SI.com - Writers - Marty Burns: Ranking the East teams%after the KG deal - Wednesday August 1, 2007 12:20PM (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/marty_burns/08/01/east.rankings/index.html)


1. CAVS
2. PISTONS
3. CELTICS
4. BULLS
5. RAPTORS
6. HEAT
7. WIZARDS
8. NETS
9. MAGIC
10. KNICKS
11. BUCKS
12. BOBCATS
13. HAWKS
14. PACERS
15: SIXERS


More explanations in the article.

Blah blah blah. We will wipe the floor with the cavs then wring them out. then the playoff will arrive and we'll fall to toronto or whoever. The Cavs make no new additions and are in jeopardy of losing some key guys. Thats #2 in my book.

HMMM...the top three are coached by Mike Brown, Flip Saunders and Doc Rivers....that's a shaky trio.

I think I'd put the Bulls higher.

It's a pretty realistic list though.

I don't see why the Cavs are so high, especially since they could still lose key players (though I guess you can't rank on what might happen). Otherwise, pretty good.

Nawl... not feeling this list.

Here's mine.

1. PISTONS
2. CELTICS
3. BULLS
4. CAVS
5. HEAT
6. RAPTORS
7. NETS
8. KNICKS
9. WIZARDS
10. MAGIC
11. BUCKS
12. BOBCATS
13. HAWKS
14. PACERS
15: SIXERS


On paper, noone should beat the Pistons
Miami is really being underestimated
I like the changes that New York has made alot. The combination of Randolph and Curry could be deadly.
Not sold on the Magic. Lewis won't make that big of a difference. They lose alot defensively without Darko

Current Betting Line NBA Championship

Dallas 7-2
Phoenix 7-2
San Antonio 4-1
Boston 5-1
Detroit 11-1
Chicago 12-1
Cleveland 14-1
Miami 14-1
Houston 15-1

Current Betting Line EC Championship

Boston 5-2
Cleveland 7-2
Detroit 7-2
Chicago 4-1

Every other team is over 10-1

I wonder if Las Vegas takes odds against teams winning.

If I could get 1-5 against Boston winning the NBA title this year, I would pawn my old Walter Dukes card and make this bet.

NBA Basketball Futures Betting, NBA and NCAA Odds at Bodog Sportsbook (http://www.bodog.com/sports-betting/basketball-futures.jsp)

:hoops:

I wonder if Las Vegas takes odds against teams winning.

If I could get 1-5 against Boston winning the NBA title this year, I would pawn my old Walter Dukes card and make this bet.


You just have to place bets on every other team that you think could realistically win it. You would basically be betting against Boston.

SI.com - Writers - Marty Burns: Ranking the East teams%after the KG deal - Wednesday August 1, 2007 12:20PM (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/marty_burns/08/01/east.rankings/index.html)
1. CAVS
2. PISTONS
3. CELTICS
4. BULLS
5. RAPTORS
6. HEAT
7. WIZARDS
8. NETS
9. MAGIC
10. KNICKS
11. BUCKS
12. BOBCATS
13. HAWKS
14. PACERS
15: SIXERS


More explanations in the article.
I am actually OK with the SI Rankings as it put the onus on the Cavs and Celtics to perform up to expectations. Since most so called experts are saying that the Pistons are done, lets sit somewhat under the radar and work our new guys in there enough to surpise everyone at the end...with a championship of course!!!

I am actually OK with the SI Rankings as it put the onus on the Cavs and Celtics to perform up to expectations. Since most so called experts are saying that the Pistons are done, lets sit somewhat under the radar and work our new guys in there enough to surpise everyone at the end...with a championship of course!!!

I concur, i wouldn't have minded having the Celts ahead of us, for motivational purposes

I concur, i wouldn't have minded having the Celts ahead of us, for motivational purposes
This is kind of sad that this team needs that kind of motivation. Imagine if Spurs were in the same boat...

This is kind of sad that this team needs that kind of motivation. Imagine if Spurs were in the same boat...
The Spurs kind of flew under the radar last season while the SUns and MAvs got all of the glory, attention and accolades...then they cleaned up at the end.

I expect the Knicks and Heat to both be at least three spots higher this season..............:stirthepot:

I expect the Knicks and Heat to both be at least three spots higher this season..............:stirthepot:
The bar is high...
:pound:

I don't like to make any predictions until after preseason. However, just for fun, why not.

Detroit
Chicago
Miami
Washington
Toronto
Boston
Cleveland
Atlanta
Milwaukee

You just have to place bets on every other team that you think could realistically win it. You would basically be betting against Boston.

The problem with that is that the odds on the other favorite teams to win the EC are too low.

You could only bet on three teams; i.e, Cleveland, Chicago and our Pistons in order to be able to win the bet and then only if either one of them were to win. If you bet on four or more teams to win you would need the fourth team to win. If Chicago won you would only break even and lose if Cleveland or our Pistons win.

So that means if you bet on only Cleveland, Chicago and Detroit you lose if any other team wins the EC. No thanks.

If you bet on more than four than that is just like playing the field and that is not as good as betting against Boston.

:hoops:

This is kind of sad that this team needs that kind of motivation. Imagine if Spurs were in the same boat...

I guess the Pistons being people aren't like Seabiscuit, who was definitely more motivated when running neck and neck with another horse going down the stretch.

:hoops:

Review from realGM:
TOP TIER (guaranteed playoffs):

CHICAGO
CLEVELAND
DETROIT

I can't imagine any scenario where these teams don't make the playoffs (barring a rash of major injuries). They have too much talent and are too good on defense, and they won't have long losing streaks. The Bulls still have the problem in that they rely too much on the jump shot, but their talent pool is ridiculously deep.

BOTTOM TIER (not making the playoffs):

ATLANTA
INDIANA
PHILADELPHIA

I liked the Hawks draft picks, but I still think it's another year before they can be considered a playoff team. Their competition has improved too much, while they are counting on a rookie point guard and pseudo-center.

Philly is in a similar situation. They have some good building blocks but are too young to think playoffs, considering how teams like Boston improved.

The Pacers are going in the wrong direction. I don't think they make the playoffs with Jermaine O'Neal and they might end up trading him for future assets.

THE MIDDLE TIER

That leaves 9 teams fighting for 5 spots:

BOSTON
CHARLOTTE
MIAMI
MILWAUKEE
NEW JERSEY
NEW YORK
ORLANDO
TORONTO
WASHINGTON

I'm going to eliminate the Knicks because...well, they are the Knicks. They have too many me-first players who need the ball. I like Zach Randolph as a player, but he and Eddy Curry are too similar and will be in "black hole" mode...if they ever get the ball from Stephon Marbury and Nate Robinson. Also, David Lee now will lose minutes, which is not good. It's going to take 42 wins to get into the playoffs in the East this year, and I can't see the Knicks winning more than they lose with this roster. There is talent though - if anyone besides Isiah Thomas was in charge, there might be hope.


So the other 8 teams besides the Knicks are then fighting for 5 spots, which means it will likely come down to injuries.
http://cavaliers.realgm.com/articles/95/20070809/cavs_stand_pat_amidst_shakeups_in_east/

Have to factor in the impact of if there will still be SuperStar calls. That will really hurt Clev and Miami.