1. Spurs
The best team in the game. Period.
2. Suns
The No. 2 ranking is contingent on the Suns re-signing Joe Johnson. What looked like a lock just a month ago now seems uncertain. New Suns owner Robert Sarver might be getting cold feet about parting ways with max money for JJ's services. Assuming JJ does stay, they'll enter next season with their core intact, including the reigning MVP and The Matrix. The most important piece though? No doubt, it's Amare Stoudemire. The Spurs were helpless against him in the playoffs. Another off-season of adding strength and polishing his game will make him one of the three best players in the L. Count on it.
3. Pacers
We'll say it right now: the Pacers will represent the Eastern Conference in the Finals this season. J.O. and Jamaal Tinsley are finally healthy. Ron Artest is back and will be on fire the entire season. They finally have another point guard with the signing of Sarunas Jasikevicius. Throw a wild-card rookie Danny Granger into the mix with athletes like Stephen Jackson and Freddy Jones and this team can be scary.
4. Pistons
How will Flip change the chemistry of this team? They'll still play selflessly and come at you with great D, but this is a team that is getting older. As good as they are and have been, their window is closing.
5. Heat
People will freak when they see that we have the Heat this low. They roll out strong with Flash and Shaq, but we still think their supporting cast is suspect. Damon Jones might still walk this summer and they're in need of someone to take some minutes at the point.
6. Mavericks
They're a team in transition, but still good enough to best the majority of the League. As Dirk continues to improve, his sidekicks are dropping like flies. First Nash last season and it looks like Michael Finley is going to be cut outright.
7. Cavaliers
The only Eastern Conference team to get after it more than the Bucks this summer has been the Cavs. They resigned Z, and added Larry Hughes and Donyell Marshall — each signing designed to fill a specific need. Did we mention that they also have a cat named LeBron? Ridiculous.
8. Rockets
Heading into year two of the T-Mac-Yao Ming combo, we're still waiting for them to truly click. They love each other though, so it's only a matter of time. They desperately needed to get more athletic in the off-season and addressed that issue by stealing Stromile Swift from the Grizzlies.
9. Nuggets
The Nuggets had the misfortune of drawing the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs this year and were dealt with predictably. That's OK though, because George Karl's team wasn't ready for the big time yet. Another year together under Karl and this team is dangerous come the second season.
10. Bulls
Last year was no fluke. These young cats can ball and will continue to do so. It's on the front office though to keep Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry, both restricted free agents, in the mix.
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The Cavs are a little high IMO and they have it Pacers, Pistons, Heat so far in the east.