1. Heat - 57-25. Winning the title will give them aded confidence but as you suggest they'll hold something back for the playoffs and not go all out in the reg. season. Being a vet team means thats a necessity. Shaq and co. are sure to miss some games with injury/wear and tear. But they'll still take the East and probably defend their title in the Finals.2. Pistons - 54-28. Their still a regular season juggernaut. Don't write them off just yet. Despite our Bulls matching up very favourably with them now I still expect them to pip us to the Central title. They still have their four main scorers who all score inside more than our 4 main guys. Plus they've proved they can bounce back after disappointment e.g. last season's amazing reg. season after their Finals bad luck. There's a chance we may see a classic Bulls v Pistons 2nd rd matchup...probably with Det just edging us in 7.3. Bulls 52-30. This is a tough choice for me. My heart says we'll take the #3 seed. But I'm maybe being naive. Cle and LBJ will probably edge us out...But the obvious improvements we've made should see hold us in good stead. We've addressed our lack of athleticism, improved our already strong D and added 3 veterans for a more cohesive locker room. There's still a lack of inside scoring unless (a) Sweets can contribute more as a natural low post threat or ( Deng can develop a post game. Whatever happens we'll definitely improve on last year's win total....despite a tough start. If we're .500 come December time expext my prediction to ring true. Will make rd 2 of the playoffs for once.4. Cavs - 51-31. LBJ will continue to carry this team with little or no help from others. Anderson may well continue his improvement and become starting PF, Z will be a year older and even slower than usual. But LBJ will continue to rack up crazy stats with the help of his godfather Stern. Lose to Heat in rd 2 of the playoffs.5. Nets - 49-33. Same record as last year. Still a very decent team but their progress depends on the health of their perceived 'big 3'. I like their moves at PG bringing in the two Williams' as backups. Despatched by Cle in rd 1.6. Pacers - 47-35. I like most all of their offseason moves though their still weak at PG if (or when) Tins goes down for half the season. If he (and J.O) plays most of their games expect 5 more wins and maybe a 4th seed. A very talented side but can they gel the new guys together quickly enough to affect a higher seeding? And will the loss of the unheralded Anthony Johnson be the one move they rue the most? A close loss to Chi in the playoffs, probably 7 games.7. Wiz - 41-41. Same old same old. I see no real improvements from them this ofseason and consequently this reg. season. Arenas will still command the ball and put up nice stats. And they'll still lose in rd 1 of the playoffs. Crushed by Det in the playoffs, a sweep most likely.8/9/10. Bobcats/Magic/Bucks - it'll be one of these 3 IMO. The Bucks look strong and will probably take the last spot. I liked the CV for TJ trade and the move of Bogut to C. They look a very athletic outfit now. The Magic made great strides late last year and will surely be there or thereabouts in April. Charlotte have made some real nice moves this summer, a core of...Ely/BrezecOkafor/MayMorrisonWallaceFelton/Knight... looks pretty good to me. They also brought over this Argentinian Herrmann who's apparently a better scorer than Noc or Manu. I expect Morrison will score well, Okafor will actually play some games and Wallace will get even better. This may be a season too early for them to crash the party though I would'nt be surprised if they did. so..8. Bucks 41-41. That starting lineup of Williams/Redd/Simmons/Villanueva/Bogut looks stacked. Add Bell as 6th MOTY candidate and they'll surely sneak into the playoffs.9. Bobcats 39-43. Next year it'll be the playoffs for them.10. Magic - 39-43. Same as the Cats. Another year of growth for Howard and co.11. Celtics - 36-46. Boston look loaded at PG (though I hear West may move to SG) with young Telfair moving to Beantown. Pierce will win them most of their games but his lack of support (and their youth) will be their undoing. They'll hopefully come good in a couple years while Pierce is still in his prime.12. Sixers - 35-47. A down year for AI's crew. He's not gonna be able to carry them forever. Korver and Iggy should hope for breakout years but I can't quite see it. 13. Raptors - 33-49. Their still very young (maybe the youngest in the league at avg. age 23.8??) so this'll probably be another learning year for T.O. I'll be interested to see how Bargnani pans out...he has all the tools to be a major Dirk-like success story but thats been said before. I believe he has the best chance out of the previous guys given that tag (Raddy, Skita, etc)...if he can be half the guy Dirk is then he and Bosh will lead TO to the Atlantic title before