Eastern Conference Playoff Race 2013-14

[Brapman]

ESPN is posting their Eastern Conference projections, based on polling results of some or all of 213 ESPN contributors. They have the Pistons 9th, and behind the Hawks, Cavs, Wizards. I'm thinking that those 4 teams will be the ones fighting for the last three playoff spots.

[Natopher]

I usually disregard a lot of what ESPN says. That said, I don't see the Hawks competing. And even if the Cavs stay healthy (and they won't) I don't see them competing. Aside from Jack and Thompson they have no bench. I DO expect the Wizards to make the playoffs, though. I'd also be very surprised if the Pistons don't make it.

[Brapman]

I can see cases being made for all 4 of those teams, and perhaps even Toronto, and if I squint really hard, the Bucks. On second thought, probably not the Bucks.

The hardest team to put an upside cap on is the Pistons. Nobody really knows: 1) how much Drummond will improve - conceivably he could become the best Center in the East this season, although more likely he'll make a good improvement, but not to that level, 2) how dominant Drummond Smith and Monroe will be, 3) how Jennings will make the transition to more consistent and better team play - but he is very talented, for sure, 4) how KCP will do his rookie season, 5) whether Datome will be a major weapon for us - he might prove to be a steal for us, 6) how the team will come together - because when you look at it, we are potentially a very talented and deep team. If we fail this season, the reason could be that It just might take too long for us to jell with all the youth and newness.

But, I'm telling you, if this comes together, our upside could push us ahead of Atlanta and mayber even the Knicks, and if Brooklyn can't keep it's geezers healthy enough, them too.

[dVs33]

we have a lot of question marks going into the season, so who knows how long it will take the team to gel, if they gel at all.
I see the Wiz, Cavs, Hawks and Us fighting for the bottom 3 playoffs spots. For me, if i'm choosing the hawks will drop out.
It's just so early to tell right now.

[Q00]

I don't get the Hawks/playoff talk. A core of Horford/Teague/Milsap/Lou Williams with a rookie coach does not impress me at all. Maybe 8th seed, but only by default. Cavs - I'm buying them if Bynum and Irving can stay healthy all year, and Bennett proves he can make an impact playing PF at his size. That's a lot of if's though, so I'm like 50-50 on them because its probably 50-50 that all those things happen. Wizards - I guess are a playoff team by default, but I certainly don't see them as better than this Pistons team. They weren't even better than last year's Pistons team and all they've done to improve is add 1 rookie role player in Porter. Meanwhile we upgraded in a major way, with Smith, Jennings, and Billups, and a much better coaching staff than last year in my opinion. That's the other thing about Washington no one seems to mention. Does anyone have confidence in Randy Wittman leading a team to the playoffs? They essentially brought back the same exact roster and same coach that won 29 games, and they are favored to make the playoffs over the Pistons? That's laughable to me. I'm not buying this Wizards team as anything more than an 8th/9th seed and I think they have major questions coaching-wise to be talking about them as a guaranteed playoff team.

[theBigLip]

I like being optimistic, and I think we have the potential to take a big step forward this year. Once Drummond starting playing regularly last year, I thought we were going to make the playoffs LAST YEAR. But after his injury, things slowed down a bit. But I'm pretty sure we're getting into the playoffs this year.

[DCintheD]

we all know the Cavs are gonna tank once bum ass Bynum goes down.. Kyrie's gonna have phantom injuries in the last few months and Bennett will be a bust

Wall and Beal can only do so much for Washington.. 7 is their ceiling.. the rest of their team blows

Hawks will be the best out of those 3 with Horford, Millsap and Teague..

No chance we dont get the 6th seed. I'm not buying any of those teams being better than us. I love when the media doubts us.. thats when we will rise.. it will take some time but this team will be clicking by December/January

[DetroitPistons]

I like being optimistic, and I think we have the potential to take a big step forward this year. Once Drummond starting playing regularly last year, I thought we were going to make the playoffs LAST YEAR. But after his injury, things slowed down a bit. But I'm pretty sure we're getting into the playoffs this year.

If we kept Prince and started Dre from day 1 like we should've we would've at least had a realistic shot at the playoffs. However, Frank was incompetent with rotations and we went from being in just about every game to getting blown out on a nightly basis after the Calderon/Prince trade. Dumars has drastically upgraded the talent on the roster. If you put aside the handful of games that Drummond started last season we will actually have 4 new starters and better role players too. I see no way, other than injuries, in which we miss the playoffs this year.

[zeebneeb]

I like being optimistic, and I think we have the potential to take a big step forward this year. Once Drummond starting playing regularly last year, I thought we were going to make the playoffs LAST YEAR. But after his injury, things slowed down a bit. But I'm pretty sure we're getting into the playoffs this year.

If we kept Prince and started Dre from day 1 like we should've we would've at least had a realistic shot at the playoffs. However, Frank was incompetent with rotations and we went from being in just about every game to getting blown out on a nightly basis after the Calderon/Prince trade. Dumars has drastically upgraded the talent on the roster. If you put aside the handful of games that Drummond started last season we will actually have 4 new starters and better role players too. I see no way, other than injuries, in which we miss the playoffs this year.

Im usually over optimistic, but unless the East is an absolute trainwreck this year in the lower seeds, I don't see how Detroit makes the playoffs. I understand the potential is there, as is the talent, but like you said, 4 new starters. Add in a new coach(s) and its a recipe for a VERY long start to the season.

Could they come out of the gates rolling? Yeah, I guess, but its much more likely that they start slow, and build up to something.

If 39wins is enough to make the playoffs, then so be it.

