2014 - 2015 Eastern Conference

[CleveRocks]

Re: 2014 - 215 Eastern Conference

Detroit finished just behind us mostly on the strength of Drummond's improvement. They need to dump knight, but i think they could sneak into the eighth seed.

 

[Mr. Orange]

Re: 2014 - 215 Eastern Conference

Both Bosh and Wade had to make adustments to their game to make best use of Lebron. Neither will have to do so as Bosh and wades game compliments each other.

The heats problem replacing lebron will be on the defensive side and this is where deng comes to play.

Both Bosh and Wade can hit utters and thats what Deng thrives at.

Miami will field a competitive team and Bosh will be a better number 1 option than people are giving him credit for..

Whereas I dont see another finals appearence for the heat . They still have a strong team

I think you are overrating Miami, but we will see. Wade does not play defense, and now will have the best wing defender to deal with. He also will not play back to backs. Deng was let go by Chi and Cle, tells you something. Bosh will be the focal point. I see a .500 team.

 

[Jordan]

Re: 2014 - 215 Eastern Conference

I think you are vastly underrating the Wizards. I watched Otto Porter in Summer League and he is playing really well. I understand the level of competition is significantly different, but Pierce will also be able to help mentor Porter. Additionally, don't forget how young their core is outside of Gortat. I think the Cavs match up very well against the Wizards but I doubt the latter is a first round exit from the playoffs.

On top of all of that, I think the reason Indiana does so well in the East is because of their front court. Regardless, they have struggled significantly with speed (see the Atlanta series (2014) and every Heat series). Without Stephenson I think they will struggle this year because they have lost a fast scorer. Unless they make another move I can really see them only being a 6-8 seed in the East.

 

[Mr. MacPhisto]

Re: 2014 - 215 Eastern Conference

Both Bosh and Wade had to make adustments to their game to make best use of Lebron. Neither will have to do so as Bosh and wades game compliments each other.

The heats problem replacing lebron will be on the defensive side and this is where deng comes to play.

Both Bosh and Wade can hit utters and thats what Deng thrives at.

Miami will field a competitive team and Bosh will be a better number 1 option than people are giving him credit for..

Whereas I dont see another finals appearence for the heat . They still have a strong team

I'd disagree, mainly because I don't expect Wade to be healthy or, if he is, playing a full season. Last year he only played in 54 games. I think he might pull off just above 60, but his minutes will go up if they can't get someone else to fill those minutes and give them a chance to win.

I agree that Bosh will be better as the #1 option, but I don't see how they carry the Heat to being a top 4 seed. That means they would have to either win their division (I don't expect that) or be better than the Cavs, Indiana, or Chicago - whoever finishes second in the Central. I don't see it. They had trouble getting to 54 with LeBron last year. I don't see them winning 50 games next season. Mid to upper 40s I could see. There division is harder, though I'm not sure any team in that division will win 50. I think there's a strong chance three teams in our division could win 50. I wouldn't be surprised if all the 50+ win teams in the EC our in our division.

Toronto only won their division once with Bosh as their main guy and did it with 47 wins. If Wade were in peak form, it'd be different, but Wade is in decline. I can see 45-46 wins max, but that won't get them in the top 4 unless they win their division.

 

[Tornicade]

Re: 2014 - 215 Eastern Conference

I think you are overrating Miami, but we will see. Wade does not play defense, and now will have the best wing defender to deal with. He also will not play back to backs. Deng was let go by Chi and Cle, tells you something. Bosh will be the focal point. I see a .500 team.

you have potentially 4 all star players on this roster in the very likely scenario that Deng goes to Miami.

Wade will be 33 . Bosh is 30 Deng is 29 Granger 31.

Thats a very experienced core and despite reports of Grangers demis he was very effective off the bench for the Pacers and the Clippers and I dont see any reason he doesnt conitnue to improve from his recovery. still very serviceable. Mcroberts and Haslem (who will be more valuable on a lebronless roster) also give them a serviceable frontcourt.

a .500 heat team would be an underperforming one. Bosh had a much worse Toronto roster at .500 ball

Also the team still has like 8roster spots open so like i said before .. very premature.

 

[Mr. Orange]

Re: 2014 - 215 Eastern Conference

you have potentially 4 all star players on this roster in the very likely scenario that Deng goes to Miami.

