speedythief

SI has the (first?) and it is predictable to say the least.

Conference champion Cavs at the top, followed by Detroit, Boston, Chicago, then Toronto.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ngs/index.html

billfindlay10

I can live with that ranking.....seems about right. Boston is the real unknown.

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Junkyard Dog13

can dig it

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seifer0406

It's a lot better than last year's.

billfindlay10

The East will be tough this year, New Jersey should be more healthy, with Nenad and Magloire up front to start and Boone and Collins to play "D" off the bench they will be improvd in the paint. Add the big three and a Nachbar with an improving Williams and they are solid. Orlando will be tough with Howard and Lewis. Jameer is solid and Hedo, Bogans, and Arroyo give them some depthh. The Bucks will be a good team as well! Miami will also be a game that you can`t take off.

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Mr_B

I guess I'm the only one who thinks the celtics are all smoke and mirrors

mo76

I don't get what you mean by "smoke and mirrors".
I think they got a fair ranking. Team chemistry is an unknown, but all 3 stars are proven players. I'm sure their plan was to have KG get double teamed and get shots for Ray Allan and Paul Pierce. Similar to the raptors with Bosh. A legit trade, not just a ploy to the fans imho.

TRON

fairly conservative prediction for Raps, so can't really complain

I see Detroit having a strong year, they seem to always have strong comeback after an off year.

I disagree with NJ's ranking, I think they will have a strong year and win the Atlantic

The Bucks, Boston and possibly the Magic are the wildcards going in, and could be great or busts.

The east is wiiiiiiiide open for sure, I can't wait

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Mr_B

I feel people overate them because of the big 3 after them they have nothing to fall back on then factor in the age and the time it will take to build chemistry and I don't see them being the force that everybody predicts just a regular playoff team. I was telling my friend the other day that the bucks team of the 90's with their big 3 is better than this 07 version of this big 3 of the celtics

Onions, Baby

Don't the top-4 seeds have to include 3 division winners and the next best team? There is no southeast representative...

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lucky777s

Its so hard to judge BOS right now. On the one hand they are like an expansion team with these signings of House and Pollard, guys you could definitely see being unprotected in an expansion draft. On the other hand they have 3 great players who are in their prime.

The MIL comparison is interesting as Big Dog was a great scorer, Ray Allen is on both teams, and you had a great PG in Sam Cassel who was a 19/9 PG with MIL one year when everyone was healthy. BOS does not have that kind of clutch PG with championship experience and leadership. Cassel was a big part in the Minny turnaround that one year and also helped LAC have a great year when he moved there.

BOS has a better scorer in Pierce but he is no more clutch than Cassel was and is not a PG. Cassels 18-19 ppg is not that far off what you will get from one of the big three in BOS either. Garnett is better rebounder and defender than Big Dog but for scoring you would have to take Robinson's better range

I also looked at the shot attempts per year of BOS big three. They all took around 1500 to 1600 shots per year in their better scoring years. That leaves only 2000 shots or so for the other 5 rotation players, or about 24 per game. That likely equates to only 20ppg from the supporting cast if we believe the big three will continue to shoot most of the shots. So even if the big three somehow bring in 72 ppg that woud only be a team total of about 92 ppg. They would have to play a slow it down style of game to win with that few points.

Who knows, they might get guys like Sarunas and Skinner who are experienced guys who can fill out a roster on a winning team. Mutombo is apparently out as he wants to stay in HOU or retire.

Pollard was a 4/4 guy in 17mpg with IND. Hoffa was a 3/3 guy in 12mpg with the Raps. Maybe they trade for Pryz or someone but they have no trade bait left.

I like looking at the Sonics club of a few years ago that was a 3rd seed in the West I think. They had Ray and Shard, but also had Radmanovich, Ridnour, Antonio Daniels, Jerome James all in contract years and playing great. Even Damien Wilkens. They had good balance and were a high scoring team that could bomb from 3 all game. I don't think Boston can put that type of supporting cast in place to grind out an 82 game season.

If they make the playoffs they are not a club you want to face in the first round, but I don't see title contention at all. How can you just vault these guys past teams like CHI and CLE that have played together for multiple seasons and proven they have winning systems in place. Even a healthy NJ club should be given an edge over BOS as of today. And all those teams are just fringe contenders, not legit title faves.

ORL - I don't know you can say they improved when they lose Darko and Hill and only bring in Shard. That seems pretty neutral.

MIL - should be better just due to good health but coaching is an issue there and Yi could be a distraction whether he comes or not. Chemistry may be a big issue there with Villy, Simmons, Yi, Redd, Bell, and MoWilliams.

NY - is another wildcard. I don't see Isaiah bringing it all together. Too many me-first players and stat-whores. But their front line of Randolph and Curry could kill BOS on the inside while they have long wing defenders like Jeffries and Balkman, and shooters like Marbury and Crawford and QRich. And a hustle rebounder and high FG% scorer like David Lee. If you could give those guys brain transplants they should be better than BOS, shouldn't they? Certainly more balance and depth.

East is truly wide open for the Atlantic champ and final 2 spots.