Eastern Conference Preseason Prediction game?

[Jballer]

Does anyone what to participate ?

Same as usual.

1 Point for every team correct in the position.

Tie Breaker : closest to number of Total Raptor wins.

Look below - very interesting challenge this year !

[Legends66NBA7]

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (58-24)
2. Toronto Raptors (55-27)
3. Chicago Bulls (52-30
4. Miami Heat (48-34)
5. Charlotte Hornets (45-37)
6. Atlanta Hawks (43-39)
7. Washington Wizards (42-40)
8. Detroit Pistons (41-41)

9. Brooklyn Nets (38-44)
10. New York Knicks (36-46)
11. Boston Celtics (28-54)
12. Indiana Pacers (25-57)
13. Milwaukee Bucks (22-60)
14. Orlando Magic (20-62)
15. Philadelphia 76ers (17-65)


Detroit will be my wild card team to make the 8th spot. I think they'll have some good pieces, a good coach, and an emerging player in Andre Drummond.

Miami's downfall won't be that heavy as many people say. They should regain form and return to winning their division, where the competition is tough. In their division, Charlotte and Atlanta have gotten underrated, while Washington is overrated. All teams might have injury concerns to key players, but many have Washington pegged as top 3 seed guaranteed, where as I don't see that happening.

New York and Brooklyn could prove otherwise, but I think they have too many similar problems with healthy and chemistry. There is also no major defensive identity on either teams (Garnett is too old to be anchoring a defense and won't play much).

To me, it's clear that Cleveland, Chicago, and Toronto are going to be the 3 teams with the highest potential going into next season and in the future. Toronto should surprise people again and have their best regular season results.

The player development for next year is going to be critical. If DeRozan, Valanciunas, and Ross take the next step, then the team can reach my goal. Lowry also has to retain his form, if not play even better. Amir and Lou Williams will be in contract years, so it should be interesting to see if they have career years upcoming. Not to mention, Patterson and Vasquez should be entering the prime of their career too.

The only gap right now is at center after Valanciunas. Hayes, Nogueria, and now Stiemsma are going to try and fit in for backup C. I feel there's going to be a trade unload some expiring picks like Hayes and Fields to make room for these short term players (Cherry, Hamiton, and Stiemsma).

After this season, I wonder who Masai will retain for in the FA class. Does he add someone like a Faried, Monroe, etc... to help the frontline ? Or does he throw all the marbles for the 2016 class ? Because I'm pretty sure he wants to add the future piece to make the Raptors a true contender, while adding more pieces from the draft.

[Jballer]

Congrats L - nice picks.

<edit> I think Miami as to be 3rd as division champ though Chicago can be 4th with a better record. they didn't change the division champ rule did they ?

After this season, I wonder who Masai will retain for in the FA class. Does he add someone like a Faried, Monroe, etc... to help the frontline ? Or does he throw all the marbles for the 2016 class ? Because I'm pretty sure he wants to add the future piece to make the Raptors a true contender, while adding more pieces from the draft.

Really smart question.

Everyone here whispers about dumping Fields/Hayes et al to chase Durant.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Masai chase Greg Monroe as option B as a free agent on a "premium" but not max contract so that he keeps draft picks and fits the resigned deals of Val / Ross / Vasquez / Patterson in.

Amir is a great guy but closer to the end than the beginning of his career.

[Jballer]

JBaller's First Mock Standings

1. Chicago Bulls (1st Central)
2. Toronto Raptors (1st Atlantic) [COLOR="Red"](51 Wins) [/COLOR]
3. Washington Wizards (1st Southeast)
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (3rd best record i.e. 51 / 50 wins)
5. Miami Heat
6. Charlotte Hornets
7. Atlanta Hawks
8. Detroit Pistons

9. New York Knicks
10. Indiana Pacers
11. Brooklyn Nets
12. Orlando Magic
13. Milwaukee Bucks
14. Boston Celtics
15. Philadelphia 76ers

---

I have picked Detroit as a dark-horse 3 years running. Mostly out of respect for the old Dumar's regime and talent on paper. Now it is out of respect for the wins Van Gundy will simply coach into the team and the talent on paper.