long. Still weak at C but they have 2 pass first PG's in Calderon and Ford. Not many hold stock in that these days but I do.14. NY - 32-48. Just behind their Canadian foes for Isiah's boys (literally given their youth). I see another transitional year for the mish mash of styles we know (and love?) as the Knicks. Apparently they'll be giving more PT to youth and in Frye they have a player most deserving of extra mins. They still have too many 'me first, need the rock to be effective' scorers (Franchise, Rose, Marbs) but will probably manage a slight improvement from last year. Isiah is'nt turning this around in one season as coach.15. Hawks - 29-53 - I sound like a broken record but their still 'very young'. They've addressed their needs at PG (though is'nt Claxton out injured for ages?) and their less weak at C with Zen Wright alongside Pachulia. They've drafted Williams as a low post scorer and have one of the more athletic and impressive corp. of swingmen in the NBA (Smith, Johnson and Childress) but you feel their still lacking something. They may get their in the end (landing Oden would be nice) but not at least til 2009 IMHO.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CB4AllStar @ Oct 4 2006, 03:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Why is this in the Bulls section?</div>Bulls are in the Eastern Conference dude.here's some more reasons as to why we'll get 11 more wins than last year..<ul>[*]An increased veteran presence[*]Close games. With the addition of Ben and PJ helping lock games down late we surely can't lose as many close ones this year. Last year we seemed to lose every close game and were often leading in the last 60 secs, 30 secs or the last 5 secs only to be denied (v Cle, Utah, etc). I doubt we'll have as many late game brainfarts this time.[*]Our core are all a year older and wiser and better defensively.[*]Our new additions bring a veteran presence we lacked last year.[*]Deng has had a full offseason to train unlike last year.[*]Fouls. I doubt we'll foul as much as the insane rate from last year. Kirk's added respect from the media (and consequently the refs) should help bring this down. Plus (again) our vets should foul less.[*]Opp FT's. Last year opps. shot a crazy 77.7% at the line v Chi. Thats over 3% higher than the league avg. and 2nd worst in the NBA. If that stat returns to approx the league avg. it'll be good for 2/3 more wins. Not sure why this happened, it can only be put down to bad luck.[/list]
This concerns the whole Eastern Conference, not just the Bulls. That's why it was moved to the NBA General section. Don't do this again, please.
do what again? post?loosen up bro. this was already explained to me in a far lighter manner by 'ballaholic'.if you wish to be of use then answer me this....a colleague just interviewed Gary Payton and has posted the Q&A on our site. If I was to share that here would I post it in this section or the Heat section?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gregorius @ Oct 5 2006, 09:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>do what again? post?loosen up bro. this was already explained to me in a far lighter manner by 'ballaholic'.if you wish to be of use then answer me this....a colleague just interviewed Gary Payton and has posted the Q&A on our site. If I was to share that here would I post it in this section or the Heat section?</div>Probably the Heat section. And to cb4, loosen up... this guy is newer and he probably won't make the mistake again (not that it was that bad or anything)
The fact is, He has 17 posts. It's obvious he is a new member and didn't understand how we set up certain threads.You told him not to do it again like you were his father, A simple PM would have done fine.Awesome rankings Greg. Looks like you spent a decent amount of time on it. It's rare that you put the Bulls below the Pistons when your a Chicago fan. Considering non Bulls fans are already mentioning the Bulls as title contenders.
Thanks buddy...it took me awhile to think things out. However, just a few days later I feel like changing it all round again.The Bulls will be up there and'll finish anywhere from 2nd-5th IMO.3rd or 4th are most likely..on a Bulls/Detroit related tip I just posted this
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BALLAHOLLIC @ Oct 6 2006, 01:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The fact is, He has 17 posts. It's obvious he is a new member and didn't understand how we set up certain threads.You told him not to do it again like you were his father, A simple PM would have done fine.Awesome rankings Greg. Looks like you spent a decent amount of time on it. It's rare that you put the Bulls below the Pistons when your a Chicago fan. Considering non Bulls fans are already mentioning the Bulls as title contenders.</div>What? I just told him to not do it again. What's so bad about that?
