East Bulls Detroit Tornoto boston wiz NJ Heat Orlando Notes on the east. Dont put too much faith in the Celts just yet. this is a team that is gonna have alot of problems on the defensive side of the ball. They will have a short rotation this year and ray allen an PP are known for having troubles on the defensive side of the ball. especially late in the games when they play teams with great midrange shooting (bulls Pistons....). As guys get tired their defense will only get worse. this is where they will heavily rely on kg for defense. and if a team can score well from 12 feet on out to the arc (mark my words) they are gonna give Boston hell. West Dallas Suns Spurs Denver Utah Houston Portland GS Yes I said it! Porland will sneak in just ahead of GS. Dont exspect much from either team tho. I only dropped them in because of the Clippers loseing Brand and Kobe IMO certain departure from LA. You wont see that same GS team from last year. that team will have to work for every game alot harder then last year especially since teams will be taking them alot more seriously. And portland will sneak in because they will fly in under the radar.
<div class="quote_poster">michiganave17 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">East West Dallas Suns Spurs Denver Utah Houston Portland GS Yes I said it! Porland will sneak in just ahead of GS. Dont exspect much from either team tho. I only dropped them in because of the Clippers loseing Brand and Kobe IMO certain departure from LA. You wont see that same GS team from last year. that team will have to work for every game alot harder then last year especially since teams will be taking them alot more seriously. And portland will sneak in because they will fly in under the radar.</div> HOUSTON AT 6???
<div class="quote_poster">Umair Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">michiganave17, you overrated the Denver Nuggets.</div> Not really.i believe that denver will win more games than the rocs this season. I give denver the edge because they at least know what type of basket ball team they are. while over the past few years No one knows how houston should play. is it thru tmac or yao. then this coaching change will be another adjustment for the team to make. Then you throw in Stevie and you wonder who is gonna pass the ball and create for the role players. While Denver will finally have a whole season to gel as a team. and Denver knows exactly the type of basketball that they will be playing as. they understand what everybody can do and they have played together for a while now. This season Denver will have more fun and be a more succsful team now that everyone knows one another. While houston will have to adjust and see who will win the starting PG spot. They will have to learn a new offense and adujust to a new coaching style.
<div class="quote_poster">michiganave17 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Not really.i believe that denver will win more games than the rocs this season. I give denver the edge because they at least know what type of basket ball team they are. while over the past few years No one knows how houston should play. is it thru tmac or yao. then this coaching change will be another adjustment for the team to make. Then you throw in Stevie and you wonder who is gonna pass the ball and create for the role players. While Denver will finally have a whole season to gel as a team. and Denver knows exactly the type of basketball that they will be playing as. they understand what everybody can do and they have played together for a while now. This season Denver will have more fun and be a more succsful team now that everyone knows one another. While houston will have to adjust and see who will win the starting PG spot. They will have to learn a new offense and adujust to a new coaching style.</div> Denver has had the same core of Kenyon Martin, Carmelo, And camby. That by itself should get them into the playoffs, but they never get far. You bring AI in the mix and they basically have the same playoff seed as the previous year. Half of a season is good enouogh for me if you got the same core.
Okay you can say the same for Houston as well. what gives denver the edge is that denver has more youth and talent and they have a system they are used to and a coach that they already know. they know that melo is thier go to guy. A houston fan has no business questioning how far a team goes. especially since its been so long since you too have won a playoff series. Denver was just unlucky to meet up with the spurs 2 years in a row. so you really cant make how far these two teams go a factor in seeing wich is better because the fact is they have both been sucking in the playoffs!
<div class="quote_poster">michiganave17 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Okay you can say the same for Houston as well. what gives denver the edge is that denver has more youth and talent and they have a system they are used to and a coach that they already know. they know that melo is thier go to guy. A houston fan has no business questioning how far a team goes. especially since its been so long since you too have won a playoff series. Denver was just unlucky to meet up with the spurs 2 years in a row. so you really cant make how far these two teams go a factor in seeing wich is better because the fact is they have both been sucking in the playoffs!</div> I say Houston will do better this season. Denver isn't exactly young either. I mean K-Mart, Camby, and AI are all getting up there. Yes, Houston hasn't won a playoff series since T-Mac but that could change this year. The team has pretty much revamped the roster so it's looking solid. If Steve Francis could be a solid contributor, the Rockets could be out of the 1st round this year. Denver is very injury proned by the way. You can't count on their big man like Nene, Martin, or Camby because they are always injured.
