East as of now...

[HizzleRocker]

Yeah he re-signed with Miami.

Heat To Re-Sign Chris Bosh | Hoops Rumors

Very surprising. Aging Wade and Bosh makes them a playoff team in the East for sure. Not the 4 seed, but a playoff team.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Very surprising. Aging Wade and Bosh makes them a playoff team in the East for sure. Not the 4 seed, but a playoff team.

I think whoever gets Deng out of Miami, Atlanta or whoever else will be the 4 seed in the East.

 

[Demonjoe93]

You're underrating Atlanta. They weren't a bad team when they had Horford healthy last season. Not only do they have him coming back, but they also have their young SG John Jenkins coming back healthy. Not to mention that they signed Sefolasha (which I personally liked) and, just now, Kent Bazemore, who has potential.

 

[raptorlife4]

I love how Toronto is getting no respect


last 60 games of the regular season last year the Raptors had the best record in the East

They brought the entire core back and got deeper with a few additions.

Raptors are a top 3 seed just like they were last year

 

[Arizona_Sting]

I love how Toronto is getting no respect


last 60 games of the regular season last year the Raptors had the best record in the East

They brought the entire core back and got deeper with a few additions.

Raptors are a top 3 seed just like they were last year

I wouldn't say giving them the 5 seed is disrespectful. The East just got (slightly) better and I wouldn't be surprised if they got the 3rd seed but they're still so young... I think they're at least 1-2 years away from becoming a title contender (as long as they can bring in some FA's and keep drafting well) They're on the right track and I'm a BIG Ross, Jonas and Lowry fan.

 

[tlance]

I wouldn't say giving them the 5 seed is disrespectful. The East just got (slightly) better and I wouldn't be surprised if they got the 3rd seed but they're still so young... I think they're at least 1-2 years away from becoming a title contender (as long as they can bring in some FA's and keep drafting well) They're on the right track and I'm a BIG Ross, Jonas and Lowry fan.

Sorry, they are stuck. Good luck bringing an elite FA to Toronto, and it is really hard to find that impact star if you aren't in the lottery.

 

[wildturkey]

If you're Indy, don't you have to suck it up and pay Lance? The one team they couldn't beat isn't around anymore. If Melo stays in NY, Indy with Lance is arguably the favorite in the East provided Hibbert got over whatever the fuck happened to him. Why not just sign him 2 years for the money he's looking for and see what happens?

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Sorry, they are stuck. Good luck bringing an elite FA to Toronto, and it is really hard to find that impact star if you aren't in the lottery.

The thing is they dont need ELITE FA's. I'm really high on Ross and Jonas. Trust me they will develop into better players than you may think. In a couple years from now I think they could have a poor-man's Spurs type of roster as long as they can keep everyone together. Like I said, it will take time, but their youngsters are going to surprise in the coming years.

 

[Steelboy84]

I agree with the top three.

 

[Clayton]

Regular Season

Indiana
Cleveland
Chicago
Atlanta
Washington
Toronto
Charlotte
Miami

Cleveland, Chicago and Indiana are the only three teams with championship upside at the moment, imo. Waaay early, though.

 

[tlance]

The thing is they dont need ELITE FA's. I'm really high on Ross and Jonas. Trust me they will develop into better players than you may think. In a couple years from now I think they could have a poor-man's Spurs type of roster as long as they can keep everyone together. Like I said, it will take time, but their youngsters are going to surprise in the coming years.

C'mon man.

The Spurs dynasty is built around Tim Duncan who is one the 10 greatest players of all time.

You cannot build a contender in today's NBA without at least 1 transcendent player. Teams like Toronto are destined to be in the 3-7 seed range for the foreseeable future. No upside here. Ross and Jonas could both very good NBA players, but it still is not enough to get them by the top teams.

 

[bksballer89]

Too early to judge Miami. Pat still has other moves to make

 

[HurricaneDij39]

I love how Toronto is getting no respect


last 60 games of the regular season last year the Raptors had the best record in the East

They brought the entire core back and got deeper with a few additions.

Raptors are a top 3 seed just like they were last year

I too have Toronto over Atlanta. Even with Horford coming back, they will struggle to score points. They replaced Lou Williams with Thabo Sefolosha.

 

[wildturkey]

I too have Toronto over Atlanta. Even with Horford coming back, they will struggle to score points. They replaced Lou Williams with Thabo Sefolosha.

Have you seen Lou Williams play lately? He can barely go. When he came back from his injury, he was basically an off the bench guy for Atlanta

 

[Jims_Doors]

Knicks have garbage surrounding Melo. They didn't make it last year with him they won't make it next year with him.

Miami still has Wade and Bosh and will likely add another solid player like Deng and/or a few more good role players/depth to go with those two, McRoberts and Granger. With how weak the East is I'd be surprised if they weren't top 5 still.

Knicks had major injuries surrounding Melo last year

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Knicks had major injuries surrounding Melo last year

Don't be a homer, even when healthy Melo has nobody around him... that team is garbage, but I do think Phil will turn things around. It'll take a couple years though.

 

[wildturkey]

Knicks had major injuries surrounding Melo last year

The most notable injury being the massive kick in the nuts the Knicks suffered due to JR Smith's shot selection

 

[raptorlife4]

So tell me why a Raptors team that was a 3 seed last season gets worse?

Their young players will get better. (ross,Jonas,Derozan0
Lowry ready to lead

More depth on the team then last year

Well coached.

 

[bksballer89]

So tell me why a Raptors team that was a 3 seed last season gets worse?

Their young players will get better. (ross,Jonas,Derozan0
Lowry ready to lead

More depth on the team then last year

Well coached.

It's not about them getting worse. It's more about the East getting better

My top 8 right now looks like this

1) Chicago (with D-Rose)
2) Indiana (if Lance comes back)
3) Cleveland
4) Miami (with Deng)/Toronto
5) Miami (with Deng)/Toronto
6) Wizards
7) Atlanta
8) Knicks/Nets

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Indiana, Chicago and Cleveland are all better teams than the Raptors. That's why.