Rank the East and West

[djwhokid]

As of now:

Eastern Conference:

Atlantic

New Jersey (3) - A sleeper team to make the NBA finals. I'm not quite sure if Lawrence Frank is the right coach for this team but the additions of Nenad Krstic (missed all of last year due to injury), Jamaal Magloire, and Sean Williams gives this team much needed front court help.

Boston (8) - If Ray Allen is healthy, this team will be dangerous. A core of Allen, Pierce, and Jefferson is better then a core of Kidd, Carter, and Jefferson. The Nets however, have much more proven depth.

New York - Like the Atlanta Hawks, but sadly they actually are trying to win.

Toronto - They took advantage of a weak division last year, wont be so lucky this time.

Philadelphia - Rebuilding

Central

Chicago (1) - Very good roster. Unlike most teams into the East, the core nucleus of Bulls players have yet to reach their full potential which is scary because players like Luol Deng and Tyrus Thomas are superstar talents.

Cleveland (2) - They do not have enough talent around LeBron James. Maybe if they can land Mike Bibby, but I like the Bulls roster better.

Detroit (4) - Unless Rodney Stuckey makes a huge impact, this team is on the declining from elite status.

Milwaukee- They have enough talent to make the playoffs, I just do not like the core of this team. At this point they are a borderline playoff team.

Indiana - Rebuilding

Southeast

Washington (5) - If they were healthy last year they could have beaten the Cavs.

Orlando (6) - J.J. Redick as most improved player in the NBA? Maybe so because he will have a lot of open shots with Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard providing the bulk of the scoring. If only Fran Vazquez would come to America.

Miami (7) - The supporting cast blows, Shaq is old and if D. Wade can't stay healthy the Miami Heat are in trouble.

Charlotte - They have a legit shot at 41 wins and could sneak into the playoffs.

Atlanta - No direction, clueless franchise.

[BravesRule22]

Atlantic

1 - Raptors - They have a solid young core of players that will continue to get better. I can see them taking a step back this year, maybe, but I wouldnt be shocked to see them win another Atlantic title

2 - Knicks - Call me a homer if you wish but we have the most talent of anyone in this divison and if we can mesh then I dont see anyway we dont contend and have a good chance to win this divison

3 - Nets - They have the big 3 and Nenad and not much else. Kidd is a year older and is not going to be able to log the minutes for much longer. This might be their last chance at a ring

4 - Celtics - Adding Ray Alllen wont help that much, IF and its a big IF he stays healthy they might have a chance to sneak into the playoffs as an 8 seed but that doesnt seem likely

5 - 6ers - they have no chance at all this year

Central

1 - Detriot - Still have the best starting 5 of anyone in their divison and even though they are not the deepest team in the league they still are a talented, veteran filled team that I expect to do what they always do. Win

2 - Bulls - Very talented team, young and with Ben Wallace in the middle they have a force on D. It will be interesting to see if they can get the inside scoring their missed dearly last year. If they can find that from someone look for them to contend for the Central

3 - Cavs - While they made it to the finals, its still Bron and a bunch of crap..They are the 3rd most talented team in the Central and they might be trading Gooden and possible losing Varajero...doesnt look good

4 - Pacers - They still have JO, assuming he isnt traded and that makes them better than the Bucks

5 - Just not a very good team

SouthEast

Wizards - Still the most talented team, even though it appears Gilbert is gone at the end of the season it should motivate him to have his best year yet which should provide the Wizard into a top 4 seed

Heat - Wade and Shaq do they need much more ? IMO they dont...their team isnt that deep and isnt that talented aside from the big 2 but as long as Shaq is more than 75 % it should be enough

Magic - I really dont like the Shard move and giving up on Darko just did not make sense. It just doesnt seem like a good fit of talent to me. Dwight is still a beast but jameer nelson has only gotten worse since his rookie season and if they want to do something big then JJ will need to step up

Bobcats - I like their mix of talent, if everything breaks right and Okafor and Wallace stay healthy all year or most of it then I can see them contending for the 8 seed. But they have alot of injury question marks with JRich, Okarfor and Wallace....could backfire in a big way

Hawks - Just cant see them doing much of anything this year.

Rankings

1- Wizards
2- Pistons
3- Bulls
4- Raps
5- Knicks
6- Cavs
7- Heat
8- Nets

[djwhokid]

Rankings

1- Wizards
2- Pistons
3- Bulls
4- Raps
5- Knicks
6- Cavs
7- Heat
8- Nets

Here is mine (updated):

1. Bulls
2. Nets

They have the big 3 and Nenad and not much else. Kidd is a year older and is not going to be able to log the minutes for much longer. This might be their last chance at a ring

They have Marcus Williams and Josh Boone. This year they added Sean Williams and Jamaal Magloire. Kidd is getting old but I think M. Williams is a special player.

