Post by blue on Oct 31, 2014 1:11:15 GMT
Top 10 Contenders
Bulls - Hard to bet against them, they’ve kept their core together for multiple years and finally put it all together in 2022. The only thing that stopped them from repeating was a stacked Knicks teams who without Mirotic isn’t as big a threat as they were last season. Easy choice here.
Spurs - Can’t rank the Spurs lower than this, making it to the finals with ease even after multiple injuries to MRR and Harrison Barnes. Made the Finals closer than many, even Lorde, probably thought. However pressed up against the cap, might be tough to make signings but as long as they have a healthy 12, they will be a force to be reckoned with.
Knicks - This is where it gets tough.. Even with the departure of Mirotic, the Knicks still have a ton of talent. An expiring Drummond, Finals MVP Wiggins, All-Star PG Elfrid Payton, and the aging but still chucking Bradley Beal. Still has potential to win the Atlantic but it’ll be tough to measure up to last season.
Heat - The Heat spent most of their offseason resigning RFA and watching a cut, then expansion drafted Okafor blow up in TC. But the youthfulness of young stars like Junior Bridgeman, Gus Williams, and recently expansion FA signing Elgin Baylor combined with the veteran savvy of Rusty Westbrook and Trey Lyles could post problems in the east and further into the playoffs.
Grizzlies - Hard to not mention a team that drafted 4 rookie studs and signed away expansion FA George Mikan. The frontcourt of Mikan, defensive stud Mark Eaton, and newly acquired Noah Vonleh definitely, on paper anyway, sounds like they could give the Spurs a run for their money out West. Not to mention the young but promising backcourt with Cousy, Marovich, Raines, and TC blow up Cedric Maxwell. Depth is also not an issue with Marino hanging around to spell Mikan and Eaton.
Celtics - The Celts really stuck out in FA, only signing 5 potentially third string players for depth. SG is a big weakness both offensively and defensively. It showed in the playoffs when playing teams with stud SGs like Bridgeman and Wiggins. It’s a weakness that has potential to get exploited again throughout the season. The aforementioned Bridgeman, Wiggans, along with the Bull’s Newman, Magic’s potentially acquired Thompson, not to mention the ageless Buck that is DeAndre Kane.
Bucks - A surprising team that earned the 3rd seed last season. An early exit from the playoffs had Bucks baffled. However this is now the same big three that won the Bucks a championship 3 seasons ago. Can Schroder, Kane, and Macvan lead the Bucks again? They have the potential but it is questionable, especially after a bad TC for those 3 in particular. Might be time to hang it up, sell house and rebuild, since aging Macvan and Kane are expiring. But as long as those two are around, the playoffs isn’t out of the ordinary, in fact, it could be expected.
Magic - It’s hard to not put a team with 4 time consecutive MVP Nikola Mirotic on the roster as a contender. He’s shown he can carry a team. Newly acquired David Thompson can provide the spark in the backcourt that Mirotic likes. Could be a surprise, but can this team rally without a veteran point guard? Mirotic can probably bring the ball up himself.
Mavericks - It’s well known the east is more high octane than the west, but the Mavericks are a usual staple in the playoff picture. The squad looks good as usual, and I’m sure Shabazz likes being a contender and would like to keep it that way. However lacking a big man could pose problems, but they do have viable starters at the position. Only Spurs and Griz would likely hold the Mavs from the first seed. Easy route for a good and consistent team.
Pistons - The team that upset the Bucks last season. Good mix of youth and veterans, and retain their core along with signing some good 1 year deals for depth. Could pose a problem once again.
Top Tankers
Raptors - It seemed apparent that the Raptors were trying to tank by trading Mirotic, Thompson and acquiring their pick for this season. They are a prime candidate for the first overall pick with essentially back ups for starters. Raptors also are primed for potentially rebounding next season with only 4 players under contract for next season, which an average salary of 2.1 million, gives them a hell of a lot of cap space for FA. A promising looking young backcourt in Cleamons and Gale, along with rookie Herb White could be a promising core for seasons to come.
Hawks - Another good/bad roster for a tanking team. Not much to say here, but not sure Issel and and Scott wanna start off their careers losing after that TC.
76ers - Easily could be second on this list in front of the Hawks, however the Hawks literally only have 2 good players, there are 3 in Philly. Tarlac, Arzin, and Lanier. A promising TC might cause the Sixers to win a few more games than they’d like this season.
Lakers - Last but not least are the Lakers, could easily be lose out the west, but you never know with how shallow it is. Lakers don’t seem like they want to compete this season but the roster isn’t that bad and they could scratch a playoff berth if lucky, or unlucky depending on how one looks at it.
Bulls - Hard to bet against them, they’ve kept their core together for multiple years and finally put it all together in 2022. The only thing that stopped them from repeating was a stacked Knicks teams who without Mirotic isn’t as big a threat as they were last season. Easy choice here.
Spurs - Can’t rank the Spurs lower than this, making it to the finals with ease even after multiple injuries to MRR and Harrison Barnes. Made the Finals closer than many, even Lorde, probably thought. However pressed up against the cap, might be tough to make signings but as long as they have a healthy 12, they will be a force to be reckoned with.
Knicks - This is where it gets tough.. Even with the departure of Mirotic, the Knicks still have a ton of talent. An expiring Drummond, Finals MVP Wiggins, All-Star PG Elfrid Payton, and the aging but still chucking Bradley Beal. Still has potential to win the Atlantic but it’ll be tough to measure up to last season.
Heat - The Heat spent most of their offseason resigning RFA and watching a cut, then expansion drafted Okafor blow up in TC. But the youthfulness of young stars like Junior Bridgeman, Gus Williams, and recently expansion FA signing Elgin Baylor combined with the veteran savvy of Rusty Westbrook and Trey Lyles could post problems in the east and further into the playoffs.
Grizzlies - Hard to not mention a team that drafted 4 rookie studs and signed away expansion FA George Mikan. The frontcourt of Mikan, defensive stud Mark Eaton, and newly acquired Noah Vonleh definitely, on paper anyway, sounds like they could give the Spurs a run for their money out West. Not to mention the young but promising backcourt with Cousy, Marovich, Raines, and TC blow up Cedric Maxwell. Depth is also not an issue with Marino hanging around to spell Mikan and Eaton.
Celtics - The Celts really stuck out in FA, only signing 5 potentially third string players for depth. SG is a big weakness both offensively and defensively. It showed in the playoffs when playing teams with stud SGs like Bridgeman and Wiggins. It’s a weakness that has potential to get exploited again throughout the season. The aforementioned Bridgeman, Wiggans, along with the Bull’s Newman, Magic’s potentially acquired Thompson, not to mention the ageless Buck that is DeAndre Kane.
Bucks - A surprising team that earned the 3rd seed last season. An early exit from the playoffs had Bucks baffled. However this is now the same big three that won the Bucks a championship 3 seasons ago. Can Schroder, Kane, and Macvan lead the Bucks again? They have the potential but it is questionable, especially after a bad TC for those 3 in particular. Might be time to hang it up, sell house and rebuild, since aging Macvan and Kane are expiring. But as long as those two are around, the playoffs isn’t out of the ordinary, in fact, it could be expected.
Magic - It’s hard to not put a team with 4 time consecutive MVP Nikola Mirotic on the roster as a contender. He’s shown he can carry a team. Newly acquired David Thompson can provide the spark in the backcourt that Mirotic likes. Could be a surprise, but can this team rally without a veteran point guard? Mirotic can probably bring the ball up himself.
Mavericks - It’s well known the east is more high octane than the west, but the Mavericks are a usual staple in the playoff picture. The squad looks good as usual, and I’m sure Shabazz likes being a contender and would like to keep it that way. However lacking a big man could pose problems, but they do have viable starters at the position. Only Spurs and Griz would likely hold the Mavs from the first seed. Easy route for a good and consistent team.
Pistons - The team that upset the Bucks last season. Good mix of youth and veterans, and retain their core along with signing some good 1 year deals for depth. Could pose a problem once again.
Top Tankers
Raptors - It seemed apparent that the Raptors were trying to tank by trading Mirotic, Thompson and acquiring their pick for this season. They are a prime candidate for the first overall pick with essentially back ups for starters. Raptors also are primed for potentially rebounding next season with only 4 players under contract for next season, which an average salary of 2.1 million, gives them a hell of a lot of cap space for FA. A promising looking young backcourt in Cleamons and Gale, along with rookie Herb White could be a promising core for seasons to come.
Hawks - Another good/bad roster for a tanking team. Not much to say here, but not sure Issel and and Scott wanna start off their careers losing after that TC.
76ers - Easily could be second on this list in front of the Hawks, however the Hawks literally only have 2 good players, there are 3 in Philly. Tarlac, Arzin, and Lanier. A promising TC might cause the Sixers to win a few more games than they’d like this season.
Lakers - Last but not least are the Lakers, could easily be lose out the west, but you never know with how shallow it is. Lakers don’t seem like they want to compete this season but the roster isn’t that bad and they could scratch a playoff berth if lucky, or unlucky depending on how one looks at it.
