I really wished I saved even more of these
Let's see who was on the right track
Even funnier is where people picked the Atlanta Hawks
ryanm21titans
BasketballBoards Rookie
Registered: Jul 2002
Location:
NBA Predictions
Everyone post their Eastern Conference Playoff Predictions.
08-07-2002 04:23 PM
RollWithEm
BasketballBoards Rookie
Registered: Jul 2002
Location: New Orleans
Ok, I can do that.
1 New Orleans Hornets - Can just beat you so many ways
2 New Jersey Nets - Still very efficient team; will be better defensively
3 Indiana Pacers - Finally the youth with start to become experience
4 Orlando Magic - Pending Grant Hill's triumphant return
5 Boston Celtics - Pierce + Walker - Baker = Playoffs
6 Milwaukee Bucks - Will excel with Thomas starting and Kukoc off the bench
7 Philadelphia 76ers - Van Horn will not be good, but AI will be out to prove something
8 Detroit Pistons - Will still work hard enough to get in
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 New York Knicks - Improvement without totally gelling
10 Toronto Raptors - Vince will have a great year; won't be enough
11 Atlanta Hawks - Big step in the right direction
12 Washington Wizards - This ranking is without Jordan staying healthy all year (which he won't)
13 Chicago Bulls - Will show signs of brilliance
14 Miami Heat - Caron is not ready; Jones or Grant will be gone to make cap for next year
15 Cleveland Cavaliers - Worse roster in basketball, by far
08-07-2002 04:43 PM
GeorgiaSports
BasketballBoards Player
Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
1. Nets
2. Hornets
3. Celtics
4. Hawks
5. Magic
6. Pacers
7. 76ers
8. Pistons
08-07-2002 04:52 PM
ryanm21titans
BasketballBoards Rookie
Registered: Jul 2002
Location:
1. New Jersey
2. Indiana
3. Boston
4. Orlando
5. Atlanta
6. Toronto
7. Detroit
8. Philadelphia
08-07-2002 05:09 PM
Tobias
BasketballBoards Rookie
Registered: Aug 2002
Location:
1.New Jersey
2.New Orleans
3.Indiana
4.Detroit
5.Atlanta
6.Boston
7.Orlando
8.Philadelphia
08-07-2002 07:49 PM
Hawkeye Pierce
BasketballBoards Player
Registered: Jul 2002
Location: las vegas
1. Boston : ok everyone thinks there lack of a point guard(although they mightve had a pg last year but he wasnt a particularly talented one) and the addition of vin baker are gonna drop this team out fo the top 3?? um..no, this team has one of the top 3 players in the eastern conference and then another probably top ten in the conference player and now they have a big man who is a good low post player and CAN put up big numbers in the east. pierce will be an MVP candidate and boston will be the number 1 seed.
2. New Jersey: this trade made me want to drop them to number 3 it really really did, cause mutombo in his old age is even more of a stiff then macollough, but mutombo adds defensive help and rebounding inside, and richard jefferson will put up as good if nto better numbers then KVH, i really expect jefferson to do great in a starting role.
3. New Orleans: this team has a ton of talent, but the two teams in front of them are there because they have the two best players in the conference(ok two of the three best). a healthy mashburn and this team could do big, big things this year, courtney alexander also could be a big hit down in the big easy.
4. Orlando: This is assuming even if hill comes back that he isnt as good as he once was, but they will not fall below this spot because they have mcgrady, hes too good for them not to be this high. but if they were to sign keon clark and hill was to come back and be 85% they could be number 3 or possibly number 2
5. Detroit: good group of players and chauncey billups only adds to a pretty deep team, but they played a phenomenal season last year and i dont see them repeating it, not that they will regress alot but they just wont play up to the same greatness as last year.
6. Indiana: As much talent as they have, there is no way they get any higher then 6th, because the 5 teams in front of them are better teams, new jersey, orlando, and boston have the three superstars of the conference even the orlando doesnt have much of a team around mcgrady, NO has davis and a very talented group along with him(that knows how to win too) and detroit is mroe experienced and they just have a beter team IMO. indiana could definitely shock any team in the playoffs though, so dont let the 6 seed fool you.
7. Washington: all rides on jordan, if hes healthy they are here(or of hes healthy and the whole team is healthy they could be higher) healthy jordan= playoffs, that simple.
8. Toronto: i had them higher in an earlier predictions thread, but the loss of chris childs as asolid back up pg and the probable loss of keon clark will keep them down, however vince should have a big year.
9. Philly: hmm adding macolough is interesting, but adding KVH who doesnt usually shoot a high percentage, as a second option to iverson who also doesnt shoot a high percentage means that there will be alot of missed shots, and whos gonna rebound them?? certainly not macolough and derrick coleman thats for sure.