3. Wizards
4. Celtics
5. Cavs
6. Pistons
7. Orlando
8. Heat

Why the Knicks wont make the playoffs?

1. Isiah Thomas
2. Stephon Marbury

The Charlotte Bobcats had the same record as the Knicks last year and they likely will have a better record then them next year.

[BravesRule22]

Bobcats wont come close to the knicks record this year

As for the Nets, with JKidd, VC and RJ still there Marcus isnt going to get alot of run and I agree he is special but he wont get PT untill 1 of those 3 leave. Boone is nothing special to me and Sean Williams was awful in the SL and people in the NBA are saying he isnt anywhere close to being NBA ready and probably wont see much time on the floor this year

[djwhokid]

LOL!

3. Does the addition of Zach Randolph make the Knicks a postseason lock?

Abbott: If I'm right that Chicago, Detroit, Boston, Cleveland, Miami, Toronto, and probably New Jersey will make the playoffs, then there's one spot left. The Knicks may well take it, but they're not a lock for anything. Practically every player on the roster needs the ball to be effective. I hope it'll work out, but I wouldn't count on it. And they'll have to beat out Orlando, Washington, Philadelphia and everyone else.

Hollinger: Not with that defense, no. The only lock here is that the Knicks will be a bottom-five defensive team with that Curry/Randolph frontcourt. Maybe they sneak in and maybe they don't.

Stein: Even though I thought trading for Zach was a worthy risk for Isiah Thomas, I have to see how Randolph and Eddy Curry co-exist before I buy all the way in. I know Zach can step out and hit jumpers, but there are some questions there.

Thorpe: No. We still need to see how Eddy Curry does when the offense does not revolve around him. And they will struggle to defend people inside. Toronto, Orlando, New Jersey, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit and Boston are all better on paper, leaving just one spot. And Charlotte plus the Hawks will be improved, too.

ESPN - Writer roundup: Has the balance of power shifted in the East? - NBA

[Zen653]

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division

1. Boston Celtics - Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen bring some All-Star veteran leadership and skill to a team that desperately needed it. With three legitimate complementary All-Stars in Garnett (inside), Allen (outside) and Pierce (slasher), the Celtics should be able to spread the floor well and score a boatload of points. Gone are the days where the Celtics would run isolation plays for Pierce as he tried to score against double and triple teams. Expect a revival of championship-caliber basketball in Boston. Role players like James Posey, Eddie House and Tony Allen fill out the roster nicely. The only question marks are whether a team with young players at key positions (Perkins at center, Rondo at point guard) can make the leap.

2. Toronto Raptors - Last year's division winners added an excellent pure shooter in Jason Kapono, to go along with All-Star Chris Bosh and rising star Andrea Bargnani. With the solid veteran Spanish duo of Calderon and Garbajosa at guard and forward, respectively, and the underrated Rasho Nesterovic at center, the Raptors look to replicate last year's success. If T.J Ford and Joey Graham prove that they've fully recovered from injuries, the Raptors could find themselves in the second round of the playoffs. This team is a classic example of the sum being better than the individual parts.

3. New Jersey Nets - The team looks great on paper, with Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Nened Kristic and Richard Jefferson all returning to a club that now includes Jamaal Magliore and Sean Williams in the frontcourt. So why third place in the Atlantic? Because the Nets are an aging team, with a difficult mix of mercurial personalities. Guys are constantly getting hurt and missing several months of the season, while Carter and Kidd take turns having temper tantrums. If everyone can stay healthy and motivated, the Nets could be the best team in the East. Just don't count on everything breaking the right way for them. It hasn't worked out that way in awhile.

4. New York Knicks - The addition of Zach Randolph, and the anticipated progress for David Lee, make this a better team than it was last year. Stephon Marbury can still score 20+ points per game and Jamal Crawford looks like he actually cares (at least in the pre-season) about his productivity this year. That said, the undisciplined Nate Robinson drags any team down, the Eddy Curry era has been disastrous, and the Knickerbockers just don't have the necessary depth or quality to mount a serious playoff run.

5. Philadelphia 76ers - The Sixers feature a trio of energetic youngsters in Samuel Dalembert, Andre Igoudala and draft pick Thaddeus Young. Maurice Cheeks needs to find the right mix of players that maximizes his player's talents. A pecking order will need to be established, as right now there's no clear difference in talent between the 4th man and the 12th man. Depending upon the attitude of the players, this will be a team that can frustrate veteran clubs who want to coast along for three quarters. There will be the occasional upset over an established team that takes Philadelphia too lightly. But don't expect any miracles. The Sixers are at least another couple years away from returning to the playoffs, let alone competing for a division title.

