Of the 4 powerhouses, well 3 power houses and a team that's in the outside looking in. These would be my rankings. 1. Celtics 2. Cavs 3. Magic 4. Hawks I think Celtics and Cavs are interchangeable, It really depends on which ever has more fresher legs in the regular season. I don't see the Magic in the mix. I don't see them making it to the Finals or taking out either one of those teams either, same thing goes for the Hawks. I thought that Vince Carter move was a lateral move and nothing more, I actually thought the trade was going to make the team worse since Hedo did a lot of things that wasn't replaceable. I could never trust a quitter and backstabber like Vince Carter, because we Rocket fans have experienced that ourselves with his cousin.
I voted for the Hawks even though I don't really believe it. I think they could pull it off if some things go there way. First, they're having a great season and are a team that has slowly been improving for a few seasons now. The Celtics have some aging cornerstones. An injury or two could change their fortunes dramatically as we've already seen at times. The Cavs are not playing consistently well. The Magic are probably the most likely to finish on top if they stay healthy. The Hawks are the theoretical underdogs out of that group but I'm pulling for them. As douchebag says, "Anything is possible!"
Age and nagging injuries will catch up with the Celtics. If they somehow hit all cylinders at the right time, they will probably make the finals but that is unlikely. As presently constructed, the Cavs will have another stellar regular season only to fail in the playoffs. The Cavs need a legit 2nd option in the playoffs. I will never trust Mo Williams again. Jamario Moon and Anthony Parker don't do anything for me. Varajao and Shaq don't either. I wouldn't be surprised if Delonte West wasn't even on the team when the playoffs start. But if the Cavs make the right mid-season move and get a viable 2nd fiddle for LeBron, they would be the prohibitive favorite. The Hawks aren't ready for prime time, I don't care what their regular season record is. They exemplify a pretender. I think the Magic will eventually figure it out. VC is a better playmaker than Turkey-Glue and he fits their roster better. The versatility and depth they have with Rashard Lewis, Ryan Anderson, Pietrus, Reddick, Brandon Bass, Gortat, etc will carry the day. It would be nice if Howard would have developed more offensive skills, but they don't need him to. They have enough firepower on offense to complement their defense. One thing that worries me is Jameer Nelson's health. They need him to get back into shape and round into form.
I don't believe Carter fits the roster better. I believe he's the more talented player, but Hedo was just perfect for that system. I don't agree with you at all with the Magic, maybe because I just despise the team in general and I hate how they rely on streak shooting. I think Celtics will be able to stay healthy, I don't think Garnett is too badly hurt right now, I think they are just taking it cautiously as for guys like Paul Pierce. I believe they will be fine especially with the improvements of Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins. And they have solid role players with Glen Davis and Marquis Daniels. IF they are healthy, which I think they will be, they can easily take out any team in the East especially the Magic. Cavs? It might come down to how much Shaq actually alters LeBron's. game. They seem to have no problem taking out the Magic at all. Celtics? That's a problem, Kendrick Perkins' defense seems too good for even Shaq to handle. Especially with their rotational defense. In the past, Cavs have usually matched up well with the Celtics, I don't know about this season. It's almost like a rock paper scissors game.
If Celtics can rest their injured players before the playoffs and have everyone ready by then, they should come on top because of their defense. The key is Garnet who anchors that defense. I think Doc Rivers should sacrifice regular season standing to rest his star players.
If the Celtics are healthy they will roll through the rest of the East. They are just flat out better than any other team. Of course, one injury is all that separates them from Championship and getting bounced by Cleveland or Orlando.
they already said the celtics are resting KG for one game... if they knew what was good for them, they'd rest him, pp, and jesus shuttlesworth throughout the rest of the season to prep them for the playoffs. i think they will rest them so they wont have the best record theyre capable of. magic gets the best record, celtics are the best team
Celtics are an unstoppable machine that either works 100% or doesn't work at all - it all depends on their health. And I agree with the OP - the Magic are a weaker team without Turkoglu - Turkoglu is also a weaker player without the Magic.
If they stay healthy, the Cavs should go battle for the ring. Cleveland has quality size and depth. BUT it is the LeBron factor that should carry the day. At some point you had to figure he would start winning titles.....I see LBJ elevating his and the whole teams level of play...THE superstar effect takes over.
By the way, does anybody feel like Brandon Bass pretty much screwed himself over? I mean really, He came to Orlando to get more playing time and now he doesn't even play anymore. Reality behind that is, Dwight Howard needs four 3 point shooters spreading it out in order for him to score, which goes to show you his inability to create his own shot anytime he wants because Bass is a very good mid-range shooter and Dwight just needs more space. That's why I feel Cavs and Celtics will win 7 game series against them because of the battle of the boards. Rebounding is key in the NBA and winning basketball games.
I'd also like to add a 3rd thing, from what I see. There are times when the Magic are better when Jameer isn't playing, and there are times the Magic are better when he is. He's really just that inconsistent. He's a sub-par defender from what I see, PGs usually go off against him especially last season when Derek Fisher hit that clutch 3 against him to send it to OT, because Jameer didn't close out. Magic just rely too much on streak shooting for me to think they can take out either Cavs or Celtics team.
Best regular season team for me is Orlando. However, I doubt they are the best playoff team in the east
I agree somewhat....They are the most inconsistent power house. I think Cavs will finish with the best regular season record, they just don't have any injury problems aside from Leon Powe. The only adversity they've gone through was Delonte West, I'm sure some will show up but with LeBron as your leader I don't think things can get worse.
Really wish I could re-vote because I think the Cavs will win the East and will be in the Finals this season. I just don't think the Celtics have enough firepower anymore along with the fact that KG is aging, after watching tonight. Regardless, I still think the Celtics could take on the Magic in a 7 game series, it would probably go 6-7 games, but I have more confidence in Boston than Orlando. I don't think either Boston or Orlando has a closer either, there's a reason why the Magic were playing better without Carter throughout the game. Pierce and Allen both showed their age last season in the playoffs as well against the Magic. Neither of them showed they could close out a game. Cavs? They have arguably the best closer in the game, LeBron James. 1. Cavs 2. Celtics 3. Magic 4. Hawks.
Cavs should be on top of all four powerhouses, and in my opinion, Celtics is nowhere near where they once was, Allen and Garnett are showing their ages and Paul Pierce is not that stable no more come the crunch moment. Hawks are on the rise, no doubt about it, but this would be an exciting season for them, making the playoffs, at least second round I guess, but no way can they beat the Magic and advance to the conference finals. For the Magic, the instability is killing them and seems like Vince Carter is on his way down, just like a free fall, his jumpers are not falling, his dribble penetration is way more easy for his defenders to contain, and also he's an injury prone nowadays. If D-Howard got cut off of the teamwork, he's unable to produce as many points and rebounds as he should.
I think Orlando has been built for the playoffs. They are deep with scorers and a man in the middle. ANy of those guys could go off during a playoff game too, as history has shown. Rashard, VC, Dwight, Jameer and I'm sure I'm missing someone. Ryand Anderson off the bench along with a streaky shooter in Pietrus. To me, that team is a handful to mess with.
Unfortunately, We aren't playing NBA 2K10 here. Chemistry and Intangibles don't just come off like a snap. I don't think they'll ever get it. Vince Carter has never been motivated and it seems like he still isn't despite this being his best chance ever to win anything. Dwight Howard proved that he did improve his scoring tonight, then again maybe that was because Perkins wasn't aggressive due to all the phantom B.S and Ticky tack fouls I saw. Regardless, They are attempting to copy us and what the Rockets did in 1995 but their players are just completely less talented and have less desire to win.
id put hawks above magic. for some reason i think they (and stephen jackson) have something to prove. magic really let me down this season best team in the east 1. celtics 2. cavs 3. hawks 3.1. magic
