<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Since this is the only repository for demented ideas within the pages of this august journal, we thought we'd take this nut-ball notion out for a spin: If circumstances break right -- or even continue at the same numbing pace we've witnessed in the last month -- it is conceivable three months hence that the Nets and Knicks will play each other to decide the Eastern Conference championship. (Pause here for raucous laughter.) Done? Good.</div> Full Story by Dave D'Alessandro
anything could happen in the east, but I would love to see the Knicks back...im sick of not watchin my tem in the playoffs anymore!!!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">It's possible. But I wouldn't count out Indiana though. </div> Don't count the Pistons out either... Those three have probably the best chances to get into the EFC...
Now that Thomas has taken over, the Knicks are finally going places. Anyone in the east over .500 could advance to the ECF. The Pacers, Nets, and Pistons stand the best chance, as they display defense throughout their games.
This sounds very realistic. I think the Nets possibly have one of the better chances of taking out the East altogether. Ever since Frank became head coach, things have really turned around for them. Also, the tactics and rotation brought out the best out of the best and worst of them. I don't really see New Orleans being able to compete for it any longer. Next year though definitely. Then again, anything can happen. Although I see the Nets facing the Pistons, myself.
I think both teams will keep their current seedings & meet in the 1st round. Its going to be an extremely difficult matchup for the Nets. Its possible a series against them would go 6 or 7 games.
*Starts OVERRATED chant* Knicks will only sniff the eastern conference finals if they get rasheed next season. Not that he is a difference maker but he gives them added scoring.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">*Starts OVERRATED chant* Knicks will only sniff the eastern conference finals if they get rasheed next season. Not that he is a difference maker but he gives them added scoring.</div> Did you finish the raucous laughter first before the overrated chant? hehehe. I agree with you man. There's no chance that the Knicks will be in the ECF even if it is the East.
I agree that the knicks are starting to get overatted. Sir Charles & Espn's Greg Anthony both said that the Knicks are as good as any of the top teams in the East. I dont agree with that at all but if the knicks can get the perfect 1st round opponent in the 1st round they could pull an early upset. Say they move up one spot in the second half of the season & get the 6th seed. That would mean they would play the Pistons in the 1st round of the Playoffs. I could see the Knicks pulling an upset against them. The Pistons depend on their backcourt to outscore opposing backcourts for them to when games because of their lack of inside scoring. That would mean that Billups & Rip would have to out score Steph & Allan Houston for a 7 game series. To me thats alot to ask billups & Rip to do. A series like that could come down to who's backcourt is better. And I like the knicks in a battle of backcourts.
Defense means a lot in the playoffs which Pistons are head and shoulders above the Knicks in that area. The backcourt is key to Pistons's success but Wallace and Okur inside are equally important.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Defense means a lot in the playoffs which Pistons are head and shoulders above the Knicks in that area. The backcourt is key to Pistons's success but Wallace and Okur inside are equally important.</div> Oh of course your right, but no matter how good their defense is they will still have to find away to score more points than the knicks. And if Piston's backcourt gets outscored than I dont see how that will be possible. The pistons options start getting real slim after that. I mean you got Prince, Corliss, Chucky, Okur as ok options. but the main thing that sticks out to me about those cats is inconsistency. The Pistons can win in the playoffs unless their backcourt out plays opposing backcourts unless somebody steps up & gets really hot like Prince did last year. When Billups got outplayed by Kidd in the Eastern Conference finals the Pistons defense was still excellent. They held the Nets to low 80's every game. Y&et they still got swept cause tey couldnt generate enuff points to win. The same thing could easily happen if their backcourt gets outplayed this year. And the Knicks are the best team as far as backcourts imo.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">When Billups got outplayed by Kidd in the Eastern Conference finals the Pistons defense was still excellent. They held the Nets to low 80's every game. Y&et they still got swept cause tey couldnt generate enuff points to win</div> Kidd dominated that point guard spot as he always does with any point he goes face to face with. Nets were simply the better team last year, infact only the Bucks gave them any problems. They were on a level above everyone else. Knicks are a team I could see knocking off the Pistons even though It's unlikely. However If they somehow manage to get a 5th seed I see them making the 2nd round of the playoffs All depends on Marbury
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Kidd dominated that point guard spot as he always does with any point he goes face to face with. Nets were simply the better team last year, infact only the Bucks gave them any problems. They were on a level above everyone else. Knicks are a team I could see knocking off the Pistons even though It's unlikely. However If they somehow manage to get a 5th seed I see them making the 2nd round of the playoffs All depends on Marbury</div> Yeah cause the Nets are similar to the Pistons in that they need of offense alot from their perimeter plays inorder to win. In the games where payotn & Sam scored 20 or better it was hard for the Nets to win. And if the Bucks would have boxed out K-mart, so he couldnt tip the ball out to Rodney for the game winner in Game 5 that series might have went totally different toward the end. But that Bucks team really scared me because they had an excellent backcourt rotation of Cassell, Payton, & Redd. Two of those three were always in the game but Micheal Redd didnt play well until game 6. So that let the Nets off the hook. And I also think the knicks success will depend on Steph. But I think steph might be looking to take his game to the next level this season. With this being his 1st real shot in his career to get out of the 1st round & lead a team deep in the playoffs, its time for him to step up to the task.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">All depends on Marbury</div> Considering the great things that he's been doing, that means a lot. I'm sure he can give their first round opponents some trouble.
My pick is Detroit vs New Jersey for the EFC. Looks like Artest went down last night, and will have surgery, he's out "indefinetly". I think that will pretty much put the Pacers out of serious contention for the EFC. They were my original pick to take it all in the East, but things are now looking interesting with the Nets hot play and the trade that the Pistons made today. I won't count the Knicks out though, I just don't think that lineup will take them to the EFC. They'll give teams trouble and Isiah definetley improved them, but it's a stretch right now to say they'll go all the way to the EFC.