Central Division

1. Chicago Bulls – The Bulls are well-rounded from top to bottom, with the right mix of young veterans like Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon and Luol Deng, and older veterans like Joe Smith and Ben Wallace. Chicago plays an energetic brand of basketball that wears down opponents and creates open shots. If the Bulls can perform at a consistent level – something that comes with age and experience – they could advance deep into the playoffs.

2. Detroit Pistons – The Pistons made very few changes to an aging roster reminiscent of the post-championship Celtics teams of the early 90s. Detroit still features some talented veteran players but there are no younger guys of consequence to replace them. As with New Jersey, everything has to break perfectly for the Pistons to make a return trip to the NBA Finals. All of the veterans must stay healthy and play up to their full potential. More likely, the Pistons will be competitive, win a playoff round or two, but not seriously contend for the NBA title.

3. Milwaukee Bucks – This is a potentially dangerous playoff team that struggled last year because of injuries to key players. Michael Redd might be the best pure shooter in the NBA. Mo Williams should improve upon his breakout season at point guard in 2006-07. Andrew Bogut should continue to develop into a serviceable center. Charlie Villanueva will bring some much-needed toughness to the post. Rookie Yi Jianlin could assert himself as a poor man’s Dirk Nowitzki. The bench of Charlie Bell, Bobby Simmons and Dan Gadzuric gives the Bucks solid depth at important positions. If everyone can stay healthy, the Bucks will be a playoff team.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers – The 2007-08 Cavaliers seem primed for a letdown season. Last year’s team enjoyed surprising contributions from Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic. Barring an 11th hour deal with both players, the weakest defending Conference Champion in possibly the entire history of the NBA will be without its two most important role players. Can LeBron James get his team into the playoffs alone? Can the plodding Zydrunas Ilgauskas last the entire season without a debilitating physical or emotional breakdown? Can Daniel Gibson prove that last year’s post-season performance was not a fluke? There are too many question marks with this team, and one wonders whether the Cavaliers will be hungry enough to fight through them and persevere.

5. Indiana Pacers – Jim O’Brien specializes in rebuilding projects. He turned bad Celtics and Sixers teams into playoff-caliber clubs in less than two years. With Jermaine O’Neal and young emerging stars like Danny Granger, the Pacers could be competitive again by next year. In terms of competing for an NBA title, however, they have a long way to go. They may decide to enter the O.J Mayo sweepstakes and go into full rebuilding mode by trading Jermaine O’Neal.

Southeast Division

1. Washington Wizards - Injuries prevented this team from winning last year’s Eastern Conference. Gilbert Arenas may be the most underrated and exciting star in the game. He’s entering into his prime now and will be extra motivated due to the disappointment of last year’s finish and the fact that he’s in a contract year. Expect MVP-type numbers from him. In addition to Arenas, the Wizards have a pair of solid role players in Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison. Andray Blatche, Antonio Daniels, Etan Thomas and Nick Young should all be important contributors as well.

2. Orlando Magic – Other than the Boston Celtics, this might be the most improved team in the league. The addition of Rashard Lewis gives Dwight Howard a new sidekick who can be a star in the Eastern Conference. Hedo Turkoglu , Keyon Dooling and Jameer Nelson round out the starting five. J.J Redick could emerge as a viable third scoring option.

3. Miami Heat – Any team with Shaquille O’Neal and Dwayne Wade will have a difficult time not making the playoffs. The question is whether the two of them can stay healthy enough to go on a legitimate post-season run. Given the way Miami fell apart in last year’s post-season, this seems very unlikely. While the additions of Ricky Davis and Mark Blount provide bench help, they also inject poison. Alonzo Mourning picked the perfect time to leave.

4. Charlotte Bobcats – This is an extremely likeable team that could be very good as early as the All-Star break. This season will be a transition year, where the young core develops chemistry and figures out an effective rotation. Jason Richardson, Gerald Wallace, Emeka Okafor and even Primoz Brezec give Charlotte a strong foundation. Keeping Richardson disciplined could be a challenge, as he was known to be selfish in Golden State.

