What do you guys think about these predictions?

Celtics may not be as dominant but tough to argue for top spot. Cavs look like they could compete for top spot assuming a healthy Lebron and big frontmen can still play.

I think the Heat will be better than listed but the Pistons are ready to move down from no. 2.

Magic, Raps and 76ers are such ??? Feel like one of them will do great and one will miss the playoffs somehow. 76ers are like the Bulls coming into last year and I'm not sure Turkoglu (spell!?!) can still get better in the improving East. Barring injury Raps can't be any worse with Jermaine vs. Ford can they?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?p...asonPredictions

PREDICTED STANDINGS FOR EASTERN CONFERENCE: 2008-09
CONF TEAM W L PCT 08 W 08 L 08 PCT
1
Boston Celtics
55 27 .671 66 16 .805
How big is the Posey problem? Enough that the departure of Big Game James helps take the Celtics down 11 wins in our survey. Plus, by next June, the Big Three will nearly be the Big 33 (Kevin Garnett, 33; Paul Pierce, 31; Ray Allen, 33). But guess what? They're still the East's beasts. | Offseason Moves


2*
Detroit Pistons
50 32 .610 59 23 .720
Pick your metaphor: Is the championship window closed? Are Sheed, Rip, Tay and/or Mr. Big Shot headed out the door? Will Michael Curry finally put a stop to the coaching carousel? Can Kwame cut it? Will Joe D blow it up? With no answers apparent, Detroit remains a team in limbo. | Offseason Moves


3*
Cleveland Cavaliers
50 32 .610 45 37 .549
If the Cavs can find chemistry in the combo of King James and Mo Williams ... if Big Z and Big Ben have anything left ... if J.J. Hickson makes an immediate impact inside ... Cleveland can win 50 for the third time in four years. Which is just enough to earn LeBron his first MVP award. | Offseason Moves


4
Orlando Magic
49 33 .598 52 30 .634
Superman's deflating departure from the East semis has us feeling skeptical about Orlando. And apologies to Anthony Johnson, Mickael Pietrus and Courtney Lee, but it's far from clear the Magic have addressed their weaknesses at the point, shooting guard and power forward. | Offseason Moves


5
Philadelphia 76ers
47 35 .573 40 42 .488
Philly flipped from feeble to phenomenal in a few months last season, and the Elton Brand acquisition appears to have accelerated the Sixers' progress. But they need further growth from Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams, plus another strong year from Andre Miller. | Offseason Moves


6
Toronto Raptors
45 37 .549 41 41 .500
Jermaine O'Neal has missed 122 games in four seasons, while T.J. Ford has missed 130, and each player helped wreck his previous team's chemistry. So the Raptors can only hope their new center puts his problems and sore knee behind him long enough to provide relief for Chris Bosh. | Offseason Moves


7
Washington Wizards
43 39 .524 43 39 .524
Agent Zero's biggest contribution to the Wizards last season was his blog, but Arenas and his repaired knee still got a $111 million contract. So will the return of Arenas and Jamison be enough to get the Wiz out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time in four years? Probably not. | Offseason Moves


8
Miami Heat
39 43 .476 15 67 .183
Dwyane Wade's scintillating Olympics performance was a welcome sight, but the roster remains a mismatched mishmash and the coach is a rook. Still, Marion, Beasley, Chalmers and Jones should help the Heat double (or perhaps even triple) their 15-win total of last season. | Offseason Moves


9
Chicago Bulls
38 44 .463 33 49 .402
No team is more baffling than the Bulls, which went from darlings to dregs in just months last year. The pessimist sees more of the same: weird chemistry and growing pains. The optimist sees a quick, Derrick Rose-led turnaround for the team many thought would win the East last season. | Offseason Moves


10
Atlanta Hawks
37 45 .451 37 45 .451
Good news: The Hawks gave the Celtics a tougher playoff series than the Lakers did. Bad news: Josh Childress flew to Europe. Good news: The Baby Birds are a year older. Bad news: The East is deeper. More bad news: Another 37-win season probably doesn't get it done. | Offseason Moves


11
Milwaukee Bucks
35 47 .427 26 56 .317
To get stronger on defense, Milwaukee moved out Mo Williams and Yi Jianlian, hired Scott Skiles as coach and fortified with Richard Jefferson ... and Luke Ridnour, the pixie point guard who "can't guard a chair." If the chemistry works, it should add up to a jump up the charts. | Offseason Moves


12
Indiana Pacers
34 48 .415 36 46 .439
Jettisoning Jermaine O'Neal to Toronto was a bold step, and new PG T.J. Ford should keep Jim O'Brien's Pacers running. But does Larry Bird's reform movement add up to change Pacers fans can believe in? Probably not, at least until he finds some players worthy of an All-Star vote or two. | Offseason Moves


