Projected #2 in the East

[fairweatherfan06]

I say that because what are the bulls doing?  Rose is gone for a chunk of the season they've let most of their bench walk and their only free agent acquisition has been Vladamir Radmonivic?  Fear of the luxury tax is one thing but they are looking much worse.  Over at blog a bull they are upset (they hoped for Courtney Lee) feel like their management is sitting on their hands and their team is going south.

But with this roster I don't see anybody in the East challenging the Celtics but Miami.

[Jon]

That's likely right.  New York and Indiana will still be dangerous, though I like us better than both.  New Jersey is obviously better.  Philly, Orlando, and Atlanta all took steps backwards. 

With the Bulls, I think management views this as largely a lost season and don't see the point in spending money on someone like Lee, who isn't good enough to change that. 

[Donoghus]

On paper, I think the Celtics are 2nd in the conference also.  However, they can certainly take out the Heat with the team they've constructed, IMO.

Health is my biggest concern while followed by a slight concern of the vets' game dropping off significantly (which I don't think will happen but a concern).

However, I think they'll end up around a 3 or 4 seed in the East just due to the fact that we've seen in the past that this team will value health & rest over trying to go full gear in the regular season ('08 exception).

[henr1k]

I say that because what are the bulls doing?  Rose is gone for a chunk of the season they've let most of their bench walk and their only free agent acquisition has been Vladamir Radmonivic?  Fear of the luxury tax is one thing but they are looking much worse.  Over at blog a bull they are upset (they hoped for Courtney Lee) feel like their management is sitting on their hands and their team is going south.

But with this roster I don't see anybody in the East challenging the Celtics but Miami.

I think people underestimate Bulls. They were 18-9 last season without Rose.

Of course, their margin for error is much smaller but if injury free, group of Deng, Noah, Boozer, Heinrich and Hamilton with Gibson, Radmanovic, Asik? , youngsters Butler and Teague is still a really good team.

Also if they don't keep Asik, they will add another big body like Milicic.

Miami Heat are favorites, Bulls and Celtics will fight for #2 spot IMO.

I don't see Brooklyn clicking right away, 4-5 seed is much more likely.

[Jon]

I say that because what are the bulls doing?  Rose is gone for a chunk of the season they've let most of their bench walk and their only free agent acquisition has been Vladamir Radmonivic?  Fear of the luxury tax is one thing but they are looking much worse.  Over at blog a bull they are upset (they hoped for Courtney Lee) feel like their management is sitting on their hands and their team is going south.

But with this roster I don't see anybody in the East challenging the Celtics but Miami.

I think people underestimate Bulls. They were 18-9 last season without Rose.

Of course, their margin for error is much smaller but if injury free, group of Deng, Noah, Boozer, Heinrich and Hamilton with Gibson, Radmanovic, Asik? , youngsters Butler and Teague is still a really good team.

Also if they don't keep Asik, they will add another big body like Milicic.

Miami Heat are favorites, Bulls and Celtics will fight for #2 spot IMO.

I don't see Brooklyn clicking right away, 4-5 seed is much more likely.

You're right to some extent about the Bulls.  However, unless Rose can comeback and be 100% by the playoffs, it won't matter.  They aren't good enough to win it all without him.  So if mangement isn't expecting that, I see them saving resources for next offseason. 

[Evantime34]

I don't think we end up with the 2nd seed. I believe we're the second best team in the east but I think our schedule will hurt us. I think every team in the Atlantic will be competitive this year meaning that our schedule is going to be extremely difficult.

[Moranis]

I have Boston as the 4 seed

1. Miami, 2. Indiana, 3. New Jersey, 4. Boston

I believe Chicago will be the 5.  New York should be the 6.  Philadelphia, Atlanta, Milwaukee, and Orlando (with Dwight) should all be in contention for the 7 and 8 seeds.

[snively]

I have Boston as the 4 seed

1. Miami, 2. Indiana, 3. New Jersey, 4. Boston

I believe Chicago will be the 5.  New York should be the 6.  Philadelphia, Atlanta, Milwaukee, and Orlando (with Dwight) should all be in contention for the 7 and 8 seeds.