Wade will be 33 . Bosh is 30 Deng is 29 Granger 31.

Thats a very experienced core and despite reports of Grangers demis he was very effective off the bench for the Pacers and the Clippers and I dont see any reason he doesnt conitnue to improve from his recovery. still very serviceable. Mcroberts and Haslem (who will be more valuable on a lebronless roster) also give them a serviceable frontcourt.

a .500 heat team would be an underperforming one. Bosh had a much worse Toronto roster at .500 ball

Also the team still has like 8roster spots open so like i said before .. very premature.

What year do you think it is?

 

[RedeemTeam]

Re: 2014 - 215 Eastern Conference

Detroit finished just behind us mostly on the strength of Drummond's improvement. They need to dump knight, but i think they could sneak into the eighth seed.

Knight plays for Milwaukee.

 

[Ohio]

Right now I have

1. Cleveland
2. Chicago
3. Miami
4. Indiana
5. Toronto
6. Washington
7. Brooklyn
8. Charlotte

Chicago is tough to place because who the hell knows what D Rose will offer this year.

 

[Mr. Orange]

Right now I have

1. Cleveland
2. Chicago
3. Miami
4. Indiana
5. Toronto
6. Washington
7. Brooklyn
8. Charlotte

Chicago is tough to place because who the hell knows what D Rose will offer this year.

Lebron is worth what? 15 wins? Miami was the two seed with him. I just don't see them winning more than 44 or so games.

 

[Jordan]

Lebron is worth what? 15 wins? Miami was the two seed with him. I just don't see them winning more than 44 or so games.

I'd say LBJ is worth more like 20-25 wins. Regardless, Deng is probably worth 5-7, so I agree with you completely. They'll make the playoffs because Bosh is a great player, and I think they will be a tough knockout, but I doubt the crack the top four seeds.

 

[clevelandrox23]

Lebron is worth what? 15 wins? Miami was the two seed with him. I just don't see them winning more than 44 or so games.

It really all depends on how well LeBron gels with the roster and how much the young guys want to win. That 2008-2009 Cavs season was my favorite season of all time with us blowing out opponents every night (margin of victory I think was 10+ pts per game) with a starting lineup and rotation consisting of Mo Williams, Delonte West, Anderson Varejao, Z, Daniel Gibson, Joe Smith, Wally Szczerbiak & Ben Wallace. If we land a few vets like Mike Miller and Ray Allen somehow, on paper theoretically this team should have just as good of a chance on winning 60+ games as that team.

 

[Anglefan]

Miami has no depth. 45 wins is pretty much their upside with a healthy Wade playing all season. I think high 30s is more realistic for their win total.

 

[Tornicade]

Re: 2014 - 215 Eastern Conference

What year do you think it is?

I thnk its 2014 and I watch basketball. I also no the team was 6 points better defensively when Bosh was on the court.

you want numbers I can bring the numbers. Depsite a small sample Indiana was 8 points better defensivelye when he was on the court.

with LA his offensive efficiency shot up and he was often lined up with Turk very small sample again.

A healthy Granger is a productive granger and while he most likely wont find his all star form ever again he can certainly be a productive guy on the court.


The ky here is BOSH who hasnt lost any of his game but changed it. Bosh is a legitimate superstar whose took the biggest hit reputation wise by forming up with the big three.

This years Miami wont be the same roster that they had last year and it looks to have a bit more depth. even with mediocre backcourt play their frontcourt will get them some wins.

I listed the players ages to show i had a full understanding of what year it is and while the Heat may not be contender status they certianly arent going anywhere.

This wont be like when Lebron left Cleveland Miami willl be able to set up their roster around Bosh

 

[Tornicade]

Miami has no depth. 45 wins is pretty much their upside with a healthy Wade playing all season. I think high 30s is more realistic for their win total.

lets revisit this after Miami fills all its rosters spots. considiering they only have 5 roster spots filled its difficult to evaluate their depth.

 

[Fuggles]

People forgot the Hawks exist? They were around the 4th seed before Horford went down and they are currently improving.

Brooklyn might be magically healthy and a competitive team but on paper they are worse and Charlotte as of right now hasn't improved.