Heres the Eastern Conference Standings from last year ...
Team W L Pct GB
+---------------------------+---+---+------+------+
Detroit Pistons* 53 29 .646 -
Cleveland Cavaliers* 50 32 .610 3.0
Chicago Bulls* 49 33 .598 4.0
Toronto Raptors* 47 35 .573 6.0
Miami Heat* 44 38 .537 9.0
New Jersey Nets* 41 41 .500 12.0
Washington Wizards* 41 41 .500 12.0
Orlando Magic* 40 42 .488 13.0
Philadelphia 76ers 35 47 .427 18.0
Indiana Pacers 35 47 .427 18.0
New York Knickerbockers 33 49 .402 20.0
Charlotte Bobcats 33 49 .402 20.0
Atlanta Hawks 30 52 .366 23.0
Milwaukee Bucks 28 54 .341 25.0
Boston Celtics 24 58 .293 29.0
Its realistic to say with their new lineup , the can finish within the top 5 and perhaps better ..
Team W L Pct GB
+---------------------------+---+---+------+------+
Detroit Pistons* 53 29 .646 -
Cleveland Cavaliers* 50 32 .610 3.0
Chicago Bulls* 49 33 .598 4.0
Toronto Raptors* 47 35 .573 6.0
Miami Heat* 44 38 .537 9.0
New Jersey Nets* 41 41 .500 12.0
Washington Wizards* 41 41 .500 12.0
Orlando Magic* 40 42 .488 13.0
Philadelphia 76ers 35 47 .427 18.0
Indiana Pacers 35 47 .427 18.0
New York Knickerbockers 33 49 .402 20.0
Charlotte Bobcats 33 49 .402 20.0
Atlanta Hawks 30 52 .366 23.0
Milwaukee Bucks 28 54 .341 25.0
Boston Celtics 24 58 .293 29.0
Its realistic to say with their new lineup , the can finish within the top 5 and perhaps better ..
Maybe, but Allen has played his whole career with ball hogs on the other wing (Robinson, Lewis) and never really bitched much. Pierce has to be thankful to finally have some help again and Garnett is just a stand up guy all around. I don't necessarily think the deal makes Boston great, but chemistry shouldn't be a concern.
There's no reason why Boston can't compete in the top 5.
Detroit is no longer the class of the East. Lebron beat them in the conference finals, they are a year older, Saunders is on borrowed time at this point and Rasheed is becoming more of a headache than a contributor.
There's no team in the East that Boston can't compete with, having those 3 superstars.
juice:
i still contend that cleveland beat a better team in the eastern finals (detroit) than they were swept by in the championship series (san antonio). to me, detroit is still a much better team than cleveland despite the outcome of that series. cavs just got on a good roll in games 3,4,5,6. i still think the east is detroit's to lose. whether or not boston can make a jump into the cle/mia/chi mix remains to be seen. it could certainly happen. hell, it wouldnt surprise me if washington were to enter that mix as well. or even orlando. east is wide open. but i still think detroit is head and shoulders about the field. i know that prob sounds illogical. but i think detroit is the best ... but able to be taken down with the right matchup.
i still contend that cleveland beat a better team in the eastern finals (detroit) than they were swept by in the championship series (san antonio). to me, detroit is still a much better team than cleveland despite the outcome of that series. cavs just got on a good roll in games 3,4,5,6. i still think the east is detroit's to lose. whether or not boston can make a jump into the cle/mia/chi mix remains to be seen. it could certainly happen. hell, it wouldnt surprise me if washington were to enter that mix as well. or even orlando. east is wide open. but i still think detroit is head and shoulders about the field. i know that prob sounds illogical. but i think detroit is the best ... but able to be taken down with the right matchup.
Detroit's defense keeps them in just about every game they play.
However, their offense can go straight up stagnant at times. Given the fact that Saunders is also not a defensive coach, I see them deteriorating again as the rest of the east catches up.
I'm biased against Cleveland because I hate them, and Washington is treading water, they don't want to play defense and the coach hates them for it.
As I see it, Chicago, Orlando, and perhaps Toronto are poised to make a big jump this year. Miami could also easily return to form with a healthy Wade.
All in all, the conference seems very evenly matched, I can easily see Boston's trio jelling very quickly and grabbing a top 3 seed.
KG in the post, with Allen sniping from 3 and Pierce slashing from the wing is about as impossible defend as anything else. KG also brings a lot to the defensive end and rebounding aspect as well.
I don't like Boston by nature either, but I am looking forward to watching them play
Since you think you are an overwhelming favorite to make the playoffs, I will bet you 500 bucks against your 900 bucks that the Celtics miss the playoffs....give me something to root for during the NBA since I really hate it....:toast: and because I am a Sixer fan, I naturally hate the Celtics..
uppy:
The first pro team I have ever been a fan of, the "Boston Celtics"
I will tell you right now from the bottom of my heart, I could care less what happens.
I'm just so excited to have 3 guys of this caliber on the same team to be able to root for.
I no doubt feel injurys & missed playing time will probably do a lot to hurt us. But I dont think many people understand the scope of the suffering this premier franchise has been through.
45 wins and a playoff berth, I'd be happy with that.
I will tell you right now from the bottom of my heart, I could care less what happens.
I'm just so excited to have 3 guys of this caliber on the same team to be able to root for.
I no doubt feel injurys & missed playing time will probably do a lot to hurt us. But I dont think many people understand the scope of the suffering this premier franchise has been through.
45 wins and a playoff berth, I'd be happy with that.
Since you think you are an overwhelming favorite to make the playoffs, I will bet you 500 bucks against your 900 bucks that the Celtics miss the playoffs....give me something to root for during the NBA since I really hate it....:toast: and because I am a Sixer fan, I naturally hate the Celtics..
I'll take some of that action.