I think a healthy Boston team should overtake Indy.  A healthy New Jersey too.  Indy's relative health last year inflated their record, IMHO.

[Moranis]

I have Boston as the 4 seed

1. Miami, 2. Indiana, 3. New Jersey, 4. Boston

I believe Chicago will be the 5.  New York should be the 6.  Philadelphia, Atlanta, Milwaukee, and Orlando (with Dwight) should all be in contention for the 7 and 8 seeds.

I think a healthy Boston team should overtake Indy.  A healthy New Jersey too.  Indy's relative health last year inflated their record, IMHO.

Boston already isn't healthy (Bradley is out).  I just can't see this team A. being healthy and B. not resting KG and Pierce a lot.  Come playoffs if all the teams are healthy I can easily see Boston being the 2nd best team, but that doesn't mean they will be the 2 seed in the east. 

[manl_lui]

I don't think we can take care of Miami if we do not fix our rebounding problem. Right now its just KG/Bass/Wilcox. We're gonna need at least one more big that can bang with Bosh/Lewis.

I love our signings from the 1-3 position, but our bench for the 4-5 position is still kinda thin. Right now a combo of Rondo/Bradley/Lee/Terry > Chalmers/Wade/Ray (God I hate saying this)/Mike Miller?

Pierce/Jeff Green < James/Battier (but not too far behind)

If we can sign a center that's relatively young or lower 30s, I feel good about our chances

[Yogi]

New Jersey is not a good team.  They have some good players, but they're not a good team.  They'll score a bunch of points, but none of those guys are winners.  New York will be much better than New Jersey, although they're too slow to keep up with the other teams.  Melo also is about to have a career year.  

[celticinorlando]

1. heat
2. boston
3. Indy
4. Chicago
5. Philly
6. NJ
7. Knicks
8. Cavs

[Fred Roberts]

I think the Knicks do better this season.

Felton had a bad year in Portland, but he was looking very strong before leaving NY last time. Chandler and Camby at center is great for their D. Their 2 guard situation is pretty suspect outside of JR Smith (who should be a bench guy). So, it all comes down to whether Melo can step up his game and whether Amare is toast.

I can see them giving most teams a tough time regardless, but if they get something out of Amare and Melo picks it up, they'll be solid.

[celtsfan84]

I have Boston as the 4 seed

1. Miami, 2. Indiana, 3. New Jersey, 4. Boston

I believe Chicago will be the 5.  New York should be the 6.  Philadelphia, Atlanta, Milwaukee, and Orlando (with Dwight) should all be in contention for the 7 and 8 seeds.

I think a healthy Boston team should overtake Indy.  A healthy New Jersey too.  Indy's relative health last year inflated their record, IMHO.

Boston already isn't healthy (Bradley is out).  I just can't see this team A. being healthy and B. not resting KG and Pierce a lot.  Come playoffs if all the teams are healthy I can easily see Boston being the 2nd best team, but that doesn't mean they will be the 2 seed in the east. 

I agree with this.  Recently our playoff performance has been great but our regular season performance has been at a lower standard (age, injury, apathy, back-to-backs, rest, etc...)

1. Miami
2. Indiana
3. Boston
4. Chicago
5. New York
6. Brooklyn
7. Milwaukee
8. Cleveland (assuming they get Bynum)
8. Atlanta (assuming Cleveland doesn't get Bynum)

-Miami is the obvious regular season favorite.  
-Indiana is young and deep, built well for a long season.
-Boston will slip behind them based on age, injury but beats them in a playoff series.
-Chicago takes a step back but still has a strong defense.  
-New York and Brooklyn have talent, payroll, and hype but a poor team fit in New York and no interior D in Brooklyn.
-Milwaukee is the best of the bad teams, IMO, with Dalembert to protect the rim
-Cleveland is moving in the right direction if they get Bynum.  If not, Atlanta still has a talented frontcourt.

[KGs Knee]

1. heat
2. boston
3. Indy
4. Chicago
5. Philly
6. NJ
7. Knicks
8. Cavs

Who is NJ?