08-07-2002 08:27 PM
blkwdw13
BasketballBoards Player
Registered: Jun 2002
Location:
1-Nets
2-Hornets
3-Pacers
4-Magic
5-Celtics
6-Sixers
7-Raptors
8-Hawks or Pistons
08-07-2002 08:28 PM
Budweiser_Boy
Moderator
Registered: Jun 2002
Location: System of a Down land
Just off the top of my head... it's still too early, and also assuming everyone is healthy:
1. Boston
2. New Orleans
3. Orlando
4. Toronto
5. New Jersey
6. Detroit
7. Indiana
8. Atlanta
__________________
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My sister called me just the other day... it felt so good to hear her voice
My problem is I don't have much to say... I guess she doesn't have a choice
And I'm sorry
Look at me, I'm so pathetic
08-07-2002 08:39 PM
hunterb14
BasketballBoards Player
Registered: Jun 2002
Location:
1. New Jersey- Kidd, martin and Mutumbo is a dangerous trio.
2. Boston - Pierce and Walker plus the addition of Baker give this team a force to be reckoned with
3. Magic(if hill is healthy)- TMAC and Hill will be awesome together.
4. Hornets- still have two stars. Davis and Mashburn along with Cambell in the center position. Cambell is one of the top 5 centers in the east. He isnt great but he gets the job done. Their main concern will be keeping Mashburn healthy.
5. Pacers- the youth will come out this year. most improved player this year= Jermaine Oneal.
6.Pistons- Stackhouse and Wallace were good now with the addition of Billups they copuld surprise people this year.
7.Sixers- AI will get them to the playoffs but they wont get past the first round with Mutumbo gone
8. Hawks- they werent going to make the playoffs but with the addition of Robinson they will
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If you dont think Jason Kidd is one of the best players in the league then you have no right to share your opinion on basketball.
08-07-2002 09:00 PM
GeorgiaSports
BasketballBoards Player
Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
quote:
Originally posted by hunterb14!
5. Pacers- the youth will come out this year. most improved player this year= Jermaine Oneal.
Isn't there a rule you can't win Most Improved Player 2 years in a row?
08-07-2002 09:04 PM
Malakian
BasketballBoards Veteran
Registered: Jul 2002
Location: The Corn Fields
Bender will be most Improved.
1. New Jersey- Kidd, Martin, Mutombo. They are evn better on defense.
2. Indiana - Talent will be bursting from all angles while they follow Reggie's leadership. Bender will be most improved. There is no team that scares them. They will also not be scared of the playoffs.
3. New Orleans - A very talented team that has no weakness. A little more defense is needed. But a great overall team.
4. Boston - Everybody hates on baker, but in the East there are not that many good big men. Whoever starts at PG is no worse than Kenny Anderson.
5. Toronto - Vince will be back with vengance. They are losing Childs and Clark. But they replaced Childs with hunter. Michael Bradley will get a lot more PT this year and will produce.
6. Detroit - Everyone was playing out of their head last year. They lack overall talent, but play together as a cohesive unit. Though I doubt they will duplicate last year's magic.
7. Orlando - Grant Hill will get hurt and T-Mac will have no help. He will put up MVP numbers but will not win it because his team is at the bottom of a weak conference.
8. Philadelphia - This should be LB's last year. Van Horn will be somewhat of a second scoring option but everyone is getting old an LB can not develop talent. He should move along so tey can groom Salmons and dalembert.
The East will be overall stronger this season.
__________________
Duncan is better than Shaq./Jermaine O'Neal is the third best PF. Soon to be the best./Kobe's defense is overrated./Kobe is a better player than Don Reid./T-Mac is a better player than Kobe.
08-07-2002 09:22 PM
pacersguy
BasketballBoards Rookie
Registered: Aug 2002
Location:
1. Celtics- Pierce and Walker are just amazingly good.
2.Pacers- So much Talent. Should be better this year because they will not be disrupted by losing their best player.
3.Nets- The pacers will beat them at every position except the point. Kidd>Tinsley Miller>Kittles Harrington/Artest>Jefferson O'neal=Martin Brad Miller>Mutumbo
4. Rapters- I think they will be really good this season.
5. Hawks- Terry=awesome Robinson=really good Ratliff=really good. Solid Trio
6. Tmac and a healthy Hill should be good.
7. Hornets-the teams before them are better but I dont think they are bad enought to drp from the playoffs.
8. 76ers- Could be 7th
(GEE NO PISTONS AT ALL)
08-07-2002 09:35 PM
Malakian
BasketballBoards Veteran
Registered: Jul 2002
Location: The Corn Fields
PG) Baron Davis SG) Courtney Alexander SF)Jamal Mashburn
PF)P.J.Brown C) Jamal Magloire
Too much talent to fall to 7th in the weak East.
