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The SUPER Early Conference Projections Thread

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1. Cleveland
2. Miami
3. Toronto
4. Atlanta
5. Washington
6. Milwaukee
7. Chicago
8. Orlando

-Cleveland is the obvious #1 here
-Miami has a really good looking starting 5
-I think Toronto comes back much stronger defensively with the addition of Carroll
-Atlanta likely played over their heads last year and will have to work out the kinks early
-Washington is an enigma wrapped in a riddle
-Milwaukee could finish higher, but I still think they lack the shooting necessary to do so
-Chicago looks to be done. Will Rose and Pau stay healthy again? Can Noah get healthy? They no longer have Thibs running guys into the ground, but that will hurt them in the regular season
-I have no idea who gets that last spot. I said Orlando because they have young talent and a coach in Skiles that will get them to defend
 
The NBA is going to drop the division seeding top 4, I bet, FYI.
 
Yeah it wouldn't shock me if the Knicks made the playoffs...I'm not trolling either.

The Knicks will still be absolutely terrible, but I do think they'll be better than last year though.

They got significantly better compared to where they were, even if they didn't make a huge splash really. I mean, the roster they had was laughable last year. Lou fuckin' Amundson was a starter for them.

It can't get any worse for them, but they'll still be a bad team.
 
New Orleans has an uneven roster. They have parts that don't match. I think 5 is too high for them unless they made a drastic trade early in the season.

You typed like this exact thing to me last year when I said they'd make the playoffs. I don't care about anyone else on the roster. Only Anthony Davis.
 
You typed like this exact thing to me last year when I said they'd make the playoffs. I don't care about anyone else on the roster. Only Anthony Davis.
they got very lucky okc had a ton of injuries. I don't recall saying they could not get the 8 seed just that it was a poorly designed roster. I like that they picked up cole off the bench though. I think they are stuck in the 7 to 8 range unless they can trade one of thier guards . David is an Mvp possibility as soon as next year. They need players that fit around him to become a top 4 or 5 seed.
 
they got very lucky okc had a ton of injuries. I don't recall saying they could not get the 8 seed just that it was a poorly designed roster. I like that they picked up cole off the bench though. I think they are stuck in the 7 to 8 range unless they can trade one of thier guards . David is an Mvp possibility as soon as next year. They need players that fit around him to become a top 4 or 5 seed.

I think he's going to be as good as LeBron and one of the 10 greatest players ever. That's where I think he's headed. LeBron took a roster with less talent to 50 wins in his 3rd season. This is Davis 4th. I think 50 wins should be the minimum.
 
I think he's going to be as good as LeBron and one of the 10 greatest players ever. That's where I think he's headed. LeBron took a roster with less talent to 50 wins in his 3rd season. This is Davis 4th. I think 50 wins should be the minimum.
It is easier for a SF who has the ball in their hands as a "point forward" to control games IMO. Davis' teammates do a poor job of blending in with him. They could easily be a 50 win team if they get rid of a couple chuckers that get major minutes for them. They looked better when Cole was running the show honestly. It may be a bit early to say 10 greatest of all time, but I can see why you said that with his skill set. He def has a chance to be as good as some of the all time PF's like Malone and Barkley. I would like to see him demand the ball more and get more vocal when his team looks flat. I am sure that will come with time.
If only we had not won that coin flip. I think I am going to create a fantasy alternative world where we got the number one pick that year instead of the following year.
 
Don't have the energy to compile a list of playoff teams, but I eill say this:

I will be SHOCKED if the Cavs don't win it all this year.

I am equally shocked that I feel that way about a Cleveland team pre-season.
I am picking us to win as of today as well but I am not certain about it by any means.
The Spurs are damn good and Duncan knows this is probably it for them. LMA is a true stud and is going to create problems for us in a 7 game series. Also their SF plays Lebron better then I save seen anyone else do it. They also move the ball and play better team basketball and came very close to sweeping us if it had not been for an unreal final 30 seconds. I think you are not giving them nearly enough credit.
 
