Post by ballislife on Jul 24, 2014 19:37:43 GMT
2016 Eastern Conference Power Rankings! Could be biased. Based on what I personally think will happen. Enjoy the bias. 
THE FAVORITES
1: Toronto Raptors: 58-24
Best team in the East in my opinion. For some reason, Daniel Gibson is a solid point guard. Brandon Roy has yet to take a step back and showed the naysayers he can still ball at 32. Batum, Nene and Oden round out the rest of the rotation, which are all really good options. In the Preseason, they went 13-5, scoring 106ppg and that’s with Nene taking a seat. Expect this team to make it to the playoffs, again…
2: Orlando Magic: 52-30
This team is silently a power house. With players like Lawson, Wade, Parker and Young, they have a front court that will make most teams miserable. A star in the making in Mudiay also lurks the bench as a backup scorer. The only questions I have is there post game. Can the perhaps overrated Randolph and Thompson stop teams from dominating the post? If so, we can expect the Magic to be in the playoffs once more.
3: Miami Heat: 50-32
Yes I’m being biased. Love it or love it. A very fearful lineup in Williams/Harden/Summers/Davis/Curry with the young, talented Okafor riding the 6th man spot. That starting lineup has the right mix of defense and scoring. Harden is a stud and will score when the team needs it. He can even play PG if Williams struggles or is traded. The Davis/Curry duo up front can’t be ignored as it is arguably the scariest front court in the NBAD. Other than an inconsistent bench, this team is solid enough to do well in the rather weak eastern conference. Can they be consistent enough and contend for the Eastern Conference crown.
POTENTIAL CONTENDERS
4: Cleveland Cavaliers: 48-34
Kyrie Erving, enough said. This guy is a legit stud and a terror to any team. His preseason was phenomenal and I just don’t see a drop in production any time soon. The white wonder bread, Klay Thompson, is perhaps one of the more underrated players in the league and that is a scary 1-2 punch. If they can get one more piece in that rotation, this team can be feared for years to come.
5: Milwaukee Bucks: 45-37
This team is surely interesting. If they can add one more piece to their lineup of Kane, Iggy and Ibaka, they could be a real headache for opponents. Definitely one of the better defensive teams in the East, but seem to struggle on the offensive side as well. However, defense wins games, so expect the Bucks to be in the race for a playoff seed.
Playoff Bound, But Likely first Round Exits
6: Philadelphia 76ers: 44-38
The Sixers made it all the way to the championship, and actually won it all. Congrats to them. However, it seems like they are attempting to tank. They don’t feel like they can compete in the East, but anybody can compete in the East. With a duo of Curry and Brook, that’s enough to throw off most teams to where the 6ers can actually make some noise. There defense struggled in the preseason, but they have some good tools, and with a little defensive help, they will be right up there in the big race to the dance.
7: Indiana Pacers: 42-42
This team on paper has the firepower to scare most teams (George, MCW, Barnes), however, there post game is concerning. If Darko can be a big blob in the paint, then maybe they’ll have a chance, but a good inside team should give them the business. Also, there perimeter D is really mediocre at best, so teams with good outside players could do damage as well. Roll of the dice type of team
Race for the Eighth
8: Charlotte Hornets: 40-42
Jeremy Lamb, Isiah Thomas and Milan Macvan. Doesn’t scare you on paper. Some may question who these people even are, but they are complete studs. Macvan for some reason is a pill popping animal, good on the offensive side and defensive side.
Thomas is small, but always improves, very underrated. Jeremy Lamb is improving every year, earning a nice contract for the Hornets. My real question is, can this team play D, other than Macvan? He cannot do it all, so I do expect them to have some woes on that side of the ball. If they can fix it, they can knock on the door to the big dance.
8: Brooklyn Nets: 39-43
Ahh, the Nets. This team also concerns me with woeful perimeter D. Cannot play defense to save their lives. Never seen so many C’s on one team. However, on offense, the improbable duo of Hill and Aminu has seemed to come out of nowhere. Can they keep it up in the regular season? I feel like the Nets had a better shot when they had Rudy Gay, but trading him seemed to down their chances of making the playoffs in the weakened East. Expect them to just miss the playoffs.
On the Outside Looking in
9: Chicago Bulls: 37-45
LBJ is gone, and so is the Bulls hopes and dreams. After winning a title, it seems that they are ready to rebuild and get younger. Malik Newman seems to really be dripping with potential. Superstar is written all over him. Favors has seemed to blossom as well. The rest of this team, however, has question marks written all over it. Where is the identity of the changing Bulls? What kind of moves does bloop have for the future of this team? There still good enough to be a playoff team, but I don’t think that’s the direction they want to take. A team with potential, but perhaps too raw.
Lottery Bound
10: Washington Wizards: 35-48
This team has a nice duo of Beal and Parsons, but in this league, that won’t take you far. They need more overall power to contend. The East is wide open, and they have the potential to prove me wrong, but as of now I just don’t see it. Mediocre defense as well. Expect them to get absolutely clobbered in the post and struggle on the perimeter. Point is, it is not the year of the Wizards.
12: Detroit Pistons: 30-52
This team just isn’t good enough to compete in the East. Lance and Hickson provide some offense, but anybody else is non-existent. Defense seems to be non-existent as well. The Pistons need to make more moves to make them a better overall team, or a high lotto pick will be inevitable. Not enough to push them into the race.
13: Boston Celtics: 27-55
CY year is approaching for the C’s, and I’m sure it’ll be inevitable. This team is just way too raw. They have a nice core for the future in Burke, Randle and Towns, but there way too raw to carry them into the playoffs or amass 42 wins. Asian persuasion, YI, is perhaps a bright spot for them as well. The C’s need to make moves fast, because with that squad, there hopes are just too low for my blood.
14: Atlanta Hawks: 25-57
Oh my Atlanta. Where is the help, offensively and defensively? Lyles seems to be a bright spot and a cornerstone to Hawks basketball, but other than that, where is everybody? Humphries is being shopped heavily, so who knows where the GM takes this team. Good thing he has a bunch of expirings and cap space so he can rebuild in the lotto and FA for next year, but this year looks very very bleak. Expect nothing more than mediocrity from Atlanta.
15: New York Knicks: 17-64
Welp, they got LBJ, but other than that, a bunch of busts. Monroe and Griffin, to be exact, is scary on paper, but they just don’t translate well enough in this league to be effective starters. Also having no guard help, expect LBJ to have inflated stats carrying this team at least into double-digit wins. Sorry pop, but this team seems to be #1 bound, again (Yeah I know it wasn’t their pick).
THE FAVORITES
1: Toronto Raptors: 58-24
Best team in the East in my opinion. For some reason, Daniel Gibson is a solid point guard. Brandon Roy has yet to take a step back and showed the naysayers he can still ball at 32. Batum, Nene and Oden round out the rest of the rotation, which are all really good options. In the Preseason, they went 13-5, scoring 106ppg and that’s with Nene taking a seat. Expect this team to make it to the playoffs, again…
2: Orlando Magic: 52-30
This team is silently a power house. With players like Lawson, Wade, Parker and Young, they have a front court that will make most teams miserable. A star in the making in Mudiay also lurks the bench as a backup scorer. The only questions I have is there post game. Can the perhaps overrated Randolph and Thompson stop teams from dominating the post? If so, we can expect the Magic to be in the playoffs once more.
3: Miami Heat: 50-32
Yes I’m being biased. Love it or love it. A very fearful lineup in Williams/Harden/Summers/Davis/Curry with the young, talented Okafor riding the 6th man spot. That starting lineup has the right mix of defense and scoring. Harden is a stud and will score when the team needs it. He can even play PG if Williams struggles or is traded. The Davis/Curry duo up front can’t be ignored as it is arguably the scariest front court in the NBAD. Other than an inconsistent bench, this team is solid enough to do well in the rather weak eastern conference. Can they be consistent enough and contend for the Eastern Conference crown.
POTENTIAL CONTENDERS
4: Cleveland Cavaliers: 48-34
Kyrie Erving, enough said. This guy is a legit stud and a terror to any team. His preseason was phenomenal and I just don’t see a drop in production any time soon. The white wonder bread, Klay Thompson, is perhaps one of the more underrated players in the league and that is a scary 1-2 punch. If they can get one more piece in that rotation, this team can be feared for years to come.
5: Milwaukee Bucks: 45-37
This team is surely interesting. If they can add one more piece to their lineup of Kane, Iggy and Ibaka, they could be a real headache for opponents. Definitely one of the better defensive teams in the East, but seem to struggle on the offensive side as well. However, defense wins games, so expect the Bucks to be in the race for a playoff seed.
Playoff Bound, But Likely first Round Exits
6: Philadelphia 76ers: 44-38
The Sixers made it all the way to the championship, and actually won it all. Congrats to them. However, it seems like they are attempting to tank. They don’t feel like they can compete in the East, but anybody can compete in the East. With a duo of Curry and Brook, that’s enough to throw off most teams to where the 6ers can actually make some noise. There defense struggled in the preseason, but they have some good tools, and with a little defensive help, they will be right up there in the big race to the dance.
7: Indiana Pacers: 42-42
This team on paper has the firepower to scare most teams (George, MCW, Barnes), however, there post game is concerning. If Darko can be a big blob in the paint, then maybe they’ll have a chance, but a good inside team should give them the business. Also, there perimeter D is really mediocre at best, so teams with good outside players could do damage as well. Roll of the dice type of team
Race for the Eighth
8: Charlotte Hornets: 40-42
Jeremy Lamb, Isiah Thomas and Milan Macvan. Doesn’t scare you on paper. Some may question who these people even are, but they are complete studs. Macvan for some reason is a pill popping animal, good on the offensive side and defensive side.
Thomas is small, but always improves, very underrated. Jeremy Lamb is improving every year, earning a nice contract for the Hornets. My real question is, can this team play D, other than Macvan? He cannot do it all, so I do expect them to have some woes on that side of the ball. If they can fix it, they can knock on the door to the big dance.
8: Brooklyn Nets: 39-43
Ahh, the Nets. This team also concerns me with woeful perimeter D. Cannot play defense to save their lives. Never seen so many C’s on one team. However, on offense, the improbable duo of Hill and Aminu has seemed to come out of nowhere. Can they keep it up in the regular season? I feel like the Nets had a better shot when they had Rudy Gay, but trading him seemed to down their chances of making the playoffs in the weakened East. Expect them to just miss the playoffs.
On the Outside Looking in
9: Chicago Bulls: 37-45
LBJ is gone, and so is the Bulls hopes and dreams. After winning a title, it seems that they are ready to rebuild and get younger. Malik Newman seems to really be dripping with potential. Superstar is written all over him. Favors has seemed to blossom as well. The rest of this team, however, has question marks written all over it. Where is the identity of the changing Bulls? What kind of moves does bloop have for the future of this team? There still good enough to be a playoff team, but I don’t think that’s the direction they want to take. A team with potential, but perhaps too raw.
Lottery Bound
10: Washington Wizards: 35-48
This team has a nice duo of Beal and Parsons, but in this league, that won’t take you far. They need more overall power to contend. The East is wide open, and they have the potential to prove me wrong, but as of now I just don’t see it. Mediocre defense as well. Expect them to get absolutely clobbered in the post and struggle on the perimeter. Point is, it is not the year of the Wizards.
12: Detroit Pistons: 30-52
This team just isn’t good enough to compete in the East. Lance and Hickson provide some offense, but anybody else is non-existent. Defense seems to be non-existent as well. The Pistons need to make more moves to make them a better overall team, or a high lotto pick will be inevitable. Not enough to push them into the race.
13: Boston Celtics: 27-55
CY year is approaching for the C’s, and I’m sure it’ll be inevitable. This team is just way too raw. They have a nice core for the future in Burke, Randle and Towns, but there way too raw to carry them into the playoffs or amass 42 wins. Asian persuasion, YI, is perhaps a bright spot for them as well. The C’s need to make moves fast, because with that squad, there hopes are just too low for my blood.
14: Atlanta Hawks: 25-57
Oh my Atlanta. Where is the help, offensively and defensively? Lyles seems to be a bright spot and a cornerstone to Hawks basketball, but other than that, where is everybody? Humphries is being shopped heavily, so who knows where the GM takes this team. Good thing he has a bunch of expirings and cap space so he can rebuild in the lotto and FA for next year, but this year looks very very bleak. Expect nothing more than mediocrity from Atlanta.
15: New York Knicks: 17-64
Welp, they got LBJ, but other than that, a bunch of busts. Monroe and Griffin, to be exact, is scary on paper, but they just don’t translate well enough in this league to be effective starters. Also having no guard help, expect LBJ to have inflated stats carrying this team at least into double-digit wins. Sorry pop, but this team seems to be #1 bound, again (Yeah I know it wasn’t their pick).
