Bulletin Board Material (ESPN "Experts")

[Vermont Green]

Ridiculous. As others have said I’m fine with picking Milwaukee, though I think the loss of Middleton last year is exaggerated for them when considering our own injuries we were dealing with. I still take a healthy Boston team against a healthy Milwaukee in a series, especially with the addition of Brogdon.

But I’m flabbergasted at all this talk around Philly significantly improving this summer and being an ECF favorite. Wasn’t their only major addition PJ Tucker, who looked close to toast the other night?

Tucker + Melton + House + Harrell.  I wouldn't trade Brogdon for all four of them.

I think a lot of the Philly love is based on an anticipated major jump from Maxey and improved "health" from Harden allowing him to revert back much closer to his prime form.  I don't know that either of those things happen, but I'd guess that is where a lot of it stems from.

I agree with this.  I think Tucker is a nice add as it allows Harris to play more in what I believe is his natural position.  Harris wants to be on the wing, not down low doing blue collar things.  That is what Tucker can give them.  But the principle variable is Harden.  If he really walks the "man on a mission" talk, he has the potential to be an MVP candidate level of player.  If he continues to always be banged up, not so much.

I think the experts are betting on Harden when picking PHI, more than anything else.  I would suggest people not be so quick to write off PHI based on one game.  Give the team some time to figure things out.  They could be like the Celtics last season, very different in the second half vs. the first half.  Harden and Embiid need to stay healthy though obviously. 

In any case, I think the Celtics are right there with the Buck and PHI or anyone else.  Health/durability will be an issue for us too.  Which team can shore up weaknesses along the way with trades or whatever.  We will be right in this though.

[slamtheking]

Well if nothing else it confirms that the 18 NBA "journalists" at ESPN and I are clearly on the same page regarding the Bucks i.e. they are clearly the favorites this year.  I mean 15 of them have the Bucks advancing to the Finals and another has them losing in the ECF.  Of the 15, 12 have them winning the championship.  So just 2 didn't have the Bucks finishing the year as a top 2 team in the East and 2/3 think the Bucks are winning the championship. 

Clippers and Warriors each had 8 Finals appearances with the Nuggets and Grizzlies getting the other 2.

careful, don't break your hand patting yourself on the back for a bunch of idiots agreeing with you

[Sophomore]

Marc Spears: Nets over Sixers for the East title.

Wut?

I don't think that's a ridiculous claim. The nets have one of the most talented rosters in the NBA. Whether they gel and figure it out is the debate. Not the level of talent. The 76ers are in the same boat. One of the more talented rosters in the NBA. The questions: Can Harden and Embiid stay healthy all season, can Doc coach successfully?

If all those things happen a Philly/Brooklyn ECF is certainly possible.

“Certainly possible” doesn’t mean “likely”, or something I’d predict.

The Nets last year were soft as butter in round one. Durant is a years older and their major addition is having Ben Simmons suit up instead of watching from the bench. Let’s just say Simmons is not noted for showing up big in the playoffs.

Philly has major issues we are all aware of. People want to say they added a lot of good role players but I’m skeptical. As was said above, I wouldn’t trade Brogdon for all of them.

[CelticsWhat35]

I don’t have a problem with people picking the Bucks.  I do find it surprising there’s such a huge consensus.  Everyone talks about how they took the Celtics to 7 games without Middleton but gloss over the fact that a banged up Nets team took them to 7 the year before.

[No Nickname]

Ridiculous. As others have said I’m fine with picking Milwaukee, though I think the loss of Middleton last year is exaggerated for them when considering our own injuries we were dealing with. I still take a healthy Boston team against a healthy Milwaukee in a series, especially with the addition of Brogdon.

But I’m flabbergasted at all this talk around Philly significantly improving this summer and being an ECF favorite. Wasn’t their only major addition PJ Tucker, who looked close to toast the other night?

Tucker + Melton + House + Harrell.  I wouldn't trade Brogdon for all four of them.

Completely agree.  The 76ers bench is middling.  Maybe Harrell has a few breakout games, but for the most part if the Sixers starters don't get it done, they're cooked.

[Surferdad]

...
"Experts".  Lol.

This thread should have ended right there. I have never given a hoot about predictions from "experts".

[keevsnick]

I really, really, really do not get the 76er hype right now. I've heard so much about how they had a great offseason. Their main additions are Harrel, House, Tucker and Melton. The first two guys are fine regular season guys, probably not playing much for you come playoffs. Tucker is older than dirt. So their biggest addition was a 6'2 10ppg guard? Its not like they went out and stocked up on elite 3+d wings or something. Their biggest addition might literally be Harden's hamstring being better. I mean dont get me wrong, they will be good because they have talent. But they are gonna have a hard time being a good defense with maxey+harden. I would be shocked if they go farther in the playoffs than the c's, assuming equal health.

[td450]

The Bucks have a number of old guys. It also remains to be seen if adding Ingles and Ibaka make them any better. Igles is 35, coming off a significant knee injury and not exactly the fittest guy in the NBA when he's healthy. Lopez will be 35 by the playoffs, and gets hurt like Robert Williams gets hurt. Hill and Matthews are both 36. Will their defensive value hold?

The Bucks are led by Giannis and are huge. They have two very good guards/wings, but they are both over 30 and if one gets injured, their bench will not be competitive with our guards and wings at all.

We are led by Tatum and Brown and have great quality depth at guard and maybe the best wing duo in the NBA. We have two very good bigs, but if one gets injured, we will not be competitive with their size at all.

So we are both vulnerable.

If both teams are at full strength, I think we have the younger roster, Brogdon is a better addition, White should be more ready, and our core has more room for improvement.

I think the press is underestimating just how much Tatum and Brown are still maturing and improving because they've been around so long.  We should be the favorites, but it's very close.

[86MaxwellSmart]

B...B...But Middleton....The same Middleton who is STILL out of the Bucks lineup?

ESPN "Experts" know nothing...they will be changing their opinions in two weeks once again.

[nickagneta]

Didn't these same experts vote the Celtics as having 7 top 100 players in the league, making them the highest, or one of the highest, rated teams with top talent in the league?

[sgrogan]

Didn't these same experts vote the Celtics as having 7 top 100 players in the league, making them the highest, or one of the highest, rated teams with top talent in the league?

It looks pretty consistent.
Giannis #1
Embid #4 (2nd in the east)/Harden #11 (5th in the east)
Tatum #7 (3rd in the east)
Durant #8 (4th in the east)
Butler #17 (6th in the east)
No love for Trae #16 (5th in the east) and Atlanta

[gouki88]

I was watching Ernie and the guys on TNT, and Shaq & Kenny said the Warriors had an 85-90% chance of repeating. Just lunacy!

[tenn_smoothie]

IF .............. the Celts had a healthy Gallinaro and Williams AND a quality backup center and Udoka had not gotten into trouble and was still the coach, then I think we would be the favorite out of the East and quite possibly for the title.

However, I did see reason for hope for significant improvement in our offense under Mazzula and with the addition of Brogdon.
Time will tell if the coaches are making real changes and if the team will cooperate. They have been playing iso their entire careers.

[ozgod]

I'm happy being underdogs...this team performs best when they feel they have something to prove and have a chip on their shoulder.