Author Topic: Ranking the East (Read 3600 times)

perks-a-beast · « **on:** July 18, 2022, 11:54:38 AM »

Free agency is pretty much over, and I honestly don't see any more trades happening this offseason - Brooklyn fiasco has seemed to cool down, still may have a Mitchell trade, but don't see that being a huge shakeup if it happens. So here's how I rank the east at the moment...

1. Milwaukee. With a healthy Middleton, I think they're the best team in the NBA.

2. Boston. Historic turn around last season, but did look like a fraudulent finals team for the majority of the Golden State series. Arguably improved their bench more than any contender in the east.

3. Brooklyn. Yet to be seen if all the major players on this team can actually share the court at the same time, but they certainly look good on paper. I just can't fully get behind a team with three of the biggest divas in league history. Warren & O'Neale were excellent pick ups.

4. Miami Really didn't do much to improve this offseason. Tucker is a big loss for them. Whose playing PF???

5. Philadelphia I'm not sold on Philly as a legit contender like the 4 teams ahead of them here. I don't think James Harden just starts to get it at age 33.

6. Atlanta Murray & Young are a bizarre fit offensively to say the least, but I still think DJM brings a much needed defensive skillset to ATL. Hunter & Okongwu are two players I expect to make big strides this season.

7. Chicago Their elite play making on the wing gets them in the playoffs, but I would be surprised to see the Bulls get past the 1st round with their roster as is. They have a lot riding on the health of Ball.

8. Toronto Toronto is a good team that plays hard. The fact that I have them ranked 8th is a testament to how deep the East is.

9. Cleveland Cavs struck gold with Mobley. They will give teams fits in the paint, but I'm not sold on the teams ability to generate offense outside of Garland/Mobley. They're headed in the right direction though.

10. New York Brunson certainly helps, but probably not enough to push the Knicks in to the playoffs in such a deep conference. Honestly, I'm not sure I would rank them much higher if they acquire Mitchell...

11. Orlando Incredibly young and talented team, but they're not ready to make much noise yet. Going to be a scary team in 3-5 years as long as management doesn't somehow screw it up.

12. Washington I give it to January before we start hearing that Beal wants out. The organization just seems to not be bothered by constantly wallowing in mediocrity.

13. Charlotte Lost their second best player this offseason, and did nothing to try to improve the team. Hayward unreliable, little to no interior presence. How long until LaMelo demands a trade?

14. Detroit Some real nice young pieces - Cunningham, Ivey, Bey. But still far off from sniffing the playoffs.

15. Indiana Struck out on Ayton, now they've probably got their eyes on Wembenyama. Don't be surprised to see Indy sell off their remaining vets - Turner, Hield, McConnell- and fully embrace the tank.

Who · « **Reply #1 on:** July 18, 2022, 12:00:11 PM »

#1 Boston

droopdog7 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 18, 2022, 12:03:32 PM »

I think these rankings are fair. I'd probably have Tor over Chicago. As for the celts and mil, they're neck and neck and it could go either way. In terms of a preseason ranking I'd have the celtics first, but obviously would not be surprised if the bucks took the east.

perks-a-beast · « **Reply #3 on:** July 18, 2022, 12:18:27 PM »

Quote from: Who on July 18, 2022, 12:00:11 PM

#1 Boston

I can certainly see BOS besting MIL again in 2023 - the list is more or less how I see the regular season standings ending up.

Moranis · « **Reply #4 on:** July 18, 2022, 12:19:02 PM »

Favorite - Milwaukee
Clear 2nd - Boston
Solid Contenders (in order) - Philly, Miami, Brooklyn
Could Surprise (in order) - Cleveland, Atlanta, Toronto
Possible Playoff Team (in order) - Chicago, Charlotte
What the heck are they doing - New York
Frisky but bad (in order) - Orlando, Detroit
Just bad (in order) - Washington, Indiana

slamtheking · « **Reply #5 on:** July 18, 2022, 12:24:45 PM »

My thoughts
1. Milwaukee. With a healthy Middleton, probably the top team. has to be proven another team can beat them at full strength

2. Boston. only team in the East that I think could knock off Milwaukee at full strength. Adding Brogdon and Gallo doesn't improve their D so much as it throws a monkey wrench into other teams' schemes to focus on just Tatum and Brown to shut down the offense.

3. Miami. they played tough in the playoffs when they were not the better team. regular season may underwhelm but I think this team makes a midseason move to improve and even if they don't, I think they'll make waves in the playoffs

4. Brooklyn too much talent on paper not to get HCA for the first round. just as likely to implode as a team as excel.

5. Philadelphia not enough parts to get into the top 4 unless Brooklyn has a meltdown

6. Toronto I like Toronto's talent. could be the surprise team in the east if everyone is healthy.

7. Chicago enough talent to be a little better than 7 but not expecting Derozan to have another season like last year.

8. Atlanta I see this as the team most likely to underwhelm again. can Murray and Trae coexist and excel?

9. Cleveland could surprise and be 2-3 spots better than this. need experience and someone else to step forward on the roster.

10. Detroit they're young but I think they have the talent to surprise a lot of teams this year and make the most of the other bottom feeders to squeak into the play-in round.

11. New York Don't see adding Brunson as being enough to get them back into the playoffs. will be sorry they didn't blow it up to rebuild yet again

12. Charlotte will underwhelm again. Hayward's over/under for games missed will likely be 40.

13. Washington Beal will have to find happiness counting his money because he won't find happiness on the court with this team

14. Orlando Should be better than this by now but they can't get a pick to hit as a cornerstone. will this year be different.

15. Indiana likely to unload anyone not on a rookie deal to get draft assets by the trading deadline.

#1P4P · « **Reply #6 on:** July 18, 2022, 04:18:30 PM »

#1. Boston - The best defense, versatility, and durability now with the depth, maturity, and, most importantly, the identity from the onset to match.

2. Milwaukee - The best player in the NBA on a solid, complementary team.

3. Brooklyn - The depth and talent of a healthy Simmons and Harris alongside last season’s roster will make a huge difference in the Regular Season.

4. Philadelphia - The addition of PJ Tucker and ongoing maturity of Maxey will give them a puncher’s chance at an ECF appearance.

5. Miami- Tucker’s departure will have a big impact on a roster already thin at the wing. Lack of durability of the Butler and Lowry will hurt RS win total. Might still be better than the Sixers.

6. Toronto - Identity, coaching, defense, youth, depth, durability, play hard every game, and the caliber of players will keep them in the mix.

7. Cleveland - See Toronto (sans durability)

8. Atlanta - A heavily Trae dependent offense without Gallinari and Huerter depth/chemistry and the constant Collins trade rumors. The Hawks are already prone to rough starts and figuring out the Young-Murray backcourt will make it even rougher.

9. New York - See Cleveland

10. Chicago - This is what happens when a you try to fit poor defensive players into a defense-first identity and system like Atlanta, Charlotte, and Washington. Leave the half court offense for late game situations and the playoffs because the team is built to play at a fast pace.

11. Charlotte
12. Washington
13. Detroit
14. Magic
15. Indiana

This is more of a power ranking than a RS standings prediction.

Yuckabuck33 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 18, 2022, 05:02:05 PM »

I don't understand ranking the Celtics below the Bucks because of Middleton's injury and that we were a "fraudulent Finals team." They missed Middleton, we didn't have a fully functional Timelord.
By the Finals, we had several injured players but had earned our way there. If we had lost to the Bucks and they played the Warriors with a hobbled Middleton, would they have won? Or would they have lost and been ranked below Boston and called a fraudulent Finals team?

Also, you'all way overrate Ben Simmons. I have my doubts he will ever play NBA ball again.

footey · « **Reply #8 on:** July 18, 2022, 06:08:06 PM »

Boston shoukd go into season as clear favorite. Vegas says so too.

nebist · « **Reply #9 on:** July 18, 2022, 06:50:52 PM »

I’d go:
Tier 1 Contenders: Boston and Milwaukee
Tier 2 Contenders?: Miami, Philly, Toronto
1 Top 6 and 4 play-in teams: Hawks, Nets, Bulls, Cavs, Knicks, Pistons, Hornets
Lottery Bound: Washington, Orlando, Indiana

And I’d rank them in that order if I had to;
1. Boston
2. Milwaukee
3. Miami
4. Philly
5. Toronto
6. Atlanta
7. Brooklyn
8. Chicago
9. Cleveland
10. New York
11. Detroit
12. Charlotte
13. Washington
14. Orlando
15. Indiana

I think Toronto is close to being really good. I like Detroit to take a bit of step forward of the young teams. Charlotte and Washington I don’t believe in as threats.

gouki88 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 18, 2022, 08:28:39 PM »

1. Boston
2. Milwaukee
3. Brooklyn
4. Philadelphia
5. Miami
6. Toronto
7. Chicago
8. Cleveland
9. Atlanta
10. Charlotte
11. New York
12. Detroit
13. Washington
14. Orlando
15. Indiana

Briantir · « **Reply #11 on:** July 19, 2022, 12:37:17 AM »

Quote from: nebist on July 18, 2022, 06:50:52 PM

I’d go:
Tier 1 Contenders: Boston and Milwaukee
Tier 2 Contenders?: Miami, Philly, Toronto
1 Top 6 and 4 play-in teams: Hawks, Nets, Bulls, Cavs, Knicks, Pistons, Hornets
Lottery Bound: Washington, Orlando, Indiana

And I’d rank them in that order if I had to;
1. Boston
2. Milwaukee
3. Miami
4. Philly
5. Toronto
6. Atlanta
7. Brooklyn
8. Chicago
9. Cleveland
10. New York
11. Detroit
12. Charlotte
13. Washington
14. Orlando
15. Indiana

I think Toronto is close to being really good. I like Detroit to take a bit of step forward of the young teams. Charlotte and Washington I don’t believe in as threats.

I agree with this but I'd have Toronto 3rd they will be very and tough all young and prime Scottie Barnes could be an all-star they have a lot of young super talented players.

Scottie Barnes rookie year 15.3/7.5/3.5 ---- 49.2%FG
Tatum second year 15.7/6/2.1 --- 45%FG

Tatum really take a big leap year 3, Scottie Barnes basically warped Toronto years ahead of schedule because he was that good for them last year assuming he gets better he's an all-star for sure potential top 10 player in the NBA eventually.

colincb · « **Reply #12 on:** July 19, 2022, 01:11:17 AM »

libermaniac · « **Reply #13 on:** July 19, 2022, 02:19:00 AM »

Ya, they certainly looked like a fraudulent finals team when they were up with 5 minutes to go in game 4 with a chance to take a commanding 3-1 lead. 🙄

Surferdad · « **Reply #14 on:** July 19, 2022, 08:03:34 AM »

I would drop Brooklyn from 3 to maybe 5 or 6. They still have a remarkably incompetent coach in Steve Nash. Simmons might be good or he might suck. I just don't see a team that is built correctly, just a bunch of divas who may or may not be able to co-exist.

Atlanta is going to be a tough out. No lower than 6.

My dark-horse is Cleveland. They will continue to get better. Mobley is special. I would move them up from 9 to about 5.

Author Topic: Ranking the East (Read 3600 times)

Ranking the East

perks-a-beast

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Who

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droopdog7

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perks-a-beast

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Moranis

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slamtheking

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#1P4P

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Yuckabuck33

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footey

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nebist

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gouki88

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Briantir

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colincb

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libermaniac

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Surferdad

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