I think this team could win 50+wins, NEXT YEAR. Not this year. To much new stuff going on.

[ComboGuardCity]

Beal is extremely overrated. This season falls on how well Wall plays for the Wizards. I think we're about to see the East overtake the West in terms of conference depth.

[mercury]

I think the Wiz should be in the mix because they've been together for almost three years... The Cavs are a year away due to excessive youth... the Pistons may have issues with chuck-a-mentitis until they learn to work as a unit.... however they should win games on sheer dominance on the glass.
The schedule works in their favor since they were going to struggle early anyways... should be a fun finish if they can stay off the IL (big question with Dre and his weight/hops)

[ImHeisenberg]

Half of the "analysts" are from the hoops network, which are basically just terrible writers that are die hard homers. Three of them were from Pistons Powered, which is probably the worst site that covers anything Pistons related.

They transition between being complete homers, to the most negative ridiculous nay-sayers. No consistency.

Basically, I don't care what they said. How they believe a team like the Cavs are better pick to make the playoffs is laughable. Verajao and Bynum didn't play last season. Irving's bone structure is primarily made of paper mache.

[ImHeisenberg]

I think the Wiz should be in the mix because they've been together for almost three years.

Maybe. They're banking that a couple months from John Wall is the new norm, and that Otto Porter isn't another failed draft pick.

[qm22]

People have said the same thing about Washington for the past 2 seasons and they failed to do anything. There is still a lot of favoritism when there is a former #1 overall pick when picking out of uncertain groups. I understand Cleveland having high expectations, although I think theirs would be more similar to ours. Both teams added proven FAs, but theirs has total health uncertainty (along with Varejao). An unhealthy Bynum plus Kyrie Irving should be decent main pieces. If it were just about making the playoffs for one season I would think Drummond/Monroe/Smith >> Bynum/Varejao and our overall depth is better, making up a lot for what Irving provides as a scoring PG.

Atlanta making the playoffs is just what baffles me. A lot of people say Milwaukee too. Milwaukee is probably trying to tank, and some analysts are still picking them. I guess because they and Atlanta made the playoffs last season? Atlanta may well choose to tank too, I don't think they have an incentive to win this year. They are probably going to be a bad defensive team and average or worse offensively. They lost their best player to another team they will compete with in the playoff race. I view Horford as very comparable to Monroe (though I hope Monroe will prove better), and before even mentioning Josh Smith, I think we compare favorably or, at worst, relatively evenly with the rest of their roster. Most people would take Teague over Jennings at the moment, which could be accurate, but it is hardly a lock. Other than that I think we win every other comparison.

I think our floor is 8'th seed and picking us at 8'th is pretty conservative. We also have a shot at homer predictions coming true, with Drummond and Monroe emerging, Jennings facilitating well, and becoming a monster defense and rebounding team and going as high as 5'th.

[tmorgan]

I'm quite worried about one thing no one seems to be talking much about -- I'm not sure Cheeks is a decent coach. We do have more talent than last year, for sure, but it's going to take a fast move towards cohesion to avoid getting buried in a deep hole early.

I predicted 42-40 and 6th seed earlier, and that still sounds right to me, but there is a TON of variance in that result, like 4th to 10th.

[DetroitPistons]

I like being optimistic, and I think we have the potential to take a big step forward this year. Once Drummond starting playing regularly last year, I thought we were going to make the playoffs LAST YEAR. But after his injury, things slowed down a bit. But I'm pretty sure we're getting into the playoffs this year.

If we kept Prince and started Dre from day 1 like we should've we would've at least had a realistic shot at the playoffs. However, Frank was incompetent with rotations and we went from being in just about every game to getting blown out on a nightly basis after the Calderon/Prince trade. Dumars has drastically upgraded the talent on the roster. If you put aside the handful of games that Drummond started last season we will actually have 4 new starters and better role players too. I see no way, other than injuries, in which we miss the playoffs this year.

Im usually over optimistic, but unless the East is an absolute trainwreck this year in the lower seeds, I don't see how Detroit makes the playoffs. I understand the potential is there, as is the talent, but like you said, 4 new starters. Add in a new coach(s) and its a recipe for a VERY long start to the season.

Could they come out of the gates rolling? Yeah, I guess, but its much more likely that they start slow, and build up to something.

If 39wins is enough to make the playoffs, then so be it.

I think this team could win 50+wins, NEXT YEAR. Not this year. To much new stuff going on.

Im a little surprised. I had the impression that you were one of the people driving the playoff bandwagon. I agree with the chemistry concerns but I think we will survive off of our defense, fastbreak offense, and just overall improved talent. It will probably be ugly at first but I don't see it sinking us for the whole season. I think we will hover below .500 for the first month or two and then we will pick it up and finish with around 45 wins. The East is WIDE OPEN after those first 5 teams. I would be shocked if we missed the playoffs and I would consider it a very disappointing season. I'm usually one of the optimistic people around here too.

[Spider156]

I'm very excited for this season. It's gonna be great!

[Clarity]

After the Heat, Nets, Knicks, Bulls & Pacers it's a crap shoot.

If healthy I would probably put Cleveland at 6 & us at 7.

[imagump1313]

With soo many teams tanking there will be alot of wins to get by default. I think anywhere from 45-50 wins and 5th to 8th playoff spot. Someone actually trying to make the playoffs will get more wins than usual this year.

Maybe they sneak into a 4th if someone like Brooklyn (old roster) or New York (overrated) falls down a peg. Miami, Chicago, Indy... everything else in the East is a crap shoot. This is the year to sneak up on people.

[Redeemed]

I like our chances to make the playoffs.

Let the pundits say whatever they want.