HOOPSWORLD preseason power rankings: EAST

[Defko 0]

Remember last year at same period... No specialist was expecting us to make it to the playoffs.

 

What specialists predicted last year:

 

9th seed or something similar.

 

What we did last year:

 

- 52-30 record

- Champions of our division

- 2nd round of the playoffs

- Dwight Howard became the East All Stars 1st center

- Hedo became MIP of the league

- ...

 

What specialists predict this year:

 

- #6 seed

 

Wow... we went from #9 to #6. If my algebra is correct, based on last season predictions and last season results:

 

- 57-25 record

- ECF,

- Dwight as MVP

- Hedo will get the 6th man award

- Courtney Lee will be Rookie of the year

[Sinister Grin 3]

Just left a comment for that hack of a writer myself. What a mess. I feel I broke it down for her well enough. Maybe she will come out with a different more intelligent ranking in the near future.

[Skywise316 211]

Defko made a great point on how we're consistently undervalued and still rise above, but I'm still angry at this myself.

 

I'm just angry at the complete ignorance of almost all so-called "experts." I'm just sick and tired of people who can't possibly even pay attention to the actual basketball on the court and instead just put their ear to the ground and kiss the rear end of anyone who's popular.

 

Someone forgot to tell them it's a five on five league. Not one on one or two on two like streetball or something!

 

First, Cleveland.

 

They only made the Finals (to only get swept) in a ultra-weak year in the East, and thanks to superhuman efforts by Lebron and Daniel Gibson over Detroit. Kudos to them for that but Gibson hasn't come close to that level again since and LeBron just still doesn't have enough help to get back to the Finals. They're a high end 2nd tier b-ball team in the East until Lebron bolts for either Jersey or Europe, bottom line.

 

For Boston, there's no replacing what James Posey gave them, I'm sorry. I know the media doesn't care about guys like him, but coaches sure as heck do. They'll still be the top dog in the East but they came closer to the pack, for sure.

 

If Cleveland didn't close the Pistons championship window, then the Celtics certainly did. Period. They're basically in the same boat as Cleveland, only even older. Eventually Dumars is gonna have to go into rebuilding mode around Stuckey. Nobody's getting any younger. They're just a good playoff team now, but by no means great anymore.

 

Like Smack said, too many question marks about too many teams. There are less questions with Philly than Toronto. I'm sorry, but Jermaine O'Neal's gonna have to prove something before I give him a thing. The top four teams in the East are clearly Boston, Detroit, Orlando, and Philly. If you hear anything else, they're on crack or have a LeBron James shrine in their cubicle or bedroom.

 

I was right when I said Indy wouldn't make the playoffs two years ago. I was right when I said Miami wouldn't make the playoffs last year. This year, my unpopular prediction is Cleveland doesn't even get homecourt in the first round of the playoffs.

 

You heard it here first.

[NotByChoice 2]

lol, it's like all out Magic Fan assault on this article.

[Marc Acres 3:16 418]

quote:

Originally posted by NotByChoice:

lol, it's like all out Magic Fan assault on this article.

 

Your last comment on there was a good one.

[Sinister Grin 3]

That writer is getting destroyed for that article. All out assault is an understatement.

[Drain-O 369]

Steve Kyler is a bit perturbed.

[NotByChoice 2]

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Acres 3:16:

quote:

Originally posted by NotByChoice:

lol, it's like all out Magic Fan assault on this article.

 

Your last comment on there was a good one.

 

posted by NotByChoice, 7 August 2008 2:18:07 PM

This comment takes the cake in my opinion and really discredits this entire ranking: "Howard's shoulders are not big enough to carry this team." Yet two guys who were literally in wheelchairs a few months ago in Elton Brand and Jermaine O'Neal have already hurled their respective teams into the upper echelon of the eastern conference? OH REALLY?!?! I rest my case.

 

Thanks.

[ball junkie 277]

Interesting comment a minute ago from Kyler:

 

quote:

Again - not trying to stake a claim in this discussion other than point out the facts... LeBron took a team with far less talent to the NBA Finals in 2007, not saying he'll do it again, but don;t play the LeBron is not good enough card because he has done it... On the Magic, the message from Stan and Otis to both Courtney Lee and MP was the two guard spot is wide open, come to camp ready to play, during exit interviews both Bogans and JJ were told the two guard spot was not locked up... come to camp ready to play... NOW WHETHER EITHER WILL BE THERE FIRST WEEK IN OCTOBER REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

 

 

Say what you want about Steve Kyler, but I can tell you personally he's got a boatload of NBA contacts and he hears what deals teams are trying to work behind the scenes. Not saying you have to agree with his opnions, cause I don't. And, all of his rumors don't come true because in real life the thousands of NBA discussions that take place daily between GM's don't always happen anyway.

 

But I love hearing his rumors! Take heed on the sentence I capatalized, cause I feel strongly that it will come true. And, that's from other sources besides Steve.

 

Go Magic!!!

[Captain Hi-Top 791]

quote:

Originally posted by ball junkie:

Interesting comment a minute ago from Kyler:

 

quote:

Again - not trying to stake a claim in this discussion other than point out the facts... LeBron took a team with far less talent to the NBA Finals in 2007, not saying he'll do it again, but don;t play the LeBron is not good enough card because he has done it... On the Magic, the message from Stan and Otis to both Courtney Lee and MP was the two guard spot is wide open, come to camp ready to play, during exit interviews both Bogans and JJ were told the two guard spot was not locked up... come to camp ready to play... NOW WHETHER EITHER WILL BE THERE FIRST WEEK IN OCTOBER REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

 

 

Say what you want about Steve Kyler, but I can tell you personally he's got a boatload of NBA contacts and he hears what deals teams are trying to work behind the scenes. Not saying you have to agree with his opnions, cause I don't. And, all of his rumors don't come true because in real life the thousands of NBA discussions that take place daily between GM's don't always happen anyway.

 

But I love hearing his rumors! Take heed on the sentence I capatalized, cause I feel strongly that it will come true. And, that's from other sources besides Steve.

 

Go Magic!!!

 

No need to defend your buddy BJ, I don't think anyone here has an issue with him do they?

 

Mostly just questioning Jessica's research and opinion.

[Marc Acres 3:16 418]

I think Kyler is doing a lot of defending his writer. I can understand that, I just don't care for articles where the writer takes the standard angle of giving credit to teams simply because they have the biggest names. Were it not for the fact that we all started jumping on it, I would have just read it and not bothered going back.

 

She is giving credit to J.O. when he has been breaking down every year, and she says that Cleveland will keep pace simply because their new additions (which I do not care for)will be more familiar with the rest of the Lebrons, I mean team. She did that while blowing off Rashard getting another year of familiarity with our team. Philly and Tor made bigger offseason moves so they are everyone's hot teams. Nevermind that Philly has no shooting and Tor is relying on a guy that was talking about retirement last year.

[Drain-O 369]

quote:

Originally posted by Marc Acres 3:16:

I think Kyler is doing a lot of defending his writer. I can understand that, I just don't care for articles where the writer takes the standard angle of giving credit to teams simply because they have the biggest names. Were it not for the fact that we all started jumping on it, I would have just read it and not bothered going back.

 

She is giving credit to J.O. when he has been breaking down every year, and she says that Cleveland will keep pace simply because their new additions (which I do not care for)will be more familiar with the rest of the Lebrons, I mean team. She did that while blowing off Rashard getting another year of familiarity with our team. Philly and Tor made bigger offseason moves so they are everyone's hot teams. Nevermind that Philly has no shooting and Tor is relying on a guy that was talking about retirement last year.

 

I did not dive further in to it in my comments but Hoopsworld is acting like hours of research was put into this article. It probably took her all of 20-30 minutes (if that) to think this up and like you said just put in the "big names." Everyone is entitled to their opinion which I think hers is wrong but do not act like this article is a master's thesis and then start name dropping all over the place (Mainly Kyler).