It's getting closer to the draft, and soon the offseason moves will start begining. Who do you think will be the best in the east next season?
It will be the Cavs for years to come. They just need to put better players around LeBron and they will become a dynasty in the East. Chicago is a close second IMO.Teams that will falletroitMiamiTeams that will rise:ChicagoAtlanta (probably make the playoffs)Raptors
It's hard to say at this point...We have to go through the off-season to see what the teams will look like...Obviously right now it looks like Cleveland - but things change in the off-season...
Let's say Atlanta picks Mike Conley Jr:C: Shelden WilliamsPF: Josh SmithSF: Marvin WilliamsSG: Joe JohnsonPG: Mike Conley Jr.6th man: Josh ChildressThat looks like a playoff team to me. They're young but could be dangerous next year.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (wolverine30 @ Jun 13 2007, 01:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Let's say Atlanta picks Mike Conley Jr:C: Shelden WilliamsPF: Josh SmithSF: Marvin WilliamsSG: Joe JohnsonPG: Mike Conley Jr.6th man: Josh ChildressThat looks like a playoff team to me. They're young but could be dangerous next year.</div>They need some experience, coaching and defense before I see them making any serious noise.
It'll be the Pistons again. Every year this happens."Oh, the Piston's run is over. They're too old and can't compete."This time we'll be getting some new blood to get that hard-working mentality back. I am 100% confident we will be the #1 seed. Again.
That's true. They do need a better coach. Maybe like a Lenny Wilkins or a Rick Carlisle. I never liked Mike Woodson as a coach.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>It'll be the Pistons again. Every year this happens."Oh, the Piston's run is over. They're too old and can't compete."This time we'll be getting some new blood to get that hard-working mentality back. I am 100% confident we will be the #1 seed. Again.</div>You guys are gonna lose Chauncey Billups. He goes and the Piston's run is over.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (wolverine30 @ Jun 13 2007, 11:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You guys are gonna lose Chauncey Billups. He goes and the Piston's run is over.</div>Man, you can see the future?Will the Tigers win the world series this year?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (wolverine30 @ Jun 13 2007, 12:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Let's say Atlanta picks Mike Conley Jr:C: Shelden WilliamsPF: Josh SmithSF: Marvin WilliamsSG: Joe JohnsonPG: Mike Conley Jr.6th man: Josh ChildressThat looks like a playoff team to me. They're young but could be dangerous next year.</div>I dont see anything dangerous in this lineup at this point...the only proven player in this lineup is Joe Johnson...Josh Smith is a good defender but his offense is lacking if its not in the fast break...so it's WAY too soon to call this line up a playoff team especially with a rookie at PG...
It just depends on the moves this off-season. We don't know if Detroit is gonna keep, sign, trade, whatever, with Billups. Rumors are flying and it's not even the off-season. Cleveland doesn't have any draft picks, so we can't do much. But I honestly think it'll come down to Cleveland and Detroit for the best in the East, just like last year.
I think the Raptors will be big time contenders with the Cavs. I see the Pistons dropping off a bit because of Billups. Chicago is up there, too. What about the Wizards? Weren't they like 2nd in the East before Arenas got injured or something.So basically, top four seeds next year not in any order IMO:1) Toronto Raptors2) Cleveland Cavaliers3) Chicago Bulls4) Washington Wizards
The Hawks playing in the playoffs Sounds too wierd. I think Cleveland will still be up there, but they will have staunch competition from the Bulls.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SpursFan10 @ Jun 13 2007, 01:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think the Raptors will be big time contenders with the Cavs. I see the Pistons dropping off a bit because of Billups. Chicago is up there, too. What about the Wizards? Weren't they like 2nd in the East before Arenas got injured or something.So basically, top four seeds next year not in any order IMO:1) Toronto Raptors2) Cleveland Cavaliers3) Chicago Bulls4) Washington Wizards</div>Washington was only The 2nd seed for a short time. They had like the 5th seed before Arenas got hurt. I don't see Toronto being the best team in the East, if it isn't Detroit. Its either Cleveland or Chicago.
If we're talking about who will earn the regular season #1 seed, then I think it will of course be Detroit again. The 4 starters they have in Billups, Wallace, Prince, and Hamilton gives them a starting line-up that is just flat-out better than anyone in the conference. That's 4 guys who have a very realistic chance at giving a superstar performance on any given game. They just have a better 82 game make-up than anyone else.Obviously the exception would be if Billups jumped ship, but I'm highly optimistic that won't happen.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>If we're talking about who will earn the regular season #1 seed, then I think it will of course be Detroit again. The 4 starters they have in Billups, Wallace, Prince, and Hamilton gives them a starting line-up that is just flat-out better than anyone in the conference. That's 4 guys who have a very realistic chance at giving a superstar performance on any given game. They just have a better 82 game make-up than anyone else.</div>First they have to re-sign Billups. :shifty2:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mobruler @ Jun 13 2007, 03:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Obviously the exception would be if Billups jumped ship, but I'm highly optimistic that won't happen.</div>
4 teams come to mind that can make a case for themselves, depending on how they do in the off-season.- Obviously the Cavs will be there bearing any serious injuries. LeBron should be even better next season, and now Gibson is emerging as a great shooter, minus lastnight. I don't see the Cavs making any significant moves this summer, but the team they have now should be able to compete in the top of the East.- With the Pistons, it all comes down to re-signing Billups. If they re-sign him, then Dumars probably won't trade any of his core because he seems to want one more stab at a championship with the team he has now. They still have one of the most solid cores in the NBA, and players like Amir and Maxiel should recieve more playing time.- I don't see a lot of people mentioning Chicago, but they have a real nice young team. They're looking to bring in a star PF such as Marion or Gasol, and if they don't find one, they'll end up drafting one, most likely Hawes. This team plays great defense which will help them make a push to the top.- Washington is another one. With Arenas saying he will opt out in 2008, it's putting a little pressure on the front office to bring in some players that will sway Arenas to re-sign. They're one big man away from being contenders, and in the draft they could land a player like Tiago Splitter, Josh McRoberts, or Jason Smith.
