<div class="quote_poster">Quoting LakerSource:</div><div class="quote_post">How the heck is the heat 2? Because they have shaq doesnt mean there going to be a top team.</div> Actually it does, Shaq could turn the worst team in the NBA into a contender just because of how dominant a player he is, especially in the eastern conference. What teams in the Eastern Conference are better than the Heat, besides Detroit and MAYBE Indiana
My Predictions : 1. Detroit 2. Indiana 3. Miami 4. Milwaukee 5. New York 6. Philadelphia 7. Cleveland 8. Chicago
Your predictions are pretty good, except I think that you are overrating Philadelphia. They gave up a pretty good PG in Eric Snow, and did not get anyone new to make them capable of doing any better than last year
Shaq is still injury prone and teams are still using the hack a Shaq plan. Once Shaq is gone, you're looking at a 8th seed team or even worse.
Shaq may be injury prone, but thats a chance that Miami is willing to take with the most dominant player in the NBA. The hack a Shaq plan isn't something to consider when thinking of Miami's rankings....I mean comeon, teams only use hack a shaq at the end of games
Considering these are not my playoff seeds at this point just the best overall teams here is how it plays out imo..... 1. Detroit 2. Pacers 3. Heat (they are shallow, but they have shaq and its the east what more do I have to say) 4. Bucks 5. Sixers 6. Magic 7. Knicks 8. Three way tie raptors if they keep vince, cavs, and bulls Those are the teams that will be at the top of the east imo and will contend for a playoff spot this year. The heat like someone else said before are very shallow, but any team that has a big man the caliber of shaq (and there is only one shaq) has to be cosidered a top team. Espcially in the eastern conference. The Pistons are the best team in the east by far followed by the pacers, but dont let that mistake you the pacers are far far behind the pistons. The Magic are probable the most improved team in the east will take a few years for them to reach there full potential though. The knicks will be higher up depending what moves they manage to do this off season. The sixers I see up high because they have a super star the size of AI. He can carry a team on his back and I dont see him, colman, and robinson combining for a total of 112 missed games. This season. Added with a sammy dalembert who has a full nba season under his belt his first since he missed his rookie year with the injury, a willi green who will be in the starting lineup, a great young rookie, new coach, and AI at the point it will be a great season. For them no dought.
Pure Skillz, you had the Bucks at fourth, care to explain? Milwaukee did basically nothing in the offseason, and as of now, their roster is the same as before. What makes you think they'd overachieve again, without Brian Skinner to play post defense and get rebounds?
You're top 3 is not right MVP. Pistons and Pacers cannot be 1-2 because they're in the same division. Going by your standings, your top 3 should be this: 1. Detroit 2. Miami 3. Philadelphia The Division winners get the top 3 seeds. My Standings: 1. Detroit Pistons 2. Miami Heat 3. Toronto Raptors 4. Indiana Pacers 5. New York Knicks 6. Boston Celtics 7. Philadelphia 76ers 8. Washington Wizards or Chicago Bulls
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">Pure Skillz, you had the Bucks at fourth, care to explain? Milwaukee did basically nothing in the offseason, and as of now, their roster is the same as before. What makes you think they'd overachieve again, without Brian Skinner to play post defense and get rebounds?</div> What makes me think the bucks will be high up is because in the east they are the only team after the pistons and pacer with no ifs or depending on how it goes on there team they are set they no they will be good and they dont need anyone to tell them that. They are very underrated because of there lacks of off season moves and rightfully so, but they have Ford on there team who's rookie seaosn was cut short by that injury he will have another year under his belt and be even better. Desmond Mason wll just continue to improve with the team and it will be there first full season with van horn there. I think that now that tim thomas's bad attitude is gone they will become a even tighter team. I also cant forget they do have a all star player who is in his prime right now or just about to hit it in Michael Redd. They didnt make any off season moves, but there team has gotten better from the inside out. I believe they will sign some one to play the boards and replace skinner. Possible a zendon hamilton type player that would come cheap remember when skinner was signed by the bucks he got a cheap contract because he hadent performed all that well his previous years and was a steal for the bucks.