13
Charlotte Bobcats
32 50 .390 32 50 .389
Which Larry Brown did Michael Jordan hire: The one who has turned around many a young team in his Hall of Fame career, or the one who led the Knicks so badly that many accused him of sabotaging the season? Another question: What does the (nearly) 68-year-old coach have left? | Offseason Moves


14
New York Knicks
29 53 .354 23 59 .280
Mike D'Antoni will certainly raise team morale. But will the Knicks see a boost in the standings? Not as long as two heavyweights -- Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph -- are around to spoil the fun-and-gun. It'll be a season of transition, but change won't be happening in seven seconds or less. | Offseason Moves


15
New Jersey Nets
28 54 .341 34 48 .415
The youth movement is under way, as the Nets' brain trust builds hope that a King will lead them in 2010. Until then, the '08-09 season is all about finding out which prospects are pieces of the puzzle for the future. In other words, as part-owner Jay-Z might say: "Show me what you got." | Offseason Moves

I don't see anything that I particularly disagree with.

There are more teams in the East besides Boston, Cleveland and Detroit?

I'd switch the top two and bump Cleveland down.

Joe D up there is running a sick team. They've got the best starting 5 and their bench could probably start for most teams. With that depth, I'd flip flop them with the greens.

But of course, Detroit is known for coasting through the regular season a la Spurs and rest everyone for the playoffs. So I'll take it all back.

Cleveland probably won't be that high of a seed even with the addition of Mo Williams because let's face it, their offensive scheme sucks. Probably around a 5th seed.

I think they got it about right. The Heat are a huge question mark to me even as a big follower of the team. You just cant predict how Chalmers and Beasley are going to do out of the gate.

I think that ESPN article is pretty good. Obviously, some teams could swap spots but nothing looks too crazy...

I think that's a fair guess to the East. My "surprise" playoff team would probably be the Bucks, with the Wizards possibly being the team to fall out.

I think the Wizards can beat any team on any given night, and Antawn Jamison has really been slept on as a consistent 20/10 player, but I just still don't have faith in them. I don't really have any complaints with any of the seedings. I'm excited for the 76ers though, would like to see them do well with Brand and Iggy and it's great to see them bounce back from the AI trade so quickly.

watch out for the pacers, playoff spot guaranteed

I don't disagree with anything really. I think the time will come when the Pistons fall from the top and their age will catch up to them. Fortunately for them, the east has really been awful.

I think the Magic won't have as good of a year, but won't be surprised too if they do. I think it will come down to Turkoglu being huge and Lewis playing to potential. Expecting the same as last season out of Turkoglu might be asking a lot.

Cavs, not a believer, but not a fan so my views are a bit biased. They should finish 3rd I guess. It is the east.

76ers. Wow, quite the prediction there. Will Brand stay healthy? If he does and him Dalembert and Iguodala are on the court together, could be quite interesting. This could be a very good team.

Raptors, I think they could do VERY well too, but it comes down to the health factor. If O'neal and Bosh stay healthy all year, the team could do very good things. Also, if Calderon gets hurt, I think this team is done. Unfortunately now they lack any depth at PG with the departure of TJ. Go Raps though.

LOL

I'm quoting this for future use

Apparently the Heat are experimenting with playing Wade at the 3 spot as a point forward with Mario Chalmers and Chris Quinn in the back court.

the new Suns of the East?

if that happens it's definitely a running team assuming the starting lineup is:

5Marion
4Beasley
3Wade
2Chalmers
1Quinn

Magloire/Zo might play centre and move Marion to PF to have Beasley off the bench but seems doubtful

I think that's a change of pace lineup honestly. Zo is only good for 15-18 minutes a game, and if they put that front court out there they are going to have to outrun other teams and play great help defense.

ya, I was reading an article on espn.com and they've switched between having Wade and Marion on the 3.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the Raps vs. Heat play. O'neal/Bosh will dominate the inside but there's really no Toronto guard or SF that can stop Wade.

wont happen as long as riles is in the front office, just because he isnt the coach doesnt mean he isnt running the team

No chance the heat make the playoffs, none.

Not any that matter

what kind of odds can I get on no chance? should be good right?

what an absurd statement. i am sure you would be the guy saying the same thing about the Rays winning the World Series at the beginning of the year.

I'll take action on that as well.

Yeah, this is what the question was getting at.

I knew that

outlook hazy.

Boston is not losing 27 games...more like 12 at the most.

As long as none of the Big 3 get hurt, I'd be shocked if they lost more than 15. As long as Game 7 is at Staples they can go 80-2 for all I care, however.

A third of the way into the season and the Heat are currently the 6 seed in the East and hold a 2.5 game advantage over the 9 seed (ironically Chicago).

They played like playoff intensity against the Lakers. If they play like that all the time, there's no way they don't make the playoffs.

I agree. They have too many defensive shortcomings to not bring max effort.

With all the young players on their roster, they could miss the playoffs. Chalmers could hit a rookie wall; Daequan Cook might stop hitting bushels of 3s.

My larger point is the statement that the Heat had "no chance" to make the playoffs was retarded and I plan on enjoying calling that stupid chicago fan on it all year.