Kinda early to tell... but.. we can see which teams will likely improve over last season, and which ones will not. West On the way up: Houston New Orleans Memphis On the way down: Lakers Phoenix (losing Kurt Thomas will hurt, though they will still be a top 4 seed) East On the way up: Boston Milwaukee Orlando NY (maybe) Charlotte (maybe) Miami (maybe) On the way down: Washington Indiana Philadelphia
<u>Top 4</u> 1. Detroit 2. Cleveland 3. Washington 4. Boston (Maybe Lower) <u>Bottom 4</u> 5. New Jersey 6. Toronto 7. Chicago (Maybe Higher) 8. Orlando <u>Top 4</u> 1. Dallas 2. Phoenix 3. Houston 4. San Antonio (or top 3) <u>Bottom 4</u> 5. Utah 6. Denver 7. Los Angeles (Maybe 8th) 8. Golden State I think although I put SA at 4th I think they will kill it come playoff team they're not a team like Dallas or Phoenix who get loads of reg season wins
<div class="quote_poster">bronbron23 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"><u>Top 4</u> 1. Detroit 2. Cleveland 3. Washington 4. Boston (Maybe Lower) <u>Bottom 4</u> 5. New Jersey 6. Toronto 7. Chicago (Maybe Higher) 8. Orlando <u>Top 4</u> 1. Dallas 2. Phoenix 3. Houston 4. San Antonio (or top 3) <u>Bottom 4</u> 5. Utah 6. Denver 7. Los Angeles (Maybe 8th) 8. Golden State I think although I put SA at 4th I think they will kill it come playoff team they're not a team like Dallas or Phoenix who get loads of reg season wins</div> You think Toronto will drop 3 spots in the standings? And so will the Bulls? What?!? Man, the Bulls and Raptors, 2 of the best young teams in the East with chemistry. They should be higher, but those are you predictions.
<div class="quote_poster">Master Shake Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">You think Toronto will drop 3 spots in the standings? And so will the Bulls? What?!? Man, the Bulls and Raptors, 2 of the best young teams in the East with chemistry. They should be higher, but those are you predictions.</div> This is the hardest thing I've typed out in a while because I didn't want to let last years influence me too much so I didn't look at it. Also I did this with regards to most wins not slotting in the top three of who wins there respective division. I think Washington will be higher and Toronto will be pushing for third at the most. I know Toronto had a great season last season but I think Wizards are going to come out pretty nasty this year and with Kristc back and signing of Jamal Magloire Nets should make some noise and I think this will be one of Kidd's most important season as he begins to age more so he will be pushing for more wins. As you can see I wanted to put the Bulls higher but I think they will have a steady season and make more noise in the playoffs. I think I should of had put the bulls ahead of toronto but oh well.
<div class="quote_poster">bronbron23 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">This is the hardest thing I've typed out in a while because I didn't want to let last years influence me too much so I didn't look at it. Also I did this with regards to most wins not slotting in the top three of who wins there respective division. I think Washington will be higher and Toronto will be pushing for third at the most. I know Toronto had a great season last season but I think Wizards are going to come out pretty nasty this year and with Kristc back and signing of Jamal Magloire Nets should make some noise and I think this will be one of Kidd's most important season as he begins to age more so he will be pushing for more wins. As you can see I wanted to put the Bulls higher but I think they will have a steady season and make more noise in the playoffs. I think I should of had put the bulls ahead of toronto but oh well.</div> The Wizards didn't improve vastly over this off season, but will be a contender with Arenas, Butler and Jamison. Toronto has improved and are continuing to improve. Also, they beat the Wizards by big margins holding Arenas and Jamison. The Nets lost Moore, but gained a Vet. They will be pushing, but they will not come ahead of the Raptors. That will be tight down till the end, but with the Raptor youth and depth, they will beat out the Nets in the division and standings. The Bulls should be 4th or 3rd. They will improve, and I know you don't want influence from last season, but you have to take some of that into account. the Bulls will be top in the East and remember, they would of been second if not for some factors beyond their control.
<div class="quote_poster">Swish Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Unless another team moves to Toronto, you have the Raptors as both the sixth and seventh seed. </div> Yea, we get 2 spots. So 2 chances to win. Raptors Vs. Raptors ECF. Who will win, I don't know?
