East toughens up

by **Matt** on Fri Feb 25, 2005 4:37 pm

well, the East should be WAY more interesting now. 2 Days ago is was Miami, Detroit and Cleveland as contenders. Now Philly is much better with Webber & Rogers, and Boston has added Walker w/o losing important players.

This means that the Atlantic seed will not be a weak one in the playoffs. The East sure as hell is shaping itself up now. This is bad news for the Bulls, Nets, Magic, Pacers & Wizards. Surely Celtics & Philly will now make the playoffs and 3 of those 5 teams would make it to the playoffs.

Interesting times.

by **Matthew** on Fri Feb 25, 2005 4:48 pm

I have to go with the Bulls, Pacers and wizards. The bulls and wizards just look super hungry, and the pacers have jermaine oneal. The nets and magic are a bit thin up front, despite excellent pg and swingmen combinations.

by **fgrep15** on Fri Feb 25, 2005 5:58 pm

Bulls, Wizards and Magic.

by **Matt** on Fri Feb 25, 2005 7:24 pm

Pacers missing out? interesting.....this sure as hell makes the Pistons and Heat road to the Finals tougher, i still think either one will face the West.

by **Full Surface** on Sat Feb 26, 2005 1:11 am

Boston didn't do anything special. I still don't think they will make it.

by **c0nr4d** on Sat Feb 26, 2005 3:12 am

Matt wrote:Pacers missing out? interesting.....this sure as hell makes the Pistons and Heat road to the Finals tougher, i still think either one will face the West.

yea i agree

(Wiz, Bulls, and Pacers) will make it

by **Bill Russell** on Sat Feb 26, 2005 3:55 am

Wizards will make it, definitely.

I downloaded their game against Houston (02/15) and saw it this week... what a thrill. They only need Hughes back (now he is) and a better interior presence (maybe Kwame? I dunno)...

That's a pretty good team there...

Haywood = top 15 C
Jamison = top 15 PF (maybe more)
Hughes = top 15 SG
Arenas = top 5 or 10 PG

by **fgrep15** on Sat Feb 26, 2005 4:21 am

Larry Hughes this season has been a Top 5-10 SG hands down:

1) Kobe Bryant
2) Tracy Mcgrady
3) Dwyane Wade
4) Larry Hughes [when healthy]
5) Ray Allen
6) Paul Pierce
7) Vince Carter
8) Jason Richardson
9) Manu Ginobili
10) Michael Redd
11) Corey Maggette

When healthy Hughes was outplaying Pierce and Allen on both ends of the floor, he was clutch, and he was doing it all. The injury could push him down to about 8th spot, but he's coming back. He's not a better player than those 2, but this year he was outplaying them.

by **cyanide** on Sat Feb 26, 2005 5:52 am

imo, Bulls, Pacers, and Wizards. Philly is in, but not the Celts, even with Walker. Pacers can only get better once they have a healthy Tinsley meshing with the team. The Bulls have an incredible record in the last month, and Wizards have been doing well all season.

by **Jona** on Sat Feb 26, 2005 5:53 am

refuze wrote:Boston didn't do anything special. I still don't think they will make it.

I completely agree with that.
Walker gives me anything but confidence, he's pretty worn out by now... :roll:

by **cyanide** on Sat Feb 26, 2005 6:06 am

Not to mention he runs like he has a stick up his ass :mrgreen:

by **c0nr4d** on Sat Feb 26, 2005 6:34 am

cyanide wrote:imo, Bulls, Pacers, and Wizards. Philly is in, but not the Celts, even with Walker. Pacers can only get better once they have a healthy Tinsley meshing with the team. The Bulls have an incredible record in the last month, and Wizards have been doing well all season.

i agree

cyanide wrote:Not to mention he runs like he has a stick up his ass

hell yea he does

by **air gordon** on Sat Feb 26, 2005 7:19 am

i think it will be the bulls, wizards, and possibly the magic if they don't self implode. i'd like to see the pacers make it but tinsley's breaking down and looking like his old self

i'd like to see how the celtics team responds to the addition of walker before making any prediction on the them

by **Matthew** on Sat Feb 26, 2005 8:22 am

fgrep15 wrote:Larry Hughes this season has been a Top 5-10 SG hands down:

1) Kobe Bryant
2) Tracy Mcgrady
3) Dwyane Wade
4) Larry Hughes [when healthy]
5) Ray Allen
6) Paul Pierce
7) Vince Carter
8) Jason Richardson
9) Manu Ginobili
10) Michael Redd
11) Corey Maggette

When healthy Hughes was outplaying Pierce and Allen on both ends of the floor, he was clutch, and he was doing it all. The injury could push him down to about 8th spot, but he's coming back. He's not a better player than those 2, but this year he was outplaying them.

I cant put Hughes ahead of Vince in his net days, which is current. Also I'd put Ginobilli ahead of larry hughes, and its virtually a tie between peirce and allen.

by **Indy** on Sat Feb 26, 2005 8:28 am

the pacers will not miss out. that is a guarentee. if you think the pacers are still in their downward spiral you have not seen them play in a long time.

by **Matthew** on Sat Feb 26, 2005 8:31 am

Uh, i selected the Pacers along with the bulls and wizards to make the playoffs..

by **Fresh8** on Sat Feb 26, 2005 9:26 am

It looks like both conference's first round matchups will be exciting this year!

Even if the West is more intriguring... the East will no doubt be more exciting than past years! (Y)

by **Indy** on Sat Feb 26, 2005 2:36 pm

TheCambyManVol3 wrote:Uh, i selected the Pacers along with the bulls and wizards to make the playoffs..

i wasnt adressing you, i was talking to anyone who didnt pick the pacers.

by **twolvezfanfoever** on Sat Feb 26, 2005 3:51 pm

The only team that can real contend with the west is detroit

Bluesky · by **Andrew** on Sat Feb 26, 2005 4:10 pm

I think the playoff bracket will remain about the same as it is now, though I'm not sure that Chicago will be able to hold onto the sixth seed. I'm more inclined to Philly overtaking Boston and pushing them out of the playoffs though.

by **Jona** on Sat Feb 26, 2005 4:27 pm

twolvezfanfoever wrote:The only team that can real contend with the west is detroit

Yeah, Miami is in for just another shot at the lottery... :roll:

by **Matt** on Sat Feb 26, 2005 7:29 pm

With steve smith Miami have improved...he's another 3 point shooter but less erratic than Damon Jones or Eddie Jones.

They are deffinately a contender, but i think they are an inch too short as far as depth goes when comparing them to SAS

by **Matthew** on Sat Feb 26, 2005 7:42 pm

You could say the same about Detroit, especially considering that zo is about to become a member of the heat soon.

San Antonio has to be the favourites, but they are not unbeatable by any strecth of the imagination. I actually think Philly matches up very well with them if they were to make it that far.

by **Matt** on Sat Feb 26, 2005 10:29 pm

I believe Detroit matches up the best with SAS. It'd be an interesting series, a lot of defense. Still, the road is long and things could happen.

I don't think Zo will be anything special, he probably wont reach max physical condition by seasons end. Either way he's a good backup for Shaq.

by **Matthew** on Sun Feb 27, 2005 8:10 am

But he adds depth, the same way mcdyess adds depth for detroit. He won't be "special", but he will be very important.

East toughens up

East toughens up

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