__________________
Duncan is better than Shaq./Jermaine O'Neal is the third best PF. Soon to be the best./Kobe's defense is overrated./Kobe is a better player than Don Reid./T-Mac is a better player than Kobe.
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08-07-2002 09:39 PM
BasketballBoards Rookie
Registered: May 2002
Location: Vancouver, Canada
1. - New Orleans Hornets - still sounds weird to say but I think they got enough tools to top the east
2. - New Jersey Nets - Will be a great defensive team...who hopfully won't play boring basketball like the heat and knicks
3. - Boston Celtics - Peirce and Walker will run the show Vin Baker will show flashes of brilliance...a lot of softness.
4. - Orlando Magic - Hill will be healthy...T-mac will keep improving on his superstar status.
5. - Atlanta Hawks - Finally the team is hot down in Hotlanta...hopfully they will trade Terry for a true shooting guard maybe Jason for Wally?? just throwing out sugestions.
6. - Toronto Raptors - They make the play-offs again...behind Vince's re-emergence as a star.
7. - Miami Heat - Riley and Zo lead their team back to the promised land...and the fans of Miami are just happy they won't have to play the Knicks in this play-offs.
8. - Indiana Pacers - They will struggle, and finally realize that Thomas is an idiot and hopfully fire him...coming on strong to make the play-offs
close but no cigar
Detroit
Bucks
Knicks
76ers
thanks for coming out good luck in the Lebron Sweepstakes
Cav's
Wiz
Bulls
08-07-2002 09:45 PM
hunterb14
BasketballBoards Player
Registered: Jun 2002
Location:
quote:
Originally posted by GeorgiaSports!
Isn't there a rule you can't win Most Improved Player 2 years in a row?
He improved so much in the 2001 season. I think he will improve even more in the 2002 season.
Yes I know he won the most improved player award last year. However I don't think there is a rule prohibiting a player from recieving the most improved award 2 years in a row but you never know, I might be wrong.
This year he will become a dominant player in the league.
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08-07-2002 10:31 PM
Malakian
BasketballBoards Veteran
Registered: Jul 2002
Location: The Corn Fields
quote:
This year he will become a dominant player in this league.
I couldn't agree more.
__________________
Duncan is better than Shaq./Jermaine O'Neal is the third best PF. Soon to be the best./Kobe's defense is overrated./Kobe is a better player than Don Reid./T-Mac is a better player than Kobe.
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08-07-2002 10:37 PM
Brick
BasketballBoards Player
Registered: Jul 2002
Location: Waipahu, Hawaii
1. nets
2. celtics
3. hornets
4. magic
5. pistons
6. pacers
7. sixers
8. hawks
raptors would make this list if they sign keon clark. heat are 2 years away from playoffs. hawks would be higher if they werent so injury prone. washington could squeak in if jordan is healthy.
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08-08-2002 01:35 AM
c lo
BasketballBoards Rookie
Registered: Jul 2002
Location:
rofl
Some of you guys say the Pistons won't even make the play offs, that is very funny. Thanks for the laugh.
08-08-2002 02:14 AM
JOHNNY_BRAVisimO
BasketballBoards Player
Registered: Jun 2002
Location:
1). Nets-Deke put them head and shoulders on top of the rest of the east, but the hornets are close by
2).Hornets-Much talent, no major weaknesses besides mashburns health
3).Bucks-Still mad talented and has had more time to gel then most teams in the east, all they have to do is just "Bring-it"
4).Pacers-Great overall on paper, they will not be thought of as young bucks anymore
5).Celtics-Dynamic duo will have more competition this year
6).Raptors-VC is back
7).Magic-Hill is back, but still needs time to gel with the team on the court which will hurt their standings
8).Toss-up between the~~~~~~~~
--miami heat
--atlanta hawks
--washington wizards
--knicks
--philly
--pistons
bulls and cavs almost guaranteed for the lottery
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which one of the amendments stated our feeedom of speach? because i forgot~~~~
08-08-2002 02:17 AM
KBStAt
BasketballBoards Player
Registered: Jul 2002
Location: Orlando,Fl
1.hawks
2.Nets
3.Hornets
4.boston
5.orlando
6.pacers
7.detriot
8.raptors
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08-09-2002 11:30 PM
rwj333
BasketballBoards Rookie
Registered: Aug 2002
Location:
mine
First Post! Anyways...
