If Rose plays 70+ games then Chicago might go as high as first. Depending on where Lance Stephenson ends up I might have the Pacers behind both Toronto and Washington.
All depends on Wade, whom I expect to slide further into decline.
Also, I guess if I'm going to run my mouth to Seifer so much, I should probably make my own list.
1) Cleveland
2) Indiana
3) Washington
4) Toronto
5) Chicago
6) Brooklyn
7) Atlanta
8) Miami
I think adding Lebron to any team vaults them a lot higher than people give credit for. Kyrie goes from having to be the #1 option to second fiddle guy. Wiggins goes from having career breaking expectations to being like 4th option. This is just going to be a deep, athletic team.
As far as Chicago, I don't think Rose is even an allstar level player anymore. They'll scrap out a respectable record like they always do though and Gasol makes that an even sexier front court.
Brooklyn has an actual coach and hopefully some health this season. I think they'll make some panic trades again if they under perform.
Miami I see struggling hard, but still making the playoffs. Wade will really need to quit being such a bitch if they're going to make any noise at all this year. Instead, I see him wilting and doing a mid 00's Vince Carter and faking injury when the going gets tough and they have a string of bad games.
I'd rather go for Shawn Marion, he's going to play hard and not be Lance Stephenson. I don't care if he's older than Methusaleh and primed for a breakdown. Plus we could get him for something like half as much.
When you really look at what Lance Stephenson brings it's not even worth the risk.
I'd rather give Marion 10 million for one year faster than give Stephenson 40 million over 4 years. Marion is a professional basketball player for starters. Stephenson is a dick and being a dick seems to be his priority.
This is hard to predict the top 4 because there are still some game changers left in FA, mainly Lance Stephenson. I see Indiana regressing if he leaves. They still don't have a real point guard, David West is another year older, who the **** knows which Roy Hibbert will show up, and Frank Vogel is still their coach.
On the plus side, Paul George has vowed to become more physical this year, specifically being able to finish with contact at the rim, which is a great element for him to add to his game.
Definite playoff teams:
Cleveland
Chicago
Washington
Indiana
Toronto
Miami
Battle for last 2 spots:
Charlotte
Atlanta
Brooklyn
New York
This is all subject to change of course.
EDIT I forgot Detroit, they should battle for a spot too. Andre Drummond is ****ing nasty!
1. Washington (Beal and wall progress leaps and bounds, Porter is healthy and you get a good 70-75 games out of Nene)
2. Cavs (Lebron and purely Lebron. Kyrie has a career year shooting wise and Bennet shows life off the bench. Big question marks on the big guys
3. Chicago (Purely on big guys sharing the ball so well and being extremely difficult to score on. Rose to ease back into big minutes)
4. Pacers (I see lance leaving and whilst they might lose a few more games then previous seasons their basketball is more team focused like in the past. Hibbert to bounce back)
5. Toronto (More wins then last year and i really see them being the "under dog" of the east. Terrence ross to stop being a pussy and play awesome play off basketball)
6. Charlotte (Big Al has another amazing year and kemba continues to improve)
7. ATL (Al Horford has another injury riddled season but plays enough to get them through. Teague has a worse season than last due to extra recognition of last season)
8. Miami (By the grace of god Dwayne Wade gets through just. can't say the same for granger. Smokey pulls through for the boys and Bosh doesn't play anywhere near the contract he got)
teams that didnt make the cut
Detroit (Smith/Monroe issue and Jennings not being a pure point guard serves as another bad season for pistons despite having Stan)
New York (Can't see them making it with an improved East conf.)
Brooklyn (Difficult injury year. Pierce leaving will hurt)
The more i think of it (and watch McDermott torch fools in Summer League play) the more i'm liking the Bulls' chances.
IF (big IF) Rose comes back strong, a Rose/Butler/McDermott/Gasol/Noah starting 5 is pretty awesome. And even more balanced than a Irving/Wiggins/James/Thompson/Varejão one.
Cleveland, Chicago, Indiana and Washington. If Milwaukee and Detroit can be competitive next season, the central division might arguably be the 2nd best division in the NBA next season.
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