Post by Martinez on Sept 14, 2011 11:05:41 GMT -5
I did top 11 because I had to put the Jazz in the rankings or face getting a 3 from Jah which I probably will anyways because I'm sure he thinks he should be higher.
1. Chicago Bulls - Team Record: 51-16 - PPG: 118 - OPPG: 107.9
Comments: The Bulls are still the team to beat this year, after pulling off an incredible 20+ game win streak the Bulls finally slowed up a bit but still maintain the best record in the league. Jackson/Langston are still arguably the best backcourt in the league. On paper, the Bulls don't seem to be genuinely great when it comes to the front court but right now it's working. Will this success continue come playoff time only time will tell.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves -Team Record 43-20- PPG: 122pg - OPPG:110.8
Comments: The Wolves pulled off an arguably head scratching trade when they dealt veteran Bob Cousy for youngster Guy Rodgers to the Bobcats. No one doubts Rodgers abilities to eventually be a stud PG in this league but right now he's unpolished and not ready to lead a team to contention for a title with that being said, Wilt Chamberlain may very well be the most dominating big man in history, perhaps even more than Shaquille O'Neal was, and based on that history if Wilt finds a way to carry this team they can very well get a title. Rodgers needs to find a way to control his turnovers though.
3. Los Angeles Clippers - Team Record: 44-20 - PPG:117.8 - OPPG- 110.0
Comments: The Clippers are the most underrated team in the league right now, no one thinks the Clippers are real. GMs questions the move trading away Kevin White for a lotto bound pick and Antonio Ramsey. Many thought the Clippers were rebuilding. Since that time, the Clippers have the second best record in the league and currently sitting atop the Western Conference. They recently made another move for CLyde Lovelette shipping out both the pick and Ramsey. Lovelette seems to fit the CLippers style better and Los Angeles seems prepared to finally make some noise with the west being as weak as it is currently.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers - Team Record 42-25 - PPG-115.7 - OPPG-112.3
Comments: The Cavaliers are quietly creeping up the standings. Making some big moves to acquire Kevin White and then Jacquez Knight, I firmly believe the Cavaliers may have what it takes to come out the East. Bill Russell, is the best defender in the league and should have no problems shutting down opposing defenders. The Cavaliers are my pick out East.
5. Orlando Magic - Team Record 38-23 - PPG 110.2 - OPPG-103.4
Comments: The Magic were barely playoffs a few weeks ago and now are quickly rising up the standings. A poor start attributed mainly to injuries the relatively outspoken Magic GM has been quiet of late. Perhaps the Magic will finally achieve success come playoff time where they've gone out relatively early for the past few seasons? Bob Petit has been on the trade block for what seems like ages but it seems Orlando is unwilling to part with their superstar player despite numerous interst from various teams. The Magic are very great defensively and defense does win championships.
6. Philadelphia 76ers - Team Record 40-21 PPG - 117.0 - OPPG 110.7
Comments- The 76ers are one of those teams built for regular season success but bound for playoff failure. There lack of a true floor general will hurt come playoff time when they face the elite PGs of the East who seem to dominate when the playoffs roll around. With that being said, OScar Robertson seems to finally be coming into his own and has had some dominating performances. If he's capable of carrying this team, perhaps they can make it out of the second round, but right now, I don't see them making it very far.
7. Atlanta Hawks - Team Record: 40-22 - PPG -118.2 - OPPG - 114.2
Comments: Since Outlawz has taken over the team the Hawks have only been to the playoffs 2 out of the 8 seasons, and this will be only the third time out of 9. To say the current GM Outlawz has done a good job would only be fooling themselves. Despite numerous success in earlier seasons, Outlawz can not quite put together a dominant team. The Hawks will need to rely on their scoring come playoff time. Defensively, they are among worst in the league they don't create alot of turnovers and they allow alot of points. Though with Outlawz, you can never let your guard down he's capable of pulling out of impossible situations and very capable of winning a championship with an otherwise mediocre team with that being said, the East is just way to good this year. A 1st round exit would not be surprising.
8. Boston Celtics - Team Record: 39-27 - PPG 108.6 - OPPG-107.9
Comments: The Celtics have built a solid squad acquiring perhaps the best player in the league Dean Hollis in the off-season and recently acquired Randy Sinclair from the Blazers. Much like the 76ers though, there lack of a legitimate franchise PG will hurt them come playoff time. The Celtics will have a dominant front court presence though and if they find a way to use that to their advantage they have just as much a chance as anyone coming out of the East.
9. Charlotte Bobcats - Team Record: 35-27 - PPG 117.4 - OPPG - 114.2
Comments: The Bobcats recently dealt future franchise PG in Guy Rodgers for the veteran Bob Cousy and I think that was an excellent move, for the present. While, the Wolves made out on that trade for the future the Bobcats improved there team right now. Rodgers turnover problem was hurting them and in Cousy they get someone who is an efficient scorer as well as somone with a high assist to turnover ratio. Perhaps the biggest hole is the lack of a legitimate presence at the 2 and 3 but the Bobcats have exactly what one needs come playoff time. An Elite 5 in Dickerson and an elite 1 in Bob Cousy.
10. Detroit Pistons - Team Record: 34-26 - PPG 115.8 - OPPG -114.7
Comments: The Detroit Pistons started out the season on fire but have gone completely cold recently. On paper the Pistons have arguably one of the better teams in the league but their lack of rebounding and defense is killing them. The Pistons much like many teams in the East, still are very much capable of advancing far in the playoffs if they set their depth charts correctly. The East perhaps 1-8 are very much capable of coming out the East and even winning a title.
11. Utah Jazz - Team Record: 40-26 - PPG-108.6 - OPPG-106.7
Comments- Despite having a better record than some of the teams listed ahead of them, the Jazz are benefiting from playing in a much less competetitive western conference than the previous year. With their starting PF and C Reinhart and Rosenbluh missing