Top Tier
1. New Jersey- I believe the Mutombo trade helps a lot. Mutombo is, at the least, the equal of MacCullough on defense and won't be asked to produce much on offense. Many people also forget about Jason Collins, who will soon become New Jersey main center if he keeps improving and did the best job of defending Shaq in the finals. If Kenyon Martin ever finds out how to rebound... watch out. Could go lower.
2. New Orleans- Honestly, this was tough to decide. However, New Orleans has one of the best points in Davis and Courtney Alexander will truly benefit by being a starter on the Hornets. He has the talent and, in my opinion, will rise to the occassion. Alexander never really got a chance last year and the Wizards are going to sorely regret giving him up for Juan Dixon. Could go higher.
Second Tier
3. Boston- Many people whine about the Kenny Anderson trade, but in actuality it's not quite that bad. Vin Baker is a good player, though overpaid, and will improve by playing in the east. When in doubt, pick the team with the best player, and Paul Pierce is one of the best in the league. Who starts at point? Could go lower.
4. Atlanta- This ranking depends SOLELY on whether Ratliff is Healthy. If not, they drop out of the playoffs. If Coach Kruger can find out how to make the offense work with three players who all want it (Terry, Shareef, and Robinson) then they will probably be top tier. Much depends on if Robinson can coexist and if Ratliff will stay active. Could go lower.
Third Tier
5. Orlando- Grant Hill's doctor doesn't want to see him anymore... good sign? Tracy Mcgrady is too good too miss the playoffs; a second threat will help Orlando intensely. Unfortunately, Orlando doesn't have the frontcourt to make the finals. Might go higher.
6. Milwaukee- I love Ray Allen-- he is probably my favorite player. Also, he is just a good person and I really respect that. With that said, Milwaukee is similar to Orlando in that both teams have a weak frontcourt. Could go higher.
7. Detroit- Detroit is a solid team but their lack of talent will eventually catch up with them. They are good, but not excellent at each position. I have to agree with an above poster when he said that Detroit is vastly underrated. I am probably underrating them as well. Could go much higher.
8. Indiana- Until Isaiah Thomas proves he can coach, I will not move them from this spot. The Pacers are perhaps the most talented team in the East, yet, poor coaching continues to waste that talent. For Thomas' sake, I hope he succeeds. Could go much, much, much higher.
Missing- Philly-- Can you honestly say that Philly has as much talent as the above playoff teams? They have AI and Van Horn (does he even count?) IMO, AI is too small and having him play SG is bad defensively. Unless Van Horn gets ANY confidence and self-esteem back, (unlikely) Philly is out.
Toronto- I really don't know about this one. Vince Carter was trashed last year and accused of having no heart. Whether he comes back with the fierce desire to prove his detractors wrong is another story. Remember back in 2000, when Oakley ripped Carter's game? Carter came back and averaged about 35 points a game in response. If he comes back with that kind of motivation, the raptors are in. Period. Probably as high as 3rd or 4th seed.
Washington because MJ is too old and Kwame is light years away.
08-10-2002 12:19 AM
hOnDo
BasketballBoards Player
Registered: Jun 2002
Location:
quote:
Originally posted by KBStAt!
1.hawks
2.Nets
3.Hornets
4.boston
5.orlando
6.pacers
7.detriot
8.raptors
hawks at #1??? haha oh my!
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08-10-2002 08:52 PM
absolutebest
BasketballBoards Rookie
Registered: Jun 2002
Location:
Man, Indiana is gonna **** up the East. They haven't made one move this summer and they still have the brightest outlook heading into 2003. God, it's gonna get nasty. Jermaine will dismantle the East.
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"The next great NBA dynasty"- David Dupree, USA Today
08-11-2002 03:36 AM
Hotlantadude198
BasketballBoards Player
Registered: Jul 2002
Location: Dallas GA
East:
1)NJ Nets
2)Boston Celtics
3)Indiana Pacers
4)New Orleans
5)Detroit
6)Orlando
7)Atlanta
8)Bucks/Knicks/Raptors
9)Philly-I don't think this team is heading
in the right direction....Van Horn and IVerson
might have problems.Heck,KVH seems to
have problems with everyone
West:
1)Kings
2)Mavs
3)Lakers-Lakers can't finish behind Kings?(Win the title again)
4)Blazers
5)Spurs-Smith and Robinson are just getting to old
6)Clippers
7)Wolves-No backup PG and not much depth in west.
8)Houston or Jazz
9)Seattle
The deal is in the east every year a team or two fails
to live up to expectations....I expect the same thing
to happen this year.There is always a team hit with
injuries and losses a playoff spot because of it.
