What is the most overrated team in the NBA this year?

[kg is king]

Bulls.

They're not a contender.  Rose still has a ways to go, Boozer is not great on defense or on the boards and he's injury prone, and as a team they really lack outside shooting.

I would also say the Lakers, just because people talk about them as if they are even better than last year and a shoe-in for the Finals.  I just don't think it's that simple. 

I hate to say this but the Lakers are definitely better than a year ago. They have all the key players back with the addition of Matt Barnes, who is a scrappy Posey-type player. Another underrated player they picked up is Steve Blake. He's steady at the back-up point position and is capable of knocking down big shots. When Bynum comes back (feels like this is the same story every season), the Lakers will be very very good.

[xmuscularghandix]

Lakers: Not bc I think they are below a championship caliber team, but bc the hype in LA is ridiculous and they played NOBODY.   Right now talk radio in LA is saying that Lamar Odoms is the 2010 MVP bc he dropped 25 on the Kings...OK

The Lakers are SO over hyped right now.

As a fantasy owner of Lamar Odom in 2 fantasy leagues, I can tell you I'm extremely happy with his start to the season. 

I’ve got him in my league. Guys the man.

[Scalablob990]

Anything related to Tim Duncan and the Spurs, they've been overrated for a looong time.

[wdleehi]

I think the Hawks were underrated.  I think they are what they are, but people were talking as if Bucks were going to better then them. 


The Hawks are still a team that had a better regular season record then the Celtics last year.

[Fafnir]

Bulls.

They're not a contender.  Rose still has a ways to go, Boozer is not great on defense or on the boards  

Boozer not good on the boards, since when? Last year he was 4th in rebound rate and 4th in total rebounds.

[Moranis]

Bulls.

They're not a contender.  Rose still has a ways to go, Boozer is not great on defense or on the boards  

Boozer not good on the boards, since when? Last year he was 4th in rebound rate and 4th in total rebounds.

yeah, Boozer is a superb rebounder and excellent interior scorer.  He is however not a great defender and doesn't have a very versatile offensive game.  That said, the Bulls will be much better with him on the court because if nothing else he lets guys like Noah off the hook offensively so they can go back to doing what they do best.

[Donoghus]

I think Chicago is right about where they belong.  I don't see many people putting them in the company of Boston, Miami, and Orlando.  You see them in the next tier with Atlanta and, perhaps, Milwaukee.  They were expected to contend for a 4-5 seed. 

I'm not really sure how they can be construed as over-rated.  Certainly right now where they don't have Boozer yet. 

[Evantime34]

The Thunder.

They really have not looked very good thus far.

[CDawg834]

I think the Hawks were underrated.  I think they are what they are, but people were talking as if Bucks were going to better then them. 


The Hawks are still a team that had a better regular season record then the Celtics last year.

I think the Hawks hot start is deceiving.  Their first 5 games were against Memphis, Cleveland, Philly, Washington and Detroit...a combined 5-17.  They'll be 6-0 assuming they beat Minny (1-5) tonight.  6-0 is a great start, but given their weak opening schedule I'd be hesitant to call them contenders in the East.

[Chris]

I think the Hawks were underrated.  I think they are what they are, but people were talking as if Bucks were going to better then them. 


The Hawks are still a team that had a better regular season record then the Celtics last year.

I think the Hawks hot start is deceiving.  Their first 5 games were against Memphis, Cleveland, Philly, Washington and Detroit...a combined 5-17.  They'll be 6-0 assuming they beat Minny (1-5) tonight.  6-0 is a great start, but given their weak opening schedule I'd be hesitant to call them contenders in the East.

Yeah, I think they are contenders to the point they have been the last two years.  In other words, they aren't.  However, I think there are two races in the East.  There are the real contenders (Celtics, Heat, Magic...although I question the Magic's make up for the playoffs), and then the rest.  I think the Hawks should be the favorites as the best of "the rest".  Instead, they have been completely forgotten by a lot of people.

[Chris]

I think Chicago is right about where they belong.  I don't see many people putting them in the company of Boston, Miami, and Orlando.  You see them in the next tier with Atlanta and, perhaps, Milwaukee.  They were expected to contend for a 4-5 seed. 

