us being the bottom 3.... That said, there are always teams that over perform and under perform.... Last year pre-season everyone had Toronto in the playoffs. Most people had Orlando as a playoff team too (they were #7 and #8 the previous two season and young and improving) but they had a slow start and decided to instead hit the rebuild button. The Hawks finished #14 in 19-20 and then moved up to #4 in 20-21... People liked their FA moves and saw them as a possible playoff team but no one expected them to do so well.

If I had to do odds I'd put them at this for the Pistons for next season.

13th, 14th, or 15th in the EC = 60% Chance
11th or 12th = 30% Chance
9th or 10th = 9% Chance (Cade is legit borderline all-star year 1, Bey, Stewart and Hayes show lots of improvement, Great chemistry)
8th seed or better = 1% Chance (Cade is an all-star, huge jumps from all the 2nd year guys, great chemistry, and FA signings exceed expectations, Grant with greatly improved efficiency)

[Pharaoh]

I can see how we finish 10th to make the play in games. For that 5 teams need to be below us.

1. Cavs
2. Orlando
3. Toronto sells Paskal and commits to rebuild
4. Wizards sell Beal and commit to rebuild
5. 1 more team has injury or chemistry issues out of Indy, New York, Charlotte, or Philly.

It's not easy or even liekly, but it's possible we win 34 or 35 games and finish 10th if things go well for us combined with some luck.

Watch on YouTube

I mean sure, but that’s also assuming Detroit stays healthy and the younger guys perform on top of a lot of that.

But honestly we’re the bottom tier with Cleveland and Orlando. We most likely aren’t going to be able to keep up with the 4 teams of group 5. Washington and/or Toronto could slip up, but they are the two that could just about go either way.

For sure, I see the most likely outcome as us being the bottom 3.... That said, there are always teams that over perform and under perform.... Last year pre-season everyone had Toronto in the playoffs. Most people had Orlando as a playoff team too (they were #7 and #8 the previous two season and young and improving) but they had a slow start and decided to instead hit the rebuild button. The Hawks finished #14 in 19-20 and then moved up to #4 in 20-21... People liked their FA moves and saw them as a possible playoff team but no one expected them to do so well.

If I had to do odds I'd put them at this for the Pistons for next season.

13th, 14th, or 15th in the EC = 60% Chance
11th or 12th = 30% Chance
9th or 10th = 9% Chance (Cade is legit borderline all-star year 1, Bey, Stewart and Hayes show lots of improvement, Great chemistry)
8th seed or better = 1% Chance (Cade is an all-star, huge jumps from all the 2nd year guys, great chemistry, and FA signings exceed expectations, Grant with greatly improved efficiency)

So a 99% chance we miss the playoff!

I agree

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