NBA Power Rankings, EAST.

[kidcolin]

4.5 would be much much more interesting. 5.5 is a big ol' softball imo.

[addingalpha]

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And yes, they are in the same league as the Mavs, Spurs, and Suns.

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LOL!!!

Doc Rivers coaches the Celtics!

this made my morning, thanks [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[mmbt0ne]

I will take broke-guy-stakes bets on the Hawks finishing better than 12.5th in the East.

[g-bebe]

is the general consensus really that KG propels the Celtics from worst to best in just one season? I don't follow basketball too deeply but it's just doesn't seem realistic (I guess they added Ray Allen, but...)

[tdarko]

1. Bulls
2. Wizards
3. Cavaliers
4. Pistons
5. Raptors
6. Celtics
7. Heat
8. Nets
9. Magic
10. Bobcats
11. Hawks
12. 76ers
13. Knicks
14. Bucks
15. Pacers

[Billy Bibbit]

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Really good comments Billy.

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Thank you, sir!

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I didn't really overlook Hedo - they're playing him currently at the 4, with Rashard at the 3, I think. I don't know, looks like the team is a mess with scarcity of quality players. They're going to count on Jameer to do more then he can handle.

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I can't believe they'd start Hedo at PF! He's a SG/SF. I was thinking it'd be Nelson/Turkoglu/Lewis/Howard/Foyle or Nelson/Turkoglu/Ariza/Lewis/Howard or Nelson/Dooling/Turkoglu/Lewis/Howard. Either way, yes, some truly awful players will get playing time for this team (Dooling, Bogans, Redick, and Foyle).

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you're absolutely right, but here's the thing. They have dwayne wade. The heat are basically the poor man's cavs; LBJ is dominant, Wade is close. Shaq's value is basically close to that of Z. (A little better but misses a ton of games) Jason Williams is better then Snow, but Hughes is better then Antoine. (I guess he's a starter, eh???) As bad as the cast is, when you have a truly great player, you get into the post season, so unless Wade misses games too, they are a favorite to atleast make a token appearance.

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Garnett the last couple of years, Bryant the year after the Shaq trade, McGrady losing 21 games in a row. When your team is "that bad" there's not much you can do. If this team stays healthy they're probably a #6 seed but fat chance of that.

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Varejao is obviously VERY important, but I disagree about Sasha; I think he is a nice player, and I'm kinda surprised they havent come to terms yet. Def. a solid rotation player... Really don't follow you on the 1-2-3 part. Who is supposed to be 2 and 3? "Boobie" ???

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I meant best PG/SG/SF tandem.

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I see it as Spurs/Mavs/Suns likely have a combined ~60 to ~75% chance of claiming a title. Of the remaining ~40 to 25% chance, the Celtics have a ~10 to ~20% slice, making them nearly equals. No other team has nearly the equity of those 4.

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I see where you're coming from but I think these odds are way off. I think Chicago has a slightly better chance of winning a title than Boston does and Boston isn't far ahead of Cleveland. Chicago, Cleveland, Boston, Houston, and Utah all have about equal chances.

[Pudge714]

Bobbo,
If Pacers traded JONeal for 25c on the dollar they would at least get a white guy or a homegrown product back.

I don't think Acie Law solves hawks PG problems he is a shoot first pg who's assists got really over inflated because of Texas A&M scorekeeper. I think he will be like a Jamal Crawford.

I don't think Barnagi will regress he didn't have that great a rookie year and improved as the year went on. That being said I don't think he will develop into the number two option we need.

Is Kristic going to be back for the Nets?

Honestly I don't think there is much of a difference between the Bobcats,Magic,Heat and Raptors.

[vin17]

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8th. Raptors - Sorry Toronto fans, a ton of you here. This team over achieved last year, and did have a nice run. They're one of those teams (Mavs, Bulls being the other notables along this path) that are a better seasonal team then post season. They are deep too. Anycase, Bosh will have a great season (whoa ha, what a bold prediction!) whereas Bargnani will regress. (Call is sophomore slump, whatever) I love Anthony Parker, GO TEL AVIV! Raptors will obviously have a winning season, but will fall off from their 47 win season.

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It's pretty obvious that any improvement will come from the natural improvement of its core players. However, I'm a little worried about the fact this is the second straight preseason Bosh has missed time due to different injuries.

As for Bargnani, I think the fact he has no conscious will make it less likely for him to suffer from any sophomore regession.

That said, I have no reason not to expect 50 wins. Bosh and Bargnani missed significant time last year, while Ford also missed several games. I don't think expecting 3 more wins crazy.

[kidcolin]

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Is Kristic going to be back for the Nets?


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Yes.

tdarko,

you might just be baiting, but I'll bite. gambool on a 5.5 o/u line for the Celtics? Because unless everyone's ankles fall off I don't see them not winning the Atlantic, which you seemingly have the Raptors doing.

[Green Kool Aid]

East:

Most wins = Bulls
Representing East in Finals = Celtics

Not sure what we are evaluating here, but I can't see any teams besides these two really competing for it.