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Banks:</div><div class="quote_post">You're top 3 is not right MVP. Pistons and Pacers cannot be 1-2 because they're in the same division. Going by your standings, your top 3 should be this:</div> Lol dont mean to insult your knowledge or anything, but did you even bother reading my post? If you had you would have seen that I said these are not my seedings jus tthe best overall teams. There for the pacers are ranked second and rightfully so.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> 1. Detroit 2. Miami 3. Philadelphia The Division winners get the top 3 seeds. My Standings: 1. Detroit Pistons 2. Miami Heat 3. Toronto Raptors 4. Indiana Pacers 5. New York Knicks 6. Boston Celtics 7. Philadelphia 76ers 8. Washington Wizards or Chicago Bulls </div> I agree with everything except that....you forgot about the Bucks.....I'd put Bucks at #5, and Knicks at the 6....philly is also dangerous and if they take the atlantic, i think the raps and sixers would swap places most likely...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting spawn:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree with everything except that....you forgot about the Bucks.....I'd put Bucks at #5, and Knicks at the 6....philly is also dangerous and if they take the atlantic, i think the raps and sixers would swap places most likely...</div> Well I didnt put the Bucks there for a few reasons. Mike James is their starting PG for the first few months or so. Again, Mike James. Secondly they lost Skinner who was a huge lost in their limited inside game. And lastly, I don't think Van Horn will last at the PF if he's to start there. And if he's going to start at SF, then Mason wouldnt be starting, which is wrong. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pure Skillz:</div><div class="quote_post">Lol dont mean to insult your knowledge or anything, but did you even bother reading my post? If you had you would have seen that I said these are not my seedings jus tthe best overall teams. There for the pacers are ranked second and rightfully so.</div> Yea I missed that, I read everything beside the statement above your rankings.
Very hard to evaluate the rankings... One team taht was often overlooked it Raptors, I tink they should be among the top 10 at least... they can take the celtics, phili, wizards and bulls... iMO.. Miami is among top 2-3 without question.. They lack a point gaurd though...But the addition of shaq immediately puts them HIGH up there. Detroit... well IMO detroit is overrated I dont thinkt hey will be top of the east, there will be other teams with better records, and its clear they couldnt handle shaq..
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dizzile4rizzle:</div><div class="quote_post">1-det 2-mia 3-ind 4-8 who cares</div> ummm yeah it matters. Remember the year the 6th seed Rockets won it all? And yeah I bet a lot of people care too and your post is very lacking of knowledge.
What was with all the people not thinking Miami can be 2nd? Don't you realize the division winners get the top 3 seeds, therefore one of Detroit and Indiani will be 4th, and Miami just has to have a better record than the Atlantic division winner. 1) Detroit 2) Miami 3) Philadelphia 4) Indiana 5) Toronto 6) New York 7) Washington 8) Boston or Milwaukee
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">7) Washington</div> Hmmm thats a bold statement. I highly doubt that Wahing ton can make the playoffs. The only way I can see that is if Kwamre Brown has a break out year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ace2k2:</div><div class="quote_post">Hmmm thats a bold statement. I highly doubt that Wahing ton can make the playoffs. The only way I can see that is if Kwamre Brown has a break out year.</div> :mrgreen: exactly why they'll make the playoffs
In terms of regular season win %: 1. Indiana 2. Miami 3. Detroit 4. Orlando 5. Milwaukee 6. Cleveland 7. New York 8. Toronto As for success in the playoffs.. Detroit and Miami would be #1 and 2, respectively
Im gonna keep my mouth shut till the season starts. I did it during the playoffs and my Laker team made it to the Finals even though everyone had them eliminated by the SPURS. Good luck Miami.
