<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NetsDaily)</div><div class='quotemain'>Marty Burns of Sports Illustrated ranks the Eastern Conference teams, #1 (Boston) through #15 (New York) and believes the new-look Nets are no better than #14. Burns thinks that for the Nets to make the playoffs “Vince Carter and Devin Harris are going to have to put up monster seasons”. Burns suggests the Nets didn’t re-sign Nenad Krstic and Gana Diop to give Brook Lopez and Josh Boone an opportunity.</div> Eastern Conference rankings - Marty Burns - Sports Illustrated I wouldn't doubt this. There's no way we're worse than the Knicks. But I really think we'll surprise a lil bit this season. I think the real reasons behind the Nets not signing Diop and Nads was because of $$, though. Duh.
No way the Pacers are better than the Hawks. I think the 8th seed is going to come down to Hawks, Bulls, Nets and Bucks. I think the Heat, Pacers, Knicks and Bobs are worst in the East. A lot of the Nets success will depend on defense, and the development of Lopez and Yi. If that all works well then the sum of the parts will do better than the name on the backs of the jerseys may suggest. I still think we need one more move to bring in a more established scorer.
Damn!!! He is going to swallow alot of his crap at the end of the year. Bobcats and Pacers better then the Heat. Wade, Marion, Beasley, Haslem and who ever you want at the PG. This team is going to be good. Bucks and Bulls still dont get respect. As far as the Nets, I like when they underestimate us, but just hope we are better then the Knicks.
I don't know why people always rank the Wizards so high. They always have the same team (and didn't they have a better record last year when Gil was out?) and they always do okay.
Sounds about right. I would love it if they made the playoffs next season but I don't see it happening. This team has lot of talent but they will have hard time putting it together.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Netted @ Aug 13 2008, 03:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>No way the Pacers are better than the Hawks. I think the 8th seed is going to come down to Hawks, Bulls, Nets and Bucks. I think the Heat, Pacers, Knicks and Bobs are worst in the East. A lot of the Nets success will depend on defense, and the development of Lopez and Yi. If that all works well then the sum of the parts will do better than the name on the backs of the jerseys may suggest. I still think we need one more move to bring in a more established scorer.</div> Nearly every team is better than it was last year (which is kind of weird)- this is not true for the hawks, despite the continued improvement of Horford and Law and a possibly rejuvenated Zaza, simply because they lost a huge component. It'd be interesting to separate the teams out that way- which got better, which got worse, which is hard to tell- but I've got to go to dinner, so I'm not going to do that now.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lukewarmplay @ Aug 13 2008, 06:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Netted @ Aug 13 2008, 03:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>No way the Pacers are better than the Hawks. I think the 8th seed is going to come down to Hawks, Bulls, Nets and Bucks. I think the Heat, Pacers, Knicks and Bobs are worst in the East. A lot of the Nets success will depend on defense, and the development of Lopez and Yi. If that all works well then the sum of the parts will do better than the name on the backs of the jerseys may suggest. I still think we need one more move to bring in a more established scorer.</div> Nearly every team is better than it was last year (which is kind of weird)- this is not true for the hawks, despite the continued improvement of Horford and Law and a possibly rejuvenated Zaza, simply because they lost a huge component. It'd be interesting to separate the teams out that way- which got better, which got worse, which is hard to tell- but I've got to go to dinner, so I'm not going to do that now. </div> They did replace him with Maurice Evans, though. He obviously doesn't do as much as Josh, but he ain't no stiff, either.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lukewarmplay @ Aug 13 2008, 06:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Nearly every team is better than it was last year (which is kind of weird)- this is not true for the hawks, despite the continued improvement of Horford and Law and a possibly rejuvenated Zaza, simply because they lost a huge component. It'd be interesting to separate the teams out that way- which got better, which got worse, which is hard to tell- but I've got to go to dinner, so I'm not going to do that now.</div> Josh wasn't that big of a loss. They'll have a full season with Bibby and a more experienced Horford. I don't see how the Pacers improved. Let alone improved to the point they are better than the Hawks. I don't think the Bobs improved either.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Netted @ Aug 13 2008, 06:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lukewarmplay @ Aug 13 2008, 06:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Nearly every team is better than it was last year (which is kind of weird)- this is not true for the hawks, despite the continued improvement of Horford and Law and a possibly rejuvenated Zaza, simply because they lost a huge component. It'd be interesting to separate the teams out that way- which got better, which got worse, which is hard to tell- but I've got to go to dinner, so I'm not going to do that now.</div> Josh wasn't that big of a loss. They'll have a full season with Bibby and a more experienced Horford. I don't see how the Pacers improved. Let alone improved to the point they are better than the Hawks. I don't think the Bobs improved either. </div> One of the Bobcats problems last year was the coach. I'm not Brown's biggest supporter, but if he hits this team right, they've got the talent to be much better. Childress is much better than Evans and a different player- it's not like Evans replaces Childress, who played 30 mpg. Yeah, Bibby is better than the point guard by committee they had, but they were at 23-30 when they got him last year and finished at 37-45. That's not bad, but it's not like Bibby's really the type of pg that makes his teammates better. If Law had worked out, that would have been better for them. I don't know, I see them treading water while everyone else improves at best. Obviously, the sixers, knicks and heat improved. The cavs maybe just got better today, and the picture just got murkier for the bucks- even though I think overall they improved as well. My opinion is that charlotte, orlando, the nets, indiana, detroit all got a little better, while the wizards and chicago are treading water, atlanta and boston are a little worse off, and i have no clue as to whether JO will work out for toronto. Clearly, this is more important for some cases than others- like it doesn't matter much that Boston got a little worse or the Knicks got better. But the conference overall is stronger, and the playoff race will be difficult and even frustrating- in the sense that many fans will see an improved team that would have made the playoffs last year.
We're going to have a really, really difficult season by all indications. At the same time, just think about where we were seven months ago, stuck in the status quo, with the big three and a disgruntled team leader. Change is something fans have been wanting for a long time, this is part price of getting what you want.
The Pacers can certainly be better than the Hawks. It's tough to see Atlanta making the playoffs again this season.
