+/* Playoffs, respectively1. Phoenix Suns +: Now they have Diaw AND Stoudemire AND a top 5 pick next year. Life is unfair.2. Dallas Mavericks +: Probably the deepest team in the league. If someone gets hurt, another offensive threat pops up in his place. Keep in mind that Dirk played heavy minutes in the WC, so he might be playing light minutes in November and December.3. Miami Heat *: With pretty much everyone returning, there's no reason to think that the Heat couldn't repeat. 4. San Antonio Spurs +: They've lost Nesterovic, and Duncan's individual production is dropping. They'll still pick things up in the second half like they always do, however.5. Detroit Pistons *: The only team in the league that can stomach the loss of Big Ben was probably the Pistons. 6. Chicago Bulls *: They've shored up their only weakness: front court depth. All they need now is someone to step up as a primary scorer.7. Cleveland Cavaliers *: The Cavs are good, but they're still a few players away from doing anything unless LeBron starts to tear pages from Steve Nash's leadership notebook.8. Denver Nuggets +: Carmelo Anthony showed this summer that he's second only to DWade in terms of offensive potency. The trick is making him care during the regular season.9. LA Clippers +: Can Thomas bring it in the regular season like he did in the playoffs last year? 10. Sacramento Kings +: Not only will the Kings make the playoffs this year, they could slay some giants. Kevin Martin is ready to bust out, providing a youthful complement to the veteran savvy of Artest and Bibby. Don't issue this team a death sentence quite yet. Muss for COY.11. New Jersey Nets *: The Kidd, Carter, RJ core is probably on the block as we speak. Owners will want a 07 lotto pick to send to Brooklyn, but I'm not sure if it'll happen.12. Washington Wizards *: Stadiums don't win MVPs. Arenas win MVPs. 13. LA Lakers +: Now Nicholson has a different Vlad to yell at. His outside shooting will be the perfect complement to Odom and #24.14. Utah Jazz +: Derek Fisher is just what the doctor ordered for the Jazz. If they stay healthy, they'll pick up some cheap wins at the beginning of the season while no one is looking. 15. Houston Rockets: I think they'll be healthy, I just think they're not deep enough at any position.16. Milwaukee Bucks *: The additions of CV, Steve Blake, and Ruben Patterson make them deep (for an eastern conference team anyway).17. New Orleans Hornets: Still about a year away from doing anything in the west. Problem is, Peja isn't getting any younger. 18. Memphis Grizzlies: Gasol's injury makes the loss of Lorenzen Wright seem a lot more dire. Therefore they're depending on their youth to fill in the cracks, and you can't do that in the NBA with any consistency.19. Minnesota Timberwolves: If they sped up the offense, they could shore up their lack of depth in the front court. But they won't, and their back court won't be able to do enough to get them into the playoffs.20. New York Knicks *: As much as I hate this team, I think they're deep enough for an 8 seed. Thomas screaming for his life in the locker room will also help, inspiration-wise.21. Philadelphia 76ers: See: last year. 22. Golden State Warriors: Too many factors keep the City from being any good. Baron can't stay healthy, Mikey can't play defense, JRich can't elevate the rest of his game and Murphy is just average. Still, the addition of Don Nelson might be the kick in the rear this franchise has needed. Don't be surprised if this team still has a shot at the playoffs by the All-Star Break. 23. Indiana Pacers: Sure, they could probably make the playoffs in the east. But Larry Bird seems to have made a misstep during the offseason, picking up a young, slightly above average Al Harrington. They'd be better off with a high lottery pick, IMO.24. Orlando Magic: Darko and Dwight need another year together before the playoffs are in the picture. Also, despite the addition of Red*ck, they're still too thin at SG to make noise.25. Seattle Supersonics: Unless the Supes play like their lives depended on it, this team will be blown up for picks. Prediction: Allen to a Contender or for a lotto pick at midseason.26. Portland Trailblazers: Portland was decimated by frontcourt injuries last season, so they picked up 4 guys who could play center. They're above average in that department now, so the success of Portland this season rests entirely on the head of Darius Miles. If he finally achieves his potential they could make the playoffs. But that won't happen, and he'll be gone in February. 27. Boston Celtics: In NBA Jam TE, you could make a case that the Celtics are a top flight squad. I'd go with Telfair (steals and speed), Green (turbo dunks and threes) and Ratliff (blocks). Bring Pierce off the bench for the last few minutes (clutch). Danny Ainge should stop letting Erik make trades for him. They're a poorer team for it.28. Toronto Raptors: The success of the internationals at the WC this summer was due to their experience together The international infusion of the Raptors, therefore, won't pull the Raptors above medocrity this season (especially under Sam Mitchell).29. Atlanta Hawks: I want to rate the Hawks higher, but they suck and Speedy Claxton can only help a team so much. Marvin Williams will be on Sportscenter every night, however. 30. Charlotte Bobcats Reason #30 you should get league pass this season. If they stay healthy, they'll infuriate some top teams expecting a gimme. Ammo. Felton. Okafor. Hermann. Wallace. But wins will still be hard to come by. In June, Oden will officially end the (re?)building process for the Bobcats, and they should have plenty of capspace for a FA signing.God...die..this is awful..the knicks are ahead of the celtics AND raptors AND supersonics AND Magic? bullsh**Die...
