Eastern Conference Playoff Teams Predictions: 2017-18 Who is going to the dance ?

[DanH]

Guess I never posted a guess... here goes.

1. Toronto
2. Boston
3. Cleveland
4. Washington
5. Milwaukee
6. Charlotte
7. Miami
8. Detroit

[tDotted]

Celtics #4 seed???

You're right, they shouldn't be THAT high.

[TrueTorontoFan]

1. Boston Celtics
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
3. Toronto Raptors
4. Washington Wizards
5. Milwaukee Bucks
6. Charlotte Hornets
7. Miami Heat
8. Philadelphia 76ers
9. Orlando Magic
10. Detroit Pistons
11. Indiana Pacers
12. New York Knicks
13. Chicago Bulls
14. Brooklyn Nets
15. Atlanta Hawks


Yall are discounting how bad the bulls will be ...

and discounting how good the raptors will be

[JamesNaismith]

Yall are discounting how bad the bulls will be ...

You say that then proceed to list them above BKN and ATL....but they by far project to be the worst team in the league imo. They have unproven coach who was barely able to squeek in the Bulls with Butler, Wade, Rondo, Gibson, Mirotic, McBuckets and now ALL them (Wade just awaiting his buyout) are gone and are left with a collection of inexperienced role players. Not one has shown star level talent, obviously the verdict will be out on Markannen. Nonetheless even the best young players can't lift their teams to anything near the Playoffs and most times can't even get out of the bottom 5....this is a team that is just entering those tank years, it won't be pretty.

BKN on the other hand at least added Russell, Crabbe and yes old ass but veteran in the locker room Carroll. With Lin, Trevor Booker and RHJ that while still being garbage have some experience on their side to pull out a few more insignificant Ws and a greater sense of pride. There's no urgency in CHI, they know this is year 1 of a painful rebuild.

ATL still has Schroeder, Bazemore, Bellinelli, Ilyasova who I know are hardly world beaters which is why they will be the second worse garbage in the league but they also have Coach Bud who doesn't teach a losing mentality or style of play. They will win games here and there that they're "not supposed to" just by pride and effort alone especially with the vast majority of teams writing them off.

The Bulls are overloaded with youth and again not high level prospects. Not to mention the management's crappy relationship with their players. They just left Butler feeling dooped, Wade must be annoyed with the sudden shift in direction and they just had the nerve to publicly shame a young player they traded for by saying they knew he wasn't a NBA player 2 practises in?! Who the hell does that??? While it's funny to us, that's embarrassing as a franchise and can you imagine how the players feel there that management clearly doesn't have their back (besides being long time considered notoriously cheap). Unless even hot garbage like the Nets and Hawks have injuries, then last place is the Bulls to lose lol

[TrueTorontoFan]

You say that then proceed to list them above BKN and ATL....but they by far project to be the worst team in the league imo. They have unproven coach who was barely able to squeek in the Bulls with Butler, Wade, Rondo, Gibson, Mirotic, McBuckets and now ALL them (Wade just awaiting his buyout) are gone and are left with a collection of inexperienced role players. Not one has shown star level talent, obviously the verdict will be out on Markannen. Nonetheless even the best young players can't lift their teams to anything near the Playoffs and most times can't even get out of the bottom 5....this is a team that is just entering those tank years, it won't be pretty.

BKN on the other hand at least added Russell, Crabbe and yes old ass but veteran in the locker room Carroll. With Lin, Trevor Booker and RHJ that while still being garbage have some experience on their side to pull out a few more insignificant Ws and a greater sense of pride. There's no urgency in CHI, they know this is year 1 of a painful rebuild.

ATL still has Schroeder, Bazemore, Bellinelli, Ilyasova who I know are hardly world beaters which is why they will be the second worse garbage in the league but they also have Coach Bud who doesn't teach a losing mentality or style of play. They will win games here and there that they're "not supposed to" just by pride and effort alone especially with the vast majority of teams writing them off.

The Bulls are overloaded with youth and again not high level prospects. Not to mention the management's crappy relationship with their players. They just left Butler feeling dooped, Wade must be annoyed with the sudden shift in direction and they just had the nerve to publicly shame a young player they traded for by saying they knew he wasn't a NBA player 2 practises in?! Who the hell does that??? While it's funny to us, that's embarrassing as a franchise and can you imagine how the players feel there that management clearly doesn't have their back (besides being long time considered notoriously cheap). Unless even hot garbage like the Nets and Hawks have injuries, then last place is the Bulls to lose lol

You know what you are right... but they will be close ATL will be TERRIBLE like honestly TERRIBLE. Look at there on and off splits with milsap... he is gone... they dont have dwight for defence... they were last in defence last year... so yeah

[Demographic Shift]

Have had the opportunity to spend more than a few stays in the TCI and the Bahamas and while Sports is a great diversion from the everyday my heart goes out to the great folks who live in the path of hurricane Irma. They are a resilient lot and it's going to stand them in good stead. God, Buddha, Allah, Vishnu or whatever or whomever you look to when things get dark be with you.

[Demographic Shift]

Pretty good sample size put forward so far.
First five in to the post season in an almost unanimous view are the Cavs, Raps, Whiz, Celts and Bucks.
Fight for the last 3 spots per the folks who have posted so far say it's between the Heat, Hornets, Sixes and Pistons.
Nary a vote for the sewage runoff collection of Pacers, Knicks, Nets, Hawks, Magic or Bulls.

55 wins is likely enough for the first overall seed...
39 wins is probably enough for the eighth and last seed....

If there a surprise team out of the bottom 5 that defies the odds and makes it to the post season my vote goes to the Knicks...
They have an almost ready for stardom guy in Porzingis and, if he isn't traded, it's possible Carmelo Anthony throws the biggest FU he can to the departed Zen Master Phil and ownership by turning in a season to remember in his last year in Gotham. He then opts out and walks.

[MixxAOR]

If Horford misses any time due to injury (he played all 82 games only once) Celtics frontcourt rotation is fucked

[Demographic Shift]

The best news about the Irving trade (sending out Brooklyns first next year) is that it really crimps the idea that there is an endless war chest of assets that can get Boston a bona fide star via trade. Yes the drivel machine will keep on pumping the crap out, but Boston is like Argentina, they look good but they are out of cash. Boston is what they are going to be for the next few years. They are going to be good .. but they are not the 95 Bulls that seems to be the current thinking by the CBS and ESPN high domes.

Let me peel it back a bit.... for some background to balance against the next round of horseshit thats going to come at you about Boston being a natural landing spot for Anthony Davis or another A list NBA player.

The myth of endless 1st round picks for trade is pretty much over. How so ? Next year they have their pick .. likely in the 20's.. and a maybe pick from the Lakers. It's a maybe pick because it has to land in a really small vector. It has to be one of the 3rd, 4th or 5th pick in the draft or it doesn't happen. The Lakers are bad but last year they tried to lose and wound up 3rd. This year they have Ball and they signed Caldwell Pope. They have some talent and they are going to try to win. Mix in that the Bulls, Atlanta, Phoenix, Pacers and Nets are going to really suck and that pick is likely not to convey. That means they get another pick in 2019 from either the Kings or Philly. The 2019 picks they have are theirs .. again in the 20's and the better of Phillys or the Kings pick. Philly is likely to be in the playoffs and the Kings, who have moved on from Boogie may be in the lottery but they have some players now and if they are still in the lottery it will be 11th or higher.
They have the Clips pick in 2019 .. but it too is lottery protected for two years. If it doesnt convey its a second round pick in 2022. The Clips are not world beaters but they will very likely make the playoffs with Jordan and Blake this year and next so that means the pick conveys to a second rounder in 5 years time.
They have the Memphis pick in 2019 but its protected 1-8 in 2019 and in 2020 its 1-6. The Grizz are going to struggle to make the playoffs in the West.. but they still have Gasol and Conley. Let say they get the best permutation and the pick conveys at its apex...an unprotected 1st in 2021. Thats a long way off.

So in effect Bostons war chest of picks looks like this.
2018 - 1st theirs between 20 and 24
2019 - 1st between 20 and 24 (theirs) and a 1st between 11 and 14.
2020 - 1st theirs between 20 and 24
2021 - 1st theirs between 20 and 24 and a lottery pick 5 to 10 via Memphis.

Yes its a lot of picks... but its more quantity than it is quality. The legendary war chest of assets isn't as awesome as your going to hear it is.

Well Free Agency then. Boston will sign a star. Well Boston is also pretty much capped out. Horford is going to make 30M, Haywayd will make 30M and Irving will be making 20M. Thats 80M and they have to re up Smart next year. Its hard to see how they can free up cap space to get another 30M per year "A" list Free Agent. They are going to be close to 100M in salary with their core guys.

Not a problem bleat the Chowderhead faithful. We will trade for Davis !!. Yeah that it.. They will trade for Anthony Davis.

But Davis is under contract till 2021. So I guess that means you would have to convince Nawlins to take Al Horford and 3 pretty meh future draft picks before 2020 to get Davis before he becomes a UFA. Would you do that if your New Orleans ? Take on a 30M albatross salary that expires in 2020.. in exchange for 3 .. lets face it.. pretty wild card draft picks. One would be high lottery .. the others would be 20's. This for Anthony Davis. Hard to see that one.

No.. Bostons run as a drunken sailor flush with cash on shore leave is pretty much over. They have their core and its hard to see how they add to it unless they get lucky in the draft. Ainge is a lot of things but a draft whiz outside of the top 3 he is not. There are more Fab Melo's, Jared Sullingers, Jordan Mickey's, James Youngs and RJ Hunters on Trader Danny's resume than their are Avery Bradleys.

Boston has bet big on Tatum and Brown. They could be great. The could be something less than great. They could be shit. Who knows ? We will see in a couple years time. Irving is theirs for the next two years and the great debate of how good he is rages on. Hayward is a damn good complimentary player.. but he is not a leader nor an A list star.

In retrospect Trader Danny has put the team on the floor you see today using up pretty much all those assets and cap space afforded to him. A good but not knock your socks off great return for what he had to spend. If Boston was a stock.. in the cold light of day.... it would be a hold to sell short investment rather than a full on buy.

[Demographic Shift]

See SI rated Demar 36th this year, behind Kris Middleton and Brad Beal. Feeling really good about my fearless prediction for Raps to win 51 and to finish 2nd overall now.

DD takes this stuff personally.

Can't wait to see if they put one of Jaylen Brown or Jason Tatum of the Chowderheads in the top 30. Sarcasm dripping from every syllable.

Edit: It looks like Gordie Hayward will land in the top 30. It should be noted that Gord has led his team to 3 playoff series in his 7 years. He has been swept twice (one vs the Warriors) and the win came in 7 games against the limping Clippers last year. Gord has one all star appearances (selected , not voted in) and hasn't made an all NBA team. Stellar credentials.

[Demographic Shift]

See SI rated Demar 36th this year, behind Kris Middleton and Brad Beal. Feeling really good about my fearless prediction for Raps to win 51 and to finish 2nd overall now.

DD takes this stuff personally.

Can't wait to see if they put one of Jaylen Brown or Jason Tatum of the Chowderheads in the top 30. Sarcasm dripping from every syllable.

Edit: It looks like Gordie Hayward will land in the top 30. It should be noted that Gord has led his team to 3 playoff series in his 7 years. He has been swept twice (one vs the Warriors) and the win came in 7 games against the limping Clippers last year. Gord has one all star appearances (selected , not voted in) and hasn't made an all NBA team. Stellar credentials.

Edit #2. Well both SI and ESPN have Demar rated behind Kris Middleton , Kemba Walker, Brad Beal and Jae Crowder...
They have Kyle behind Mike Connley and Lillard (who Kyle consistently beats out at USA Basketball camp for FIBA/Olympics/World Championships) which ought to frost Kyles bag just a little.

Bulletin board material more than anything else.

So feel giddy and will up that to 53 wins this year and a serious run at 1st overall...

Still can't believe how much Klay Thompson gets overlooked in these ad hoc, seat of the pants, ranking fests... Could be the best 3 and D wing in the association... yet he is behind guys like Hayward. Shame

[ebrian]

Here's my guess. We're talking about standings right? As in playoff seeding:

1. Boston Celtics
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
3. Milwaukee Bucks
4. Washington Wizards
5. Toronto Raptors
6. Philadelphia 76ers
7. Charlotte Hornets
8. Miami Heat
9. New York Knicks
10. Chicago Bulls
11. Indiana Pacers
12. Orlando Magic
13. Detroit Pistons
14. Brooklyn Nets
15. Atlanta Hawks

With the recent news about Dennis Schroder, I'd like to revise my prediction. Atlanta will now be 17th in the East. LOL

[Demographic Shift]

With the recent news about Dennis Schroder, I'd like to revise my prediction. Atlanta will now be 17th in the East. LOL

I wonder if they will get to 4,000 actual bums in seats when the Bulls come to Atlanta.

[Abbas]

My new updated list with intense reserach


1. Toronto Raptors (53-29)
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (51-31)
3. Milwaukee Bucks (48-34)
4. Washington Wizards (46-36)
5. Boston Celtics (43-39)
6. Charlotte Hornets (40-42)
7. Detroit Pistons (40-42)
8. Philadelphia 76ers (38-44)

9. Miami Heat (36-46)
10. Orlando Magic (32-50)
11. Indiana Pacers (30-52)
12. New York Knicks (29-53)
13. Chicago Bulls (24-58)
14. Brooklyn Nets (20-62)
15. Atlanta Hawks (19-63)

[enlightenment]

Someone PLEASE give me the case for Raptors > Cavs and Celts. Ive seen three rankings by you guys with Raps at number 1 seed. Are we really better than last year? Didn't Celts get much better? Aren't the Cavs better too?