Indiana.....

[Vox_Populi]

They've won 8 in a row and without Granger either. And George is looking like a reliable first option. I don't know if they're simply too good to early, or if this level of performance is sustainable, but they look like the best bet to knock out the Heat in the East.

Although, as far as history goes, it may not mean very much in the long run.

[pearljammer10]

Man we killed it in 07-08.

[PhoSita]

Best comp on that list looks like that '06 Pistons team.

[RJ87]

I think they're legit. Their starting unit was really good last year, especially on the defensive end. But their bench was awful. This offseason they really bolstered their bench with Scola and CJ Watson. Add Granger to that bench, and it's potent. I think they could use an upgrade at PG - not that George Hill is bad, but he's not great either - for them tp really one up the Heat. Still, I think they have a better shot of beating Miami than Chicago.

[Fafnir]

Still, I think they have a better shot of beating Miami than Chicago.

They certainly do if Rose doesn't regain his form. He's shown flashes but he's still been all over the place.

[LooseCannon]

I thought you're not allowed to be a contender if you have no one on your roster drafted higher than 10th.

[D.o.s.]

I thought you're not allowed to be a contender if you have no one on your roster drafted higher than 10th.

It just means your roster is free of glory-hoggin', mean-muggin', signature shoe havin', "can't win with that guy" me-first selfish thug ballers.

Right? It's like Hoosiers.

[Snakehead]

Pacers over Chicago for sure.  I've been saying it and it is coming to be, I believe.

They have multiple guys who can score, is the real thing for them.  If I needed a bucket, I could go to Paul George or I could go to Lance Stepehenson to create off the dribble, David West and Hibbert can both score in the post when need be (Hibbert in particular is real difficult to stop with his hook shots when he needs a bucket).  Hill can hit big shots.  Their bench can provide a spark.

Everyone was penciling in the Bulls when we saw them not be able to get over the top vs Miami.  When Miami wants to shut down a one man offense they very much can and then no one else on Chicago can really get their own shot.  People were assuming some kind of All-Star jump for Jimmy Butler and I haven't seen that in him at all yet (he is a good defender who can catch and shoot and score in transition... so far that's really it).

The Pacers are a more complete teams that is at least as good on defense (even better right now).  They are a giant threat to Miami.  I loved them coming in but they are playing even better than I imagined.  It seems that George, Stephenson, and Hibbert are all making respective jumps to really put this team over the top. 

[D.o.s.]

Pacers over Chicago for sure.  I've been saying it and it is coming to be, I believe.

They have multiple guys who can score, is the real thing for them.  If I needed a bucket, I could go to Paul George or I could go to Lance Stepehenson to create off the dribble, David West and Hibbert can both score in the post when need be (Hibbert in particular is real difficult to stop with his hook shots when he needs a bucket).  Hill can hit big shots.  Their bench can provide a spark.

Everyone was penciling in the Bulls when we saw them not be able to get over the top vs Miami.  When Miami wants to shut down a one man offense they very much can and then no one else on Chicago can really get their own shot.  People were assuming some kind of All-Star jump for Jimmy Butler and I haven't seen that in him at all yet (he is a good defender who can catch and shoot and score in transition... so far that's really it).

I think that's some of the same reasoning why people were hesitant to put the Pacers over the Bulls--because they weren't sure if Paul George was going to come back to this season playing at the same level he had in the Playoffs.

So far he has, and so far it's paid off.

[Snakehead]

Pacers over Chicago for sure.  I've been saying it and it is coming to be, I believe.

They have multiple guys who can score, is the real thing for them.  If I needed a bucket, I could go to Paul George or I could go to Lance Stepehenson to create off the dribble, David West and Hibbert can both score in the post when need be (Hibbert in particular is real difficult to stop with his hook shots when he needs a bucket).  Hill can hit big shots.  Their bench can provide a spark.

Everyone was penciling in the Bulls when we saw them not be able to get over the top vs Miami.  When Miami wants to shut down a one man offense they very much can and then no one else on Chicago can really get their own shot.  People were assuming some kind of All-Star jump for Jimmy Butler and I haven't seen that in him at all yet (he is a good defender who can catch and shoot and score in transition... so far that's really it).

I think that's some of the same reasoning why people were hesitant to put the Pacers over the Bulls--because they weren't sure if Paul George was going to come back to this season playing at the same level he had in the Playoffs.

So far he has, and so far it's paid off.

Fair enough.  I wasn't a Paul George believer coming in (saw him play in college several times and was surprised he started coming on in the NBA) but once I saw the Playoffs last year he seemed very legitimate to me. 

Much more so than Butler, who wasn't obviously near George's level, if he was doing some nice things for the Bulls still.  I really don't think Butler is much different than he was in the Playoffs right now, Rose just isn't that much of a PG and he is shooting terribly so no one else is that involved.  More than anything, I just really don't think Butler has shown he is the type of player that would actually put the Bulls over the top.

But yes, George is playing at an MVP level.  He reminds me a lot of Pippen and at times now on offense, T-Mac.