Suns at number 1? This person goes by talent levels and not by what team plays together the best. Phoenix doesn't have enough defense and their offense can't get much better than it has been.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Raptors 28th? What a bunch of f*cking dumbasses.</div>Thankyou. They should be higher
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>We have a serious shot at the playoffs, but everyone is underrating us. It pisses me off.</div>Its ok. The Raptors will prove all the haters wrong.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Sep 10 2006, 09:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Suns at number 1? This person goes by talent levels and not by what team plays together the best. Phoenix doesn't have enough defense and their offense can't get much better than it has been.</div>The Suns defense was good last year with KT and our rebounding should improve a little this year with Amare and we got Banks to replace House which will also help on D. They can always go back to 110 ppg like two years ago. Just 2 or 3 points away from it last year. :shifty2: It isn't a bad pick to have them at #1 but I would agree with you that they should have the Mavs there. Maybe the Heat two so they feel good for one week since they won the Finals.Kings are too high. Hawks too low. Raptors quite a few spots too low. I see them closer to 20.
Suns should be number 1. They didnt do as much as the Mavs. Mavericks should be number 1.Why are the Knicks number 20. lmao :HAHAHA: The Raptors should be there.
The Bucks,Pistons, and the Magic are all too high while the Boston Celtics and the Toronto Raptors are too low.
Cavs- Too highHouston- Too lowSpurs- Too lowSacramento- Too highOther than that I can stomach every other ranking.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (wolverine30 @ Sep 10 2006, 11:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>New Jersey should also be higher.</div>No they shouldn't be. The New Jersey Nets have made many additions at the guard position but don't seem to care about having a solid center and Nenad Krstic cannot play the Center position and Power Forward position at the same time if that's what their plan is. The Nets need a big man more than any other team in the league and that's why they have not made themselves contenders.
New Jersey should also be higher.my rankings:1.dallas2.miami3.phoenix4.detroit5.san antonio6.new jersey7.cleveland8.clippers9.chicago10.denver11.houston12.sacramento13.lakers14. milwaukee15.new orleans16.minnesota17.philadelphia18.memphis19.indiana20.toronto21.utah22.orland o23.boston24.golden state25.portland26.new york27.charlotte28.atlantawho else am i forgetting.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Sep 10 2006, 09:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>We have a serious shot at the playoffs, but everyone is underrating us. It pisses me off.</div>Dude figure it out already. You guys aren't a playoff team. Quit being so biased for the Raptors. All you guys did this offseason was strengthen the one part of your game that's good and that's offense. The defense still sucks and you guys still have no real veteran leadership. To say the Raptors are a playoff team is ridiculous.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (wolverine30 @ Sep 10 2006, 09:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>They will definitly contend for a playoff seed this year. They are gonna make it in 07-08.</div>How do you know this. You are not making any points here and you're just making yourself look like a biased Raptors fan. Tell me how the Raptors are good enough to contend this season when they haven't strengthened any of their problems except for gettign a playmaker.
They are deeper in the front court with the additions of:Kris HumphriesJorge GarbajosaRasho NesterovicAndrea Bargnani
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (iversonfan268 @ Sep 10 2006, 09:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>How do you know this. You are not making any points here and you're just making yourself look like a biased Raptors fan. Tell me how the Raptors are good enough to contend this season when they haven't strengthened any of their problems except for gettign a playmaker.</div>You don't have to be good to get the 8th seed in the East, especially when you play in the Atlantic. I think they will be close to that spot but I see them as the 10th team in the East.
