ESPN "experts" prognosticate top 5 NBA teams

[PosImpos]

Celtics at #4 or #5 sounds just about right to me.

It'll take another very improbable and gutsy post-season run to make it out of the East this year.

But hey, "Anythings possiblllllllleeee"

[Junkyard Dawg]

i saw this today at work, huge TP for pointing it out.  what a crock.  most 'experts' are so reluctant to give the C's any love, I don't know what it is, I guess it's the same man-love, front-runner mentality that turns grown men into babies over the fact that LBJ is not michael jordan and doesn't want to be ---> cause the C's don't have any young, coming-of-age superstars??  dunno, but honestly it will feel that much better when we win it all next year.

[RockinRyA]

as ive said, no one is getting out of the east without someone who can slow down dwight. does the heat have someone who can? they dont even have a center

[FallGuy]

I think regular season record will be:

LAL
BOS
ORL
OKC
MIA

I don't understand your reasoning. If anything, I'd expect the Celtics to save themselves for the playoffs even moreso next year, with phantom injuries (or real ones) sidelining the stars, to keep them fresh.

And Miami will come out aggressive with something to prove. Their big three will play heavy minutes and they'll win a ton of games.

[Rashi]

1.) Lakers - They are the team to beat. They have won back to back championships, have had back-to-back best record in the West, and have the best front court in the league (even when Bynum isn't 100% healthy).

2.) Celtics - Even with the big 3 getting a year older and slightly declining, the improvements that Rondo, Tony and Baby have brought to their game is some-what balancing the decline of the vets. We have the most impressive defense in the league and our team's chemistry is unmatchable. Please please DA getting me Anthony Morrow and Ben Wallace and I'll be one happy camper.

3.) Orlando Magic - Dwight Howard is really improving and the team as a whole has a bunch of good players. They might be a bit inconsistent, but if they stop living and dying at 3 point line, then they have a potential of being a more consistent team. Not to mention that when this team IS hot from the 3-point line, they are pretty much unbeatable.

4.) OKC - This is the team I'll be really looking forward to watching and rooting for in the West. This young group really surprised everyone with their regular season accomplishment and earned everyone's respect by winning 2 games against the Lakers in the playoffs. Presti has just improved the roster by adding some pieces, so they will only be better next season. Really looking forward to the Westbrook-Durant combo.

5.)Denver Nuggets - Honestly I think these guys were a really good team last year and possibly the biggest threat for the Lakers. Unfortunately Karl's health prob was the reason that these guys pretty much stumbled in the playoffs. With Karl back I really do see these guys taking the number 2 seed in the west and actually giving those Fakers a hard time.


After watching the Miami Heat celebration party I am too disgusted to even write much about them. They still have a roster to fill up, and until then they really aren't a TEAM.

[Who]

Abbott has the Spurs ahead of the Celtics Really?  Feel free to comment.




Abbott: 1. Lakers; 2. Magic; 3. Heat; 4. Spurs; 5. Celtics

Adande: 1. Lakers; 2. Celtics; 3. Magic; 4. Heat; 5. Thunder

Arnovitz: 1. Heat; 2. Lakers; 3. Magic; 4. Celtics; 5. Rockets

Ford: 1. Lakers; 2. Heat; 3. Magic; 4. Mavericks; 5. Celtics

Hollinger: 1. Lakers; 2. Magic; 3. Heat; 4. Thunder; 5. Celtics

Sheridan: 1. Lakers; 2. Heat; 3. Celtics; 4. Thunder; 5. Rockets



Stein: 1. Lakers; 2. Heat; 3. Celtics; 4. Magic; 5. Thunder/Bulls

The Spurs might miss the playoffs. Need to think some more on this ... but they look hugely vulnerable right now.

Their supporting cast is horrific.

[GreenFaith1819]

Well, these rankings from ESPN doesn't surprise me at all...to be honest, I am surprised that we actually made anyone's list. We have been the underdogs ever since Summer 07. Even back then, the Purple and Gold sniffers at ESPN were picking them .

We all know that David Stern must be smiling from ear to ear with all of the drama the last few weeks.

[Papatrichs]

so that (1) for being 2nd Best; (2) for 3rd; (1) for 4th; and (3) for being 5th...

Its LAL-BOS again in the Finals!

[Greenbean]

Abbott has the Spurs ahead of the Celtics Really?  Feel free to comment.

Abbott picked the Cavs to sweep us so that guy has no credibility what so ever. 

yep, all credibility lost.

So, if you make a prediction that turns out wrong, you lose all credibility?

Please.

The guy knows the game.

You can be angry he doesn't pick the Celtics but to pretend like he has no credibility based solely on this prediction is silly.

I've never seen anyone criticize his knowledge, writing, insights, etc. into anything else but his Celtics-based predictions. You want to say someone has no credibility, especially someone who so clearly has lines on their resume, you need to make a much stronger case than feeling slighted.

He also picked the Lakers in 5 in '08.  How'd that turn out?  Oh year Banner 17  ! And now he is saying the Spurs will be better than us next year.  The same team who got swepted by the Phoenix Suns last year.

Again the guy has lost all his credibility. 

I agree he is credible as a basketball analyst, but he is a teeerrrribble predictor of futures.

I mean what is he basing the Spurs improvement on? They didnt add anyone and are one year older. I dont get it.

[ssspence]

i think the bulls are better than the thunder. thunder have no post game and the bulls just got boozer.

thunder have some KD and bulls don't

[Celtics4ever]

Their analysts are very poor IMHO.  They are good talking heads and great rumor mongers though.

[Edgar]

what makes me a little disturbed is how they can do that
without even know the real rosters
Even celtic roster is a work in progress
:/


I recommend them to hire the WorldCup octopus the new shaman.

[celtics2]

On ESPN Radio I believe Colin Cowherd has the Celts 2nd. I got us 3rd to 5th and that's if we're healthy and if Ainge can fill the sneakers of T.Allen.