41 wins should do it so the Heat are 20 wins away with 44 games to play. 3-2 on their current road trip and best sign they won in Milwaukee tonight with Wade only scoring 15. Daequan Cook and Beasley are stepping up.

i am just going to keep quoting this all year.

heat beat Orlando, then blow out the Hawks. Going 19-19 to finish the season now would EASILY get them in the playoffs (and that is a very conservative goal).

That prediction also had the Wizards making the playoffs.

To further defend the original predictions: Wade wasn't a model of health the last 2 years.

And, in closing, I never bragged when the Portland Fire snuck into WNBA playoff contention in recent years, either.

Why are you defending a prediction someone else made? He quoted chgocubs99, not you.

And lets be honest, you had to Google what the WNBA's team name in Portland was, bad comparison.

lol...he could've said the Portland Stilettos and I would've believed it.

I'm too lazy to search but I'm sure I posted that the Heat would be in the playoffs.

Cuz no one else is going to. And if someone is going to stand up and proclaim their team's potential for adequecy against the mighty (sic) nba east, I'll call their bluff.



Nope, lord knows how much airtime on sports talk radio was wasted with ads for Fire games.

Cappy, what the hell are you talking about?

Somebody said the Heat have "no chance" of making the playoffs. If your argument is that the Eastern Conference is terrible, then doesn't that make the "no chance" statement even more ridiculous? Nobody ever called the Heat world-beaters, just that their chances of making the playoffs are pretty good.

And if you want to defend the "no chance" comment based on Wade's health, then you are basically saying there was "no chance" that Wade would stay healthy.

Well, preseason predictions serve 1 purpose: betting lines for gambling degens... It's fun to look back and see what teams over/under-performed, but the bottom line is the Heat probably were the 8th most likely team to win the East. Wade's health was certainly a factor in that assessment.

The health that wasn't in question after the work he put in winning a gold medal.

But, but eight teams make the playoffs. How does that equate to no chance in making the playoffs?

um, this.

somebody said the Heat had no chance to make the playoffs. I found that assessment absurd. It turns out to look really absurd in hindsight. hence, my crowing.

and, while the Heat are not world beaters they have gone from worst team in the NBA last year to a promising and (most importantly) young team with a great future (assuming Wade stays in 2010.....I think he does). both the dolphins and the Heat have taken quantum leaps forward this year and that is a great thing in my book.

Also the East has gotten better over the last two years. It used to be a 1 or 2 team conference and now there is a lot more depth.

The 3 division leaders Boston, Orlando, & Cleveland are legit title contenders.

There are a huge pack of teams with winning records that can beat you on any given night like Detroit, Atlanta, Miami, and Philly and other than Washington almost every team is at 20 wins. The Western conference has 5 teams with less than 15 wins, the East has only 1.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The extra games for the olympic team + his spotty health were major factors in people's view of them. It's been a long-running topic of discussion how the olympic games + postseason add a lot of miles on to these player's odometer. Mark Cuban, for one, was pretty adament that he strongly disliked his players going to the Olympics.. Of course, when you approach it from a business standpoint, teams get hardly anything out of their stars going overseas, yet they are technically multi-million dollar commodities. It's huge uneccessary risk.

Plus the Heat didn't dump Marion like everyone expected and completely rebuild.

I don't think the Cavs can take the title without Big Z and Delonte. Their injuries are significant to their styles of play. Delonte is a shooter and a major wrist injury is baaaad. Illgauskas...well, you need legs haha. Mo and Lebron ain't enough to carry them all the way.

btw, anybody surprised that Detriot isn't putting Iverson on the PG and have Rip starting at PG? Stuckey isn't putting the big numbers anymore and seems to have lost the aggression that gave him the starter role in Detroit.

Rumor has it they are trying to trade him now.

There is plenty of time for the Cavs to get healthy, and since they play good defense every game they are in every game.

the offseason games leading to tiring seems much more applicable to baseball players and the World Baseball Classic. Lebron Kobe and Wade all look good. Maybe that will change in May. I dont think so though.

Marion has not played in two weeks and the Heat are 5-2 in that stretch. He may come back this Saturday against Dallas (i'll be there). They dont seem to need him much.....he is a great talent but he does not fit well with Wade. Beasley is playing better than Marion the last month. They should trade him to the Raps for Jermaine or to the Kings for Brad Miller. either way they have cap room for 2010.

Even as a 2 month rental, I can't imagine the Heat can't get better than Jermaine O'Neals bulky contract back... Hell, even Portland could give you Channing Frye + the ginormous Raef Contract... Or Sergio + the contract... /shrug.. Then you'd have an extra solid player and still keep the cap space.

Not sure how well he'd fit in Portland being as egocentric as he is.. But I think it'd be a little more valuable in the long term.

As an abstract, I wonder if some scenario involving Lamar Odom for Shawn Marion would work. Time will tell.

HAH!