Sizing up the EC contenders

[Rain City]

I know there is 1 main contender with Mia, and there will be plenty of threads about them. but what about the other teams we have to get through? who scares you? Heres my list:

1. Philly- bynum is the conference's best player outside of Mia, i think they can even give Mia difficulty when you have hawes, thad young, kwame in the front court as well. nick young is a budding #2 option scorer, and holiday is solid, it'll be interesting to see how turner and j-rich can play. they also landed moultrie and harkless in the draft. they are scary.

2. bulls- thibs has showed they will win games in the regular season, but rose gives the team a shot at the ECF and he is missing a good portion of the season and who knows how good he'll be when back year 1. rondo should be able to win that matchup. they have a good balance of veteran talent, we'll likely have to get through em at some point.

3. indy- a formidable threat, they were a young team that made a good run last year, so it suggests they can do the same or even build on that this year, but with bird gone now (so it sounds), i think they miss that swagger.

4. Nets- I said Bynum is the best player in the EC outside Mia but D-Will could have something to say, im pretty sure he can win the all important PG matchup with anyone in the east. this team is scary on paper but they have to get used to each other. by end of the year they could top this list or take over as undisputed paper champs. im not a joe johnson or b lopez fan, why is avery still coaching em?

5. knicks- speaking of paper chumps. im so used to seeing this team implode and have no reason to think it wont happen again, i still love melo but this team isnt really a threat imo, just wanted to sling a couple shots.

Atl and orlando are done.

Detroit could be a dark horse, i like the young talent they are compiling. cleveland too, kyrie is so damn sweet, franchise savior level.

[69centers]

Bynum won't be 100% healthy all year and they have no go to scorer late in games; the Nets won't be too consistent in their first year together; Rose won't be 100% probably all year; the Knicks would probably be my pick as the team to watch in the East aside from Miami.

[B'sCeltsPatsSox]

I'd watch for Philly in the regular season and Chicago for the playoffs if that makes sense.

[unwantedplayer]

I'd watch for Philly in the regular season and Chicago for the playoffs if that makes sense.

+1

I think if Chicago (which I think they will), they'll still be a pain in the ***. They won't be the top notch contender they were pre-Rose torn acl for quite some time but I still think they'll be a force come playoffs time because they have the bigs and a damn good coach.

[Gandalf]

the only team I am worried about is Miami i also have concerns about the Bulls if Rose is Healthy

[Bird Fan]

-76ers if healthy are going to give teams fits.

-Heat are the team to beat.

-Ny Knicks worry me the least! 0% worried about any team with C. Anthony. He is a team killer, cannot win NBA playing 5 on 1, that's what " MELO " lol likes to play at times. I have heard storys about old teammate- Denver glad he left. Melo isn't a big boy, he lacks maturity.

-Pacers will be ok, I think they are limited, I also wonder if they have peaked?



SIDE NOTE- This day in history Larry Bird signed 7/ 15m deal. At the time, the highest contract given. Boy....times have changed

[bagwell368]

SIDE NOTE- This day in history Larry Bird signed 7/ 15m deal. At the time, the highest contract given. Boy....times have changed

When Bird retired in Aug 1992 it was just a few weeks before he would have qualified be paid for that 7th year. Red and the owners begged him to stay to get the ~2M. Just a few more weeks. No - he walked. How many players would do that now?

[Polish Post]

when bird retired in aug 1992 it was just a few weeks before he would have qualified be paid for that 7th year. Red and the owners begged him to stay to get the ~2m. Just a few more weeks. No - he walked. How many players would do that now?

0.

[rufo4100]

I know there is 1 main contender with Mia, and there will be plenty of threads about them. but what about the other teams we have to get through? who scares you? Heres my list:

1. Philly- bynum is the conference's best player outside of Mia, i think they can even give Mia difficulty when you have hawes, thad young, kwame in the front court as well. nick young is a budding #2 option scorer, and holiday is solid, it'll be interesting to see how turner and j-rich can play. they also landed moultrie and harkless in the draft. they are scary.

2. bulls- thibs has showed they will win games in the regular season, but rose gives the team a shot at the ECF and he is missing a good portion of the season and who knows how good he'll be when back year 1. rondo should be able to win that matchup. they have a good balance of veteran talent, we'll likely have to get through em at some point.

3. indy- a formidable threat, they were a young team that made a good run last year, so it suggests they can do the same or even build on that this year, but with bird gone now (so it sounds), i think they miss that swagger.

4. Nets- I said Bynum is the best player in the EC outside Mia but D-Will could have something to say, im pretty sure he can win the all important PG matchup with anyone in the east. this team is scary on paper but they have to get used to each other. by end of the year they could top this list or take over as undisputed paper champs. im not a joe johnson or b lopez fan, why is avery still coaching em?

5. knicks- speaking of paper chumps. im so used to seeing this team implode and have no reason to think it wont happen again, i still love melo but this team isnt really a threat imo, just wanted to sling a couple shots.

Atl and orlando are done.

Detroit could be a dark horse, i like the young talent they are compiling. cleveland too, kyrie is so damn sweet, franchise savior level.

I dont think the Nets will be as good as people think. MUch better than last year but not a top 3 team in the east. Same thing for Philly.

Cleveland will be better...but Detroit I dont see them being much better

[Corey]

Detroit isn't the darkhorse..Washington and Cleveland could be though.

[nycericanguy]

I know there is 1 main contender with Mia, and there will be plenty of threads about them. but what about the other teams we have to get through? who scares you? Heres my list:

1. Philly- bynum is the conference's best player outside of Mia, i think they can even give Mia difficulty when you have hawes, thad young, kwame in the front court as well. nick young is a budding #2 option screro, and holiday is solid, it'll be interesting to see how turner and j-rich can play. they also landed moultrie and harkless in the draft. they are scary.

2. bulls- thibs has showed they will win games in the regular season, but rose gives the team a shot at the ECF and he is missing a good portion of the season and who knows how good he'll be when back year 1. rondo should be able to win that matchup. they have a good balance of veteran talent, we'll likely have to get through em at some point.

3. indy- a formidable threat, they were a young team that made a good run last year, so it suggests they can do the same or even build on that this year, but with bird gone now (so it sounds), i think they miss that swagger.

4. Nets- I said Bynum is the best player in the EC outside Mia but D-Will could have something to say, im pretty sure he can win the all important PG matchup with anyone in the east. this team is scary on paper but they have to get used to each other. by end of the year they could top this list or take over as undisputed paper champs. im not a joe johnson or b lopez fan, why is avery still coaching em?

5. knicks- speaking of paper chumps. im so used to seeing this team implode and have no reason to think it wont happen again, i still love melo but this team isnt really a threat imo, just wanted to sling a couple shots.

Atl and orlando are done.

Detroit could be a dark horse, i like the young talent they are compiling. cleveland too, kyrie is so damn sweet, franchise savior level.

You're completely overrating PHI. Since when are Hawes Or Kwame big pieces in a front line? Hawes might have some potential, but neither are big difference makers on a good team.

Thad is solid, but nothing special.

And Nick Young budding into a #2 scorer? He's a career 11ppg scorer on horrible WSH teams. He finally went to a good team last year and the Clippers only played him 23mpg despite a glaring need at SG and went out and got JC instead. He's a very in efficient chucker who does nothing else outside of volume scoring on horrible %'s... nowhere near a #2 option or even a #3 or #4. On a good team he should play a Nate Robinson type role off the bench.

[Rain City]

You're completely overrating PHI. Since when are Hawes Or Kwame big pieces in a front line? Hawes might have some potential, but neither are big difference makers on a good team.

Thad is solid, but nothing special.

And Nick Young budding into a #2 scorer? He's a career 11ppg scorer on horrible WSH teams. He finally went to a good team last year and the Clippers only played him 23mpg despite a glaring need at SG and went out and got JC instead. He's a very in efficient chucker who does nothing else outside of volume scoring on horrible %'s... nowhere near a #2 option or even a #3 or #4. On a good team he should play a Nate Robinson type role off the bench.

could be but i think the front line of philly is best in the east by a large margin, of course if bynum doesnt hold up they are ruined, but historically teams that win down low go deep in the post season.

maybe im just scared of philly since they took celts 7 games, i know they lost AI, but they got a true #1 scorer and a dominant big, i see alot of depth as well.

[69centers]

Philadelphia 76ers center Andrew Bynum will sit out the next three weeks to make certain he has fully recovered from off-season therapy on his knees, the NBA club said on Monday.

Link

His health's already an issue. I don't believe he'll hold up an entire season. I'm not worried about Philly at all this year.

[BostonSports96]

Heat...that's it. We can take everyone else.

[BostonSports96]

And guys...Philly and New Jersey are the definition of a contender on paper. I think both teams are in for some growing pains...and disappointment.