[Sánchez AF]

Originally posted by hobojoe!


Care to explain why? Not saying you're wrong, I just want to hear your arguments.

Howard is not ready to help right Now the new player Battie has injuries problems probably if Francis and Cutino have a great yr. the magic can make the playoff but 7 - 8 team in the east not the 5. The magic dont have a great Bench only Jammer.

But who knows in the Crazy east everything can happen

[TheRifleman]

Originally posted by Ballscientist!
ESPN Senior expert Marc Stein Ranking

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/column...arc&id=1845274

West
1. San Antonio
2. Minnesota
3. Sacramento
4. Denver
5. Houston

East
1. Detroit
2. Miami
3. Indiana
4. New Jersey
5. Milwaukee

Do you agree with him?

Almost! , but I would put the Pacers 2nd and the Heat at #3. NJ? Things aren't looking good for them, so no way do they belong in the top 5, imho.

In the west, I would have it the same, except either Dallas or the Jazz in 5th place.

[farhan007]

Originally posted by SpeakerBoxxx!


I really dont think the Magic will make the playoff or even the Cavs

why do you say that the magic cant win in the east of the core of the team won 45 games in the west even before yao...

[sherako]

The Knicks will make the playoffs before the Magic, people here are severely overrating them just because they have a lot of new players. Look at the coach again and tell me they'll make the playoffs.

[Flamesta]

People aren't overating Magic, its people doubting them that are overating the East conference. What teams are in the east again? Wiz, Hawks, Bobcats, Bulls.... the other east teams aren't so elite either. Its basically a toss-up. Anyone can make the playoffs and basically anyone can become a surprise. Its not like the Magic are a champion calibur team, but look at the playoffs in general, and most of the east teams, (8/15) will make the playoffs. Most of the east teams. I think if anything it would be hard for a team with such West conference loaded players to lose to the other lacking East teams.

[PacersguyUSA]

At least he's skeptical about placing the Heat above the Pacers.

[StraylightRunner]

Originally posted by hobojoe!
There's still plenty of time for things to happen that can change this around quite a bit, but as of right now I see it going down like this(In terms of record, not seeds):



Western Conference:
1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
3. Houston Rockets
4. Sacramento Kings
5. Denver Nuggets
6. Memphis Grizzlies
7. Utah Jazz
8. Dallas Mavericks
_______________________
9. Los Angeles Lakers
10. Phoenix Suns
11. Portland Trail Blazers
12. Seattle Sonics
13. New Orleans Hornets
14. Los Angeles Clippers
15. Golden State Warriors


Eastern Conference:
1. Detroit Pistons
2. Indiana Pacers
3. Miami Heat
4. New Jersey Nets
5. Orlando Magic
6. Boston Celtics
7. Cleveland Cavaliers
8. Philadelphia 76ers
__________________________
9. Milwaukee Bucks
10. New York Knicks
11. Chicago Bulls
12. Atlanta Hawks
13. Toronto Raptors
14. Washington Wizards
15. Charlotte Bobcats

I have to disagree. I think the Rockets will be knocked down a couple notches, just because T-Mac and Yao won't be as good as expected... RIGHT AWAY. And have Dallas be a 6 seed over Memphis and Utah. They still got a good squad, and will trade Stackhouse to a offensive-hungry team hopefully.

Eastern Conference: If Orlando makes it, I don't think it'll be as a 5. Maybe 7-8. Just because I think Dwight will have trouble scoring, and Mobley and Francis may be accused of exclusively passing to each other again (forget the year). I don't think the 76ers make the playoffs. And either the Celtics or Cavs or both won't make it. I see the Bucks as a 5 and Wizards definitely in there somewhere, anywhere from 5-8.

My predictions (not very good):
Western Conference:
1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
3. Denver Nuggets
4. Sacramento Kings
5. Houston Rockets
6. Dallas Mavericks
7. Memphis Grizzlies
8. Los Angeles Lakers
_______________________
9. Utah Jazz
10. Phoenix Suns
11. Portland Trail Blazers
12. New Orleans Hornets
13. Seattle Supersonics
14. Los Angeles Clippers
15. Golden State Warriors


Eastern Conference:
1. Detroit Pistons
2. Indiana Pacers
3. Miami Heat
4. New Jersey Nets
5. Milwaukee Bucks
6. New York Knicks
7. Washington Wizards
8. Boston Celtics
__________________________
9. Cleveland Cavaliers
10. Orlando Magic
11. Philadelphia 76ers
12. Chicago Bulls
13. Toronto Raptors
14. Charlotte Bobcats
15. Atlanta Hawks

[DownUnderWonder]

Look for Orlando to sneak in at the 8 spot this year. To me they are going to be like Miami of last year (The little team that could...) not necessarily textbook but fun to watch all the same.

[J Blaze]

Originally posted by hobojoe!
There's still plenty of time for things to happen that can change this around quite a bit, but as of right now I see it going down like this(In terms of record, not seeds):



Western Conference:
1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Minnesota Timberwolves
3. Houston Rockets
4. Sacramento Kings
5. Denver Nuggets
6. Memphis Grizzlies
7. Utah Jazz
8. Dallas Mavericks
_______________________
9. Los Angeles Lakers
10. Phoenix Suns
11. Portland Trail Blazers
12. Seattle Sonics
13. New Orleans Hornets
14. Los Angeles Clippers
15. Golden State Warriors


Eastern Conference:
1. Detroit Pistons
2. Indiana Pacers
3. Miami Heat
4. New Jersey Nets
5. Orlando Magic
6. Boston Celtics
7. Cleveland Cavaliers
8. Philadelphia 76ers
__________________________
9. Milwaukee Bucks
10. New York Knicks
11. Chicago Bulls
12. Atlanta Hawks
13. Toronto Raptors
14. Washington Wizards
15. Charlotte Bobcats

I agree but I am inclined to put Sacramento above Houston because they are still a very potent offensive team.

Denver is overrated to me because they barely beat out a few teams to make the playoffs last year and secondly, Kenyon Martin hasn't showed up against West big men. He disappears at times and I haven't seen a strong post game whatsoever. Why is Denver getting so much hype?

[EHL]

Eastern Conference:

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

Western Conference:

1. Spurs
2. Twolves
3. Kings
4. Nuggets
5. Rockets
6. Lakers
7. Mavs
8. Grizz
----------------
9. Jazz
10. Suns
11. Hornets
12. Clippers
13. Blazers
14. Warriors
15. Sonics

[Eatinthepudding8]

ONLY EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Detroit Pistons (simply the best team)
2. Indiana Pacers (second best TEAM)
3. Miami Heat (Most Dominating Player)
4. Philadelphia 76ers (sorry, im a philly fan, plus our "D" will be alot better with Jim O'Brien)
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (Another year makes LBJ more dangerous)
6. New Jersey Nets (Aging JKidd, loss of K-mart, Lack of shooting makes them slip down the line)
7. Chicago Bulls (Yes they make the playoffs, Curry and Chandler will play hard for new contracts)
8. Washington Wizards(i think this might be their year to FINALLY make the playoffs and their team will FINALLY live up to their capability)

9. Milwaukee Bucks (Lost some good players a la skinner and will lose toni kukoc, but redd will keep this team in contention)
10. Orlando Magic (will get better, backcourt of francis/mobley/nelson will be good)
11. New York Knicks (Theres only so much Isiah can do)
12. Boston Celtics (Danny Ainge is killing the legacy of this classic franchise)
13.Charlotte Bobcats (will suprise some people)
14. Toronto Raptors (VC is getting older and not getting any better, just an above average player who can dunk now)
15. Atlanta Hawks (Still the worst)