5. Atlanta Hawks – There are some good players on this team in Joe Johnson and Josh Smith. Zaza Pachulia is a serviceable center. There isn’t much else for the league’s most embarrassing franchise. Atlanta can punch its ticket for Seacaucus.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Northwest Division

1. Denver Nuggets – Assuming that the bombastic George Karl doesn’t lose his players, this team simply has too much talent not to win the Northwest Division. The Iverson and Anthony duo should average 50 points per game. Marcus Camby is a top 3 center when healthy. Nene Hilario provides defense and interior toughness. The Nuggets also have a deep bench with Chucky Atkins, Steven Hunter, Kenyon Martin and Eduardo Najera. This is a club that could dethrone the Spurs if Camby plays into June.

2. Utah Jazz – This is a typical post-Stockton Jerry Sloan team. Lots of talented players, no superstars. Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur know how to play well together and get results. The team plays with high energy, fundamentals, and discipline, which makes them especially dangerous in the playoffs.

3. Portland Trailblazers – Even though Greg Oden won’t be around this year, the Blazers still have some talented up-and-comers in Brandon Roy, Martell Webster and LaMarcus Aldridge. The Blazers won’t win enough games to make the playoffs but they’ll finish ahead of Seattle and Minnesota.

4. Seattle Supersonics – Kevin Durant will shine. Jeff Green should get plenty of minutes. Kurt Thomas will likely be traded to a contender. Szczerbiak will probably do what he knows best and get hurt. It’ll be a long last season in Seattle.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves – This is basically last year’s Celtics team minus Paul Pierce. Maybe Kevin McHale will finally get fired.

Pacific Division

1. Phoenix Suns - Ageless wonder Steve Nash may be running out of opportunities to win a ring. He’ll be dishing the ball to Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire for another season. Grant Hill is the newest addition to the team. Can he finally stay healthy? Raja Bell returns as the defensive specialist. The bench is weaker than last year’s. The Suns will not be able to survive any long-term injuries to impact players.

2. Golden State Warriors – This is a fun team to watch. Baron Davis, Stepehen Jackson, Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins are all back, with Matt Barnes as the indispensable sixth man. It might be difficult to replace Richardson’s production.

3. Los Angeles Lakers – Any team with Kobe Bryant will be competitive for a playoff spot. Unfortunately for him (and in large part because of him), the Lakers don’t have much of a supporting cast outside of Lamar Odom. Barring a major trade, Los Angeles will challenge for the final playoff spot and not much else. This is not a good way for Phil Jackson to go out.

4. Los Angeles Clippers – Expect more of the same from these perennial losers. The stars aligned for the Clippers two years ago but they don’t have what it takes to win big in a deep Western Conference. Elton Brand showed signs of chronic fatigue last season and will probably continue to regress.

5. Sacramento Kings – Not much to get excited about in California’s capital city. Kevin Martin is a decent player and Ron Artest will capture the headlines a few times. Mike Bibby and Brad Miller desperately need a change in scenery to reinvigorate their careers.

Southwest Division

1. Dallas Mavericks - They are built for regular season success. Dirk Nowitzki will put up his typical monster numbers and Mark Cuban will pray that the Mavericks do not collapse for a second consecutive year. If they do, Avery Johnson could find himself unemployed.

2. San Antonio Spurs – The team’s key players are starting to get old. Duncan, Bowen, Ginobili and Parker probably have one last championship run in them. Expect the Spurs to coast for part of the year and recover in time to play deep into June. It may be time for Popovich to think about acquiring some younger talent.

3. Houston Rockets – On paper, McGrady and Ming look like a powerful 1-2 combo that should dominate the Western Conference. In actuality, both players are soft and simply don’t know how to win important games. Don’t count on that changing. Jeff Van Gundy wasn’t the problem.

4. New Orleans Hornets – Chris Paul is an elite point guard and Tyson Chandler an underrated all-round center. Peja Stojakovic can still shoot and David West is an emerging star at power forward. Byron Scott knows how to push the right buttons to get his players to maximize their talent. Like Toronto, this is a team where the sum is greater than its individual parts. Unfortunately for New Orleans fans (if they even exist), the Hornets find themselves stuck in the NBA’s equivalent of the American League East.

5. Memphis Grizzlies – A healthy year from Pau Gasol will guarantee that the team wins at least a respectable number of games. Don’t expect much from rookie Mike Conley Jr., as he tries to adjust to much tougher competition. Darko Milic will need to prove that he’s worth the money Chris Wallace gave him. And Rudy Gay must show that he’s more than a 9th man in an 8-man rotation.

