ESPN East Rankings (Celtics ranked 13th)

[connor]

ESPN's Rankings:

1. Heat
2. Nets
3. Bulls
4. Pacers
5. Knicks
6. Hawks
7. Wzards
8. Cavs
9. Bucks
10. Pistons
11. Raptors
12. Magic
13. Celtics
14. Bobcats
15. Sixers

Tom Haberstroh -- "As is, the Celtics figure to be in the running for not just the league's worst defense, but I struggle to see how they will score enough to fight their way into the playoff picture. Remember, their offense was ranked 20th in efficiency last season, and that was with Pierce Garnett, Rondo & Terry. Who's their #1 scoring option next season? Jeff Green? Yikes."

I think it's fairly accurate with a few exceptions:
Bobcats- could make a jump after adding Jefferson and Zeller
Pistons- I think they're a playoff team this year
Raptors- will fall even further if they trade Gay, which I expect.
Bucks- ranked too high after losing so many pieces: Redick, Mbah a Moute, Ellis, Dalembert, Jennings?
Magic- could be a wild card playoff team if any of their young talent emerge

What do you guys think?

[BudweiserCeltic]

"league's worst defense" <--- I'll eat my shorts if we aren't one of the best defensively.

[Birdman]

I agree with this by ESPN...and i hardly never agree with them, lol..but we may be better than Orlando but not much

[wdleehi]

"league's worst defense" <--- I'll eat my shorts if we aren't one of the best defensively.

Why?  The team lost the defensive backbone in KG. 

[esel1000]

This is why im not a fan of insider. This stuff is impossible to predict, with the exception of that top 5 I honestly believe it's up in the air. I see no reason to believe the Wiz are gonna be the 7th seed and the Celts as bad as the 13th, for example. I'm not saying the Celts will make the playoffs but even so there's too many moving pieces and possible situations (injuries, etc) to predict this accurately.

[BudweiserCeltic]

"league's worst defense" <--- I'll eat my shorts if we aren't one of the best defensively.

Why?  The team lost the defensive backbone in KG.

Because we should have a vastly better perimeter defense, we should have improved rebounding, and we got a good defensive-minded coaching staff.

[Who]

"league's worst defense" <--- I'll eat my shorts if we aren't one of the best defensively.

I am expecting them to be middle of the pack defensively.

That said, I think they would shoot up the defensive rankings very quickly if they acquired a center who could provide even a mediocre amount of rim protection and post defense.

Very difficult to be better than average defensively without a shot-blocking presence.

[Evantime34]

I think we are certainly going to be better than the Magic but other than that I think this is a plausible scenario for next year's floor. However, after the first 5 teams I don't think there are any playoff locks, so I think our ceiling could be the 6 spot.

So to recap I took a bold stance and said we will be somewhere between 6 and 12th in the east.

I would be shocked if our defense was really that bad with Bradley and Rondo back, Green showed himself to be a solid on ball defender. They might not have the back end defender to make them a very good defense but they will have wing players that will force a bunch of turnovers making their defense at worst, average.

[Sketch5]

1. Heat        1.Heat
2. Nets        2.Pacers
3. Bulls       3.Nets
4. Pacers      4.Bulls
5. Knicks      5.Knicks
6. Hawks       6.Bucks
7. Wzards      7.Cavs
8. Cavs        8.Atlanta
9. Bucks       9.Pistons
10. Pistons    10.Wizards
11. Raptors    11.Celtics
12. Magic      12.Raptors
13. Celtics    13.Hornets
14. Bobcats    14.Magic
15. Sixers     15.Sixers

I changed things up. As of right now before any kinds of trades I think this is closer to what it could be. Its tough because a lot of teams are really close.

Atlanta and Detroit are similar teams. I think Atlanta is a little worse this year because the Cavs and Buck got a lot better. Detroit also got a lot better, but its really going to depend on Drummond,Kinght and Pope.

The Bucks have added Pachulia,Mayo,Ridnuor,Delfino. Thats a nice back court and good center additions. Nice mix of scorring and D.

Cavs could be a wild card this year. If, and thats a big IF Bynum is healthy for most of the year thats a big improvement. Even if he and Verajao trade injury time, ones hurt ones on the floor at all times is still better than last year. Clark is a nice improvement. And like Detroit if the rookies play well they will be much better. And Irving a year older will do him wonders.

I think Wizards,Celtics, Hornets,and Raptors will be close. I have a feeling if Gay gets sent out, its because Raptors wants Wiggins and not looking forward to winning this year. Wizards I don't know, they could be good, but they are young as heck, could hurt them. Hornets, yeah I fixed that, could jump ahead of every one with Big Al on the team. But they are only a season removed from being the Bobcats, so I can't jump them up yet. Celts, well we all know. Right now until Rondo comes back it will be rough. I think if Rondo comes back by Dec, then by Feb the team could gel and get some good wins, but too much up in the air with this team right now.

No way the Magic are better than the Celts right now. I just don't see it. And well we all know the Sixers are tanking, full blown all out.

This list should change a lot by training camp. Too many players that need to be moved.

[fantankerous]

Personally, I'd put the Bobcats ahead of the Celtics, but nevertheless it's a pretty reasonable ranking.  I agree that the Celtics defense will be far worse next season, but I think they'll struggle more offensively. 

[BleedGreen1989]

How in the world are we worse than the Magic, Bucks, and Raptors? Fat chance...

[PhoSita]

I tend to agree.  This team is going to be atrocious offensively and I can't see how they're going to defend with Humphries, Sullinger, and Olynyk defending the rim.

[nickagneta]

I think the Celtics will be a better defensive team than offensive team in the league efficiency rankings but won't be very good at either, probably 15th or lower in both. That said, I don't get this ranking by Haberstroh.

The Wizards? Really? Because they have Wall, Beal and Porter? Three guys with a total of 4 professionals years of experience will make the playoffs because Okafor and Nene have been , what, playing so well over the last few years they would be the backbone of a playoff team?

Wall, Beal and Porter might be good but probably never Durant, Westbrook Harden good and its not like they are being surrounded by players like Sefolosha, Ibaka, and others. Heck I would take Bradley, green and Rondo, guys proven to get into the playoffs, to lead a team to the playoffs over Wall, Beal and Porter.

And the Magic are just awful. The Bucks, got some decent talent back but lost a lot as well and will fall off. And I also don't get the Raptors being better than the Celtics.

The C's aren't a playoff team but bottom 3 in the East is absurd. Teams will be tanking like crazy in the second half of the season. And there are going to be teams with a lot younger, less proven talent than the Celtics that will be tanking like crazy come late December.

[Celtics4ever]

I'll eat my shorts if we aren't one of the best defensively.

Hope you brought your A-1, your going to need it.

[wdleehi]

"league's worst defense" <--- I'll eat my shorts if we aren't one of the best defensively.

Why?  The team lost the defensive backbone in KG.

Because we should have a vastly better perimeter defense, we should have improved rebounding, and we got a good defensive-minded coaching staff.

Because they downgraded Pierce to Wallace? 



And they lost their best rebounder.