Orlando is my other dark horse pick and I could seem them 9th.

[Legends66NBA7]

Congrats L - nice picks.

<edit> I think Miami as to be 3rd as division champ though Chicago can be 4th with a better record. they didn't change the division champ rule did they ?

No, they didn't change the rule. If Chicago has better record than Miami and/or Toronto, then they will get a higher seeding. Division winners are guaranteed a Top 4 seeding. Obviously, if Cleveland wins the division, Chicago can't get the #1 seed.

[kaiteng]

1. Cavaliers
2. Raptors (52 wins)
3. Bulls
4. Wizards
5. Heat
6. Hornets
7. Knicks
8. Pacers

9. Nets
10. Hawks
11. Celtics
12. Pistons
13. Magic
14. Bucks
15. 76ers

[Bcogswell]

1. Chicago Bulls - Wins Central
2. Toronto Raptors - Wins Atlantic
3. Cleveland Cavaliers - Doesn't win central, but better record than heat
4. Miami Heat - Wins Southeast
5. Washington Wizards
6. Atlanta Hawks
7. Charlotte Hornets
8. New York Knicks - Just sneak in at the end of the season

9. Detroit Pistons
10. Indiana Pacers
11. Boston Celtics
12. Brooklyn Nets
13. Orlando Magic
14. Milwaukee Bucks
15. Philadelphia 76ers

[Dr.Funk]

1. Chicago Bulls
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
3. Washington Wizards
4. Brooklyn Nets
5. Miami Heat
6. Charlotte Hornets
7. Toronto Raptors
8. Atlanta Hawks

9. New York KNicks
10. Indiana Pacers
11. Milwaukee Bucks
12. Detroit Pistons
13. Orlando Magic
14. Boston Celtics
15. Philadelphia 76ers

[bluerap]

1. Toronto
2. Cleveland
3. Miami
4. Chicago
5. Washington
6. Charlotte
7. Atlanta
8. New York

9. Detroit
10. Indiana
11. Brooklyn
12. Milwaukee
13. Boston
14. Orlando
15. Philadelphia

[Jballer]

Toronto number 1 prediction....

Very good BR. Its courageous.

[Jballer]

Jballers Revised proper format

1. Chicago Bulls (1st Central)
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (2ndbest record i.e. 51 wins - tied with 3)
3. Toronto Raptors (1st Atlantic) [COLOR="Red"](51 Wins) [/COLOR]
4. Washington Wizards (1st Southeast)
5. Miami Heat
6. Charlotte Hornets
7. New York Knicks
8. Detroit Pistons

9. Atlanta Hawks
10. Indiana Pacers
11. Orlando Magic
12. Brooklyn Nets
13. Milwaukee Bucks
14. Boston Celtics
15. Philadelphia 76ers

Revised a couple of predictions and format.

I will give the Cavs 2nd overall tied with the Raptors but ahead in the standings based on H2H games.

[red1]

1. Cavs
2. Bulls
3. Raptors
4. Wizards
5. Pacers
6. Hornets
7. Nets
8. Hawks

[Sakkreth]

Thanks for inv to do this Legends. Ok here is my prediction:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers (57-25)
2. Chicago Bulls (54-28)
3. Toronto Raptors (52-30)
4. Miami Heat (49-33)
5. Washington Wizards (45-37)
6. Detroit Pistons(42-40)
7. Charlotte Hornets(41-41)
8. Atlanta Hawks (40-42)

9. Brooklyn Nets (37-45)
10. New York Knicks (34-48)
11. Indiana Pacers (26-56)
12. Boston Celtics(25-57)
13. Milwaukee Bucks (24-58)
14. Orlando Magic (21-61)
15. Philadelphia 76ers (18-64)

[Jballer]

Where people have responded.. i.e. especially with the tie breaker on number of Raptor wins... the consensus number seems to be 52

Give or take.

Interesting as Si and other experts are calling for 48 wins I think.

Many here seem to see the Raps better than expected.

[Legends66NBA7]

From another article breaking the team down:

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=354158

Read the article to see their best and worst possible season records.