Eastern Conference Standings

1. Boston Celtics
2. Chicago Bulls
3. Washington Wizards
4. Detroit Pistons
5. Toronto Raptors
6. New Jersey Nets
7. Orlando Magic
8. Miami Heat

Western Conference Standings

1. Dallas Mavericks
2. Phoenix Suns
3. Denver Nuggets
4. San Antonio Spurs
5. Utah Jazz
6. Houston Rockets
7. Golden State Warriors
8. New Orleans Hornets

Eastern Playoffs

(1) Boston over (8) Miami in 5.
(4) Detroit over (5) Toronto in 6.
(2) Chicago over (7) Orlando in 6.
(3) Washington over (6) New Jersey in 6.

(1) Boston over (4) Detroit in 6.
(3) Washington over (2) Chicago in 7.

(1) Boston over (3) Washington in 6.

Western Playoffs

(1) Dallas over (8) New Orleans in 5.
(4) San Antonio over (5) Utah in 5.
(2) Phoenix over (7) Golden State in 5.
(3) Denver over (6) Houston in 6.

(4) San Antonio over (1) Dallas in 6.
(2) Phoenix over (3) Denver in 7.

(4) San Antonio over (2) Phoenix in 6.

NBA Finals: San Antonio over Boston in 6.

[BravesRule22]

Ah Zen great read man, good stuff

Just one thing on the Knicks, minor but I feel the need to chime in

Nate Robinson has gotten praise from almost anyone that has covered him this offseason. SI said he has taken his game to the next level and suggested that he is 1 of the top 10 players to watch this year.

[unreal654]

The only reason the Celts have a shot at the playoffs is because they play in the worst division in basketball. A division in which they managed a GRAND TOTAL of 24 wins last season... burying them 4 games back into last place in the East. OK... they managed to bring in KG. From last to first is a lofty prediction... optimism at its finest. I just wish people in Boston could set bias aside and realize that things don't just click in one year. Boston will improve this season, but I'm hard pressed to put them ahead of Toronto and New Jersey... let alone Detroit and Chicago who now have a history of winning. I like the Pierce-KG combo, and agree that it is enough to bring the Celtics to the playoffs. But 1st seed in the East? Yikes! I guess stranger things have happened.

[Zen653]

Nate Robinson has gotten praise from almost anyone that has covered him this offseason. SI said he has taken his game to the next level and suggested that he is 1 of the top 10 players to watch this year.

Alright, I stand corrected then. He had a reputation for being a bit of a punk last year who plays a selfish brand of basketball. I'm glad to learn that he's changing that image by elevating his game and improving his attitude. He's an exciting player to watch when he has his head screwed on straight.

The only reason the Celts have a shot at the playoffs is because they play in the worst division in basketball. A division in which they managed a GRAND TOTAL of 24 wins last season... burying them 4 games back into last place in the East.

The 2007-08 squad barely remsembles the one that finished with the worst record in the Eastern Conference last year. First of all, only 6 players are back from that team. Second of all, last year's Celtics suffered through a series of debilitating injuries to key players like Paul Pierce, Al Jefferson and Tony Allen. How far would the Cavaliers have gone without LeBron James? The same logic applies to Boston. Third, this year's Celtics team added two veteran All-Stars in Kevin Garnett (a top 5 player leaguewide) and Ray Allen (a top 5 shooter leaguewide), without subtracting anyone of import except Al Jefferson. Fourth, the Celtics vastly improved their bench by bringing in defensive specialist James Posey and talented guard Eddie House. Fifth, Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins are another year older and another year wiser. Both of them should be able to elevate their games, especially now that they're surrounded by a trio of great players in Garnett, Pierce and Allen.

I just wish people in Boston could set bias aside and realize that things don't just click in one year. Boston will improve this season, but I'm hard pressed to put them ahead of Toronto and New Jersey... let alone Detroit and Chicago who now have a history of winning. I like the Pierce-KG combo, and agree that it is enough to bring the Celtics to the playoffs. But 1st seed in the East? Yikes! I guess stranger things have happened.

It's not a matter of bias. I look at last year's Eastern Conference and I see that the Cleveland Cavaliers won it with LeBron James and a couple of decent role players. I look at this year's Celtics and I see a team that boasts three All-Stars in a league where teams with multiple All-Stars win championship titles. Professional basketball, more than any other sport, has the simplest formula for winning. The more All-Stars you have, the more likely you win a ring. From the Bird-McHale Celtics teams, to the Johnson-Kareem Laker teams, to the Thomas-Rodman Pistons teams, to the Jordan-Pippen Bulls teams, to the Shaq-Kobe Lakers teams, to the Duncan-Parker Spurs teams, to the Shaq-Wade Heat team, you need at least two All-Stars to win an NBA Championship. The Celtics now have three All-Stars, at least two of whom are still at the apex of their game. If James, Varejao and Pavlovic are enough to win the Eastern Conference, then Pierce, Garnett and Allen can certainly do it too.