I won't go that far because of Cleveland's luck and the constant threat of injury. But if you were to tell me that we would be reasonably healthy throughout, then I would absolutely agree.

good odds, def..

but playing ful strength against SA and squeeking it out with an epic game from Kyrie, and they just imporoved drastically, and losing to GSW with arguably better +/- lineups than we'd have with kyrie and love dont make me feel confident about winning it all.


I know you guys dont like to hear any of that. but its just true, and vegas agrees.

Gsw are favorite if they make it to the finals. san antonio is a heavy favorite to beat the living shit out of us if we both make it to the finals. we had an underwhelming offseason, and they added studs.

yes, we only have to worry about one team in the west and the rest will bea each other up, but general consensus says that team will beat us and that we are not the best team in basketball.
 
good odds, def..

but playing ful strength against SA and squeeking it out with an epic game from Kyrie, and they just imporoved drastically, and losing to GSW with arguably better +/- lineups than we'd have with kyrie and love dont make me feel confident about winning it all.


I know you guys dont like to hear any of that. but its just true, and vegas agrees.

Gsw are favorite if they make it to the finals. san antonio is a heavy favorite to beat the living shit out of us if we both make it to the finals. we had an underwhelming offseason, and they added studs.

yes, we only have to worry about one team in the west and the rest will bea each other up, but general consensus says that team will beat us and that we are not the best team in basketball.

One thing that the two teams you mentioned share that the Cavaliers did not have last season? Experience together/continuity as a group. Without any additions, the Cavs were bound to be even better next season. With Mo and whatever extra depth we add from here on? We'll be pretty fucking good.

But of course you can't guarantee anything. You can narrow title contenders down to a small group but after that anything can happen. We'll have to see how the Cavs match up with the new look Spurs, healthy Thunder, and the Warriors with Ky and Kev in our lineup.
 
So pretty much this...

East:
1. Cavs
2. potential victim to the Cavs
3. potential victim to the Cavs
4. potential victim to the Cavs
5. potential victim to the Cavs
6. potential victim to the Cavs
7. potential victim to the Cavs
8. 100% victim to the Cavs

West:
1. potential victim to the Cavs
2. potential victim to the Cavs
3. potential victim to the Cavs
4. potential victim to the Cavs
5. potential victim to the Cavs
6. potential victim to the Cavs
7. potential victim to the Cavs
8. potential victim to the Cavs


Nice & a well thought out breakdown, 10/10

c1rb75.jpg
 
You typed like this exact thing to me last year when I said they'd make the playoffs. I don't care about anyone else on the roster. Only Anthony Davis.

Exactly this... Anthony Davis is a transcendent, once-in-a-generation type player, the kind of guy that can elevate a team to contention on his own. He's easily the best player to go pro since LeBron James.
 
I wouldn't be surprised to see the only difference in the East's playoff teams be Miami in and Brooklyn out. I don't think Indiana can make it. I don't think they have a single competent big man on their roster. I think Toronto still looks good, plus they get to play against their terrible division. I think the Wizards losing Pierce hurts their ability to play small, which is how they had all that success in the playoffs.

Cleveland
Atlanta
Miami
Toronto
Chicago
Milwaukee
Washington
Boston

The bottom part of the West is pretty hard to figure out. Dallas could still be in there. Don't think Phoenix looks too good. I want to put New Orleans higher, but I don't see how they can be better than any of the five teams in front of them.

Golden State
San Antonio
LA Clippers
Memphis
Oklahoma City
New Orleans
Portland
Utah
 
EAST:
1. Cleveland
2. Toronto
3. Atlanta
4. Miami
5. Chicago
6. Washington
7. Indiana
8. New York

WEST:
1. OKC
2. Golden State
3. Houston
4. Los Angeles Clippers
5. Memphis
6. San Antonio
7. New Orleans
8. Dallas
 
1. Cleveland
2. Washington
3. Atlanta
4. Miami
5. Chicago
6. Indiana
7. Milwaukee
8. Toronto

Think everyone is sleeping on the Wiz a bit. Actually think they got better by losing Paul Pierce and replacing him with Jared Dudley, at least in terms of for the regular season. Alan Anderson was also a sneaky good add to an already skilled offensive team. Big thing with them, as it is with everyone else, is health. Wall and Beal have missed fairly large chunks of the season the past few years. That can't happen again for them to be the 2 seed.
 

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