I'm not really sure how they can be construed as over-rated.  Certainly right now where they don't have Boozer yet. 

While I agree, I do think Chicago is the only team that really has a legit shot of making the leap to join those top 3 teams as legit contenders. 

Once Boozer comes back, they are going to have a very strong lineup, and if Rose makes the leap to being the superstar he has the potential to be, and Deng continues to play strong, they could be legit contenders...and if they can upgrade the wing spot, look out.

[wdleehi]

I think the Hawks were underrated.  I think they are what they are, but people were talking as if Bucks were going to better then them. 


The Hawks are still a team that had a better regular season record then the Celtics last year.

I think the Hawks hot start is deceiving.  Their first 5 games were against Memphis, Cleveland, Philly, Washington and Detroit...a combined 5-17.  They'll be 6-0 assuming they beat Minny (1-5) tonight.  6-0 is a great start, but given their weak opening schedule I'd be hesitant to call them contenders in the East.

Yeah, I think they are contenders to the point they have been the last two years.  In other words, they aren't.  However, I think there are two races in the East.  There are the real contenders (Celtics, Heat, Magic...although I question the Magic's make up for the playoffs), and then the rest.  I think the Hawks should be the favorites as the best of "the rest".  Instead, they have been completely forgotten by a lot of people.

Exactly.

[CDawg834]

I think the Hawks were underrated.  I think they are what they are, but people were talking as if Bucks were going to better then them. 


The Hawks are still a team that had a better regular season record then the Celtics last year.

I think the Hawks hot start is deceiving.  Their first 5 games were against Memphis, Cleveland, Philly, Washington and Detroit...a combined 5-17.  They'll be 6-0 assuming they beat Minny (1-5) tonight.  6-0 is a great start, but given their weak opening schedule I'd be hesitant to call them contenders in the East.

Yeah, I think they are contenders to the point they have been the last two years.  In other words, they aren't.  However, I think there are two races in the East.  There are the real contenders (Celtics, Heat, Magic...although I question the Magic's make up for the playoffs), and then the rest.  I think the Hawks should be the favorites as the best of "the rest".  Instead, they have been completely forgotten by a lot of people.

Agreed, at least for this year, but I wonder how much longer this group can stay together.  I don't think that Larry Drew is a downgrade from Mike Woodson, mostly because a lot of the players didn't seem to like Woodson and he didn't have the full support of management.  Their core players are under contract for the next few years, but I don't know how much further they're really going to get without some more help.

Not to mention that from a cap management point of view, it's never a good idea to give a max contract to someone who's not a max contract player.

[wdleehi]

I think the Hawks were underrated.  I think they are what they are, but people were talking as if Bucks were going to better then them. 


The Hawks are still a team that had a better regular season record then the Celtics last year.

I think the Hawks hot start is deceiving.  Their first 5 games were against Memphis, Cleveland, Philly, Washington and Detroit...a combined 5-17.  They'll be 6-0 assuming they beat Minny (1-5) tonight.  6-0 is a great start, but given their weak opening schedule I'd be hesitant to call them contenders in the East.

Yeah, I think they are contenders to the point they have been the last two years.  In other words, they aren't.  However, I think there are two races in the East.  There are the real contenders (Celtics, Heat, Magic...although I question the Magic's make up for the playoffs), and then the rest.  I think the Hawks should be the favorites as the best of "the rest".  Instead, they have been completely forgotten by a lot of people.

Agreed, at least for this year, but I wonder how much longer this group can stay together.  I don't think that Larry Drew is a downgrade from Mike Woodson, mostly because a lot of the players didn't seem to like Woodson and he didn't have the full support of management.  Their core players are under contract for the next few years, but I don't know how much further they're really going to get without some more help.

Not to mention that from a cap management point of view, it's never a good idea to give a max contract to someone who's not a max contract player.

They could make a big move if they really wanted to.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=2awa52o  Throw in a draft pick (or two), they could make a run at a title. 

[Fafnir]

Trading Josh Smith for Carmelo would be a huge mistake. Carmelo does not make them a contender.