<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Yes, it might make the road back to the NBA Finals a little tougher for the Cleveland Cavaliers , but the arrivals of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in Boston, Zach Randolph in New York, Jason Richardson in Charlotte and Rashard Lewis in Orlando will increase the competitiveness of the conference -- and to LeBron that's a good thing. "It's about time we got some pros over in the Eastern Conference," James said Thursday after Team USA held its second practice. "I think it's going to be good. I think the Eastern Conference is definitely going to step up a notch now because Boston wasn't a playoff team, but now they're looking like they're going to be a playoff team. New York is definitely going to have a good shot at it again, and the Eastern Conference is definitely stepping it up. I think it's good for the league." </div> Source
No kidding, the race for the 8th in the East should be filled with better teams than last year's race. I can't imagine what it would be like if Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant were traded over to the East.
Yeah, I agree with Lebron, the East needed some stars, and this season has given the East just that. Not only has it upped the easts profile, it has made the All Star voting more interesting!!! The East has been stagnant, always churning out the same all stars, this will really test the system out!!!
The east is still pretty weak compared to the west. Who knows if the celtics, Knicks, or magic will even make the playoffs? The east may have gotten a couple all stars, but the west is still head and shoulders above the east.
<div class="quote_poster">Answer_AI03 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">The east is still pretty weak compared to the west. Who knows if the celtics, Knicks, or magic will even make the playoffs? The east may have gotten a couple all stars, but the west is still head and shoulders above the east.</div> Are you kidding me? The Knicks have a 50/50 chance, we can't say for sure until we see them during the season, but you gotta be high on something if you think the Celtics and Magic aren't playoff contention. Orlando made the playoffs last year without Rashard Lewis, it's only going to get better for them this season. Boston Celtics are finals contenders with a trio like Allen, KG and Pierce easily.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Are you kidding me? The Knicks have a 50/50 chance, we can't say for sure until we see them during the season, but you gotta be high on something if you think the Celtics and Magic aren't playoff contention. Orlando made the playoffs last year without Rashard Lewis, it's only going to get better for them this season. Boston Celtics are finals contenders with a trio like Allen, KG and Pierce easily. </div> First of all, I am high. Second of all, you missed the ENTIRE point of my post. The point i was going after was that the east is still a on a much lower talent level than the west. As i stated in my first post, the knicks, celtics, and magic all got better on paper, but whos to say things will work out on the court? Injuries could accur, players might not get along, or maybe the coaches just wont know what to do with the new talent that they have, who knows? The west is still by far the dominant conferance in the NBA.
<div class="quote_poster">Answer_AI03 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">First of all, I am high. Second of all, you missed the ENTIRE point of my post. The point i was going after was that the east is still a on a much lower talent level than the west. As i stated in my first post, the knicks, celtics, and magic all got better on paper, but whos to say things will work out on the court? Injuries could accur, players might not get along, or maybe the coaches just wont know what to do with the new talent that they have, who knows? The west is still by far the dominant conferance in the NBA.</div> Yeah, I know the West still tops over the East, but it's definitely not close to what it was last year. Orlando lost Darko, but gained Rashard Lewis, so things will work out better barring injuries. I don't think Boston fans need to worry about Pierce, KG and Allen getting along. The main problem with them seems to be the lack of depth on that team and the inexperienced Rajon Rondo. Danny Ainge certainly isn't done yet, so you can expect more additions added before the season starts. The Knicks were a decent team last season, but they were pretty damn cold last season. The addition of Zach Randolph is just going to make him and Curry the most dominant center in the league and you put them along with David Lee, Stephon Marbury and Jamal Crawford, they have to be in the chase for the 8th. But what I'm trying to say here is that, the West is still the dominant conference, but you can't consider the East the JV league anymore.
Zach in the east is nothing hes a scrub im so glad blazers got rid of him thats the only reason I would not go watch Blazer games.. lol yay hes gone! Sky boX! Kinda wierd but I honestly did not like him and he really is the reason I did not go watch a game last season.. at least live...
Wow, i think i would still go to a game, if i had tickets, even if the team i liked had a player i didnt like. But anyway, Randolph should be able to dominate in the post in the east. He could easily have an all-star season and possibly a top 2 or 3 forward in the east.
I don't see him being a top 3 PF in the East. Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, and KG are easily ahead of Randolph and that's just to name a few.
Im not exactly sure what his stats were off the top of my head, but im pretty sure Randolph was averaging something like 25 and 11 for a while last year. That would put him right up there with those 3 if he can do that in the east, which he should. Randolph made some mistakes and was in a messed up situation in Portland, hopefully he can pick things up again in NY.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"Boston wasn't a playoff team, but now they're looking like they're going to be a playoff team."</div> I love LeBron's indepth analysis.
I agree with LeBron the east was weak and very boring.But now with KG and some others it might be better.
<div class="quote_poster">Montaman Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">You're thinking of R. Kelly. Or maybe I'm confused. Which one plays in the NBA?</div> Didn't Kobe **** a fourteen year old or something? I hear that the defense had evidence that exonerated him, but they never presented it or something.
Well, there's a difference between lovemaking and pee-pee. That's a difference you're supposed to learn before you start watching Pacino movies... ...and, this thread is about LeBron James, not Kobe Bryant... ...and I think the girl was in her early twenties, and I'm sure a defense team wouldn't withold useful evidence deliberately. I think they settled the case.
<div class="quote_poster">Montaman Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well, there's a difference between lovemaking and pee-pee. That's a difference you're supposed to learn before you start watching Pacino movies... ...and, this thread is about LeBron James, not Kobe Bryant... ...and I think the girl was in her early twenties, and I'm sure a defense team wouldn't withold useful evidence deliberately. I think they settled the case.</div> When you settle a case, do they still have to pay or what? How does that work, anyway? Is it like pleading guilty, or no contest? Also, to avoid this thread from becoming completely derailed, I should state that regarding Kobe, I think he's got what it takes, definitely. As long as he stays away from all that bad luck he had a few months ago, he should be fine.
Well, thanks for trying to prevent the derail, but I'm afraid your response made it painfully apparent you don't even know what thread you're posting in. The cure was marvelous, but the patient died. Anyways, getting past that bizarre interlude, I predict an all-star spot for Jason Richardson, and finally a true dogfight for the eastern conference. I fact, I predict that Richardson's Bobcats will dethrone the Celtics in a #2-#7 first round matchup. In any case, LeBron will have the competition he needs to validate his stardom.
<div class="quote_poster">Montaman Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> Anyways, getting past that bizarre interlude, I predict an all-star spot for Jason Richardson, and finally a true dogfight for the eastern conference.</div> A dogfight? Someone call Michael Vick
