The 2 teams in the finals for the past 2 years were also the 2 oldest teams in the league. 2 things make a championship team in the NBA: 1/Experience, 2/ A stable roster. So let's go down the list and see who has what?
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Indiana 1e - Experience? Yes, both vets and playoff experience. Stability? Is Lance coming back? Can the Center find his way back to respectability?
Miami2se - Experience? Yes, both vets and playoff. Stability? 2/3 of core back. Different roles, new responsibilities.
Toronto3a - Experience? Yes, playoff experience. Stability? Yes. Basically the same team
Chicago4x - Experience? Yes vets w/ playoff experience. Stability? If Rose plays 3/4 of the season that's a victory.
Washington5x - Experience? Yes to both. Stability? The core is returning replacing the starting 3 with a still capable HOF
Brooklyn6x - Experience? Yes. Stability? No -- new coach, Lopez returns, Pierce gone, best PG gone
Charlotte7x - Experience? Playoff experience. Stability? Pretty much -- McRoberts moving might hurt more than most think
Atlanta8x - Yes.... Can their star stay healthy? Should they have traded Lou?
New Yorko - Boat loads...LOL!!! New Pres, coach, PG, Center, system.....
Clevelando - So far, 2 guys have real experience (LBJ, AV). The best player in the workd in your locker room better create stability
Detroito No and No - SVG is rebuilding the system of play, and will move unneeded parts. Give him a year
Bostono Let's leave this blank -- it doesn't look good.
Orlandoo A really young team with a front office obsessed with players that don't fit...
Philadelphiao - No comment
Milwaukeeo - Shouldn't be this bad. They have guys with some/limited playoff experience. New ownership should help with stability, but a new coach and system probably will not.
All of this to say, Toronto, Chicago, Charlotte, and Washington have the most potential to improve. If Indiana brings back Lance and keeps him under control they have to be favorites in the East. Miami will dip, but should still be in the playoffs. Cavs will probably have growing pains, but if Blatt and Lebron are on the same page they should improve -- but there's no way they win the East. Most of those kids don't even know how to win. It will take LBJ a year to teach them. The last playoff team I got is Atlanta.
I got Brooklyn taking a serious dip.
Best guess for Toronto? 49 wins
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Indiana 1e - Experience? Yes, both vets and playoff experience. Stability? Is Lance coming back? Can the Center find his way back to respectability?
Miami2se - Experience? Yes, both vets and playoff. Stability? 2/3 of core back. Different roles, new responsibilities.
Toronto3a - Experience? Yes, playoff experience. Stability? Yes. Basically the same team
Chicago4x - Experience? Yes vets w/ playoff experience. Stability? If Rose plays 3/4 of the season that's a victory.
Washington5x - Experience? Yes to both. Stability? The core is returning replacing the starting 3 with a still capable HOF
Brooklyn6x - Experience? Yes. Stability? No -- new coach, Lopez returns, Pierce gone, best PG gone
Charlotte7x - Experience? Playoff experience. Stability? Pretty much -- McRoberts moving might hurt more than most think
Atlanta8x - Yes.... Can their star stay healthy? Should they have traded Lou?
New Yorko - Boat loads...LOL!!! New Pres, coach, PG, Center, system.....
Clevelando - So far, 2 guys have real experience (LBJ, AV). The best player in the workd in your locker room better create stability
Detroito No and No - SVG is rebuilding the system of play, and will move unneeded parts. Give him a year
Bostono Let's leave this blank -- it doesn't look good.
Orlandoo A really young team with a front office obsessed with players that don't fit...
Philadelphiao - No comment
Milwaukeeo - Shouldn't be this bad. They have guys with some/limited playoff experience. New ownership should help with stability, but a new coach and system probably will not.
All of this to say, Toronto, Chicago, Charlotte, and Washington have the most potential to improve. If Indiana brings back Lance and keeps him under control they have to be favorites in the East. Miami will dip, but should still be in the playoffs. Cavs will probably have growing pains, but if Blatt and Lebron are on the same page they should improve -- but there's no way they win the East. Most of those kids don't even know how to win. It will take LBJ a year to teach them. The last playoff team I got is Atlanta.
I got Brooklyn taking a serious dip.
Best guess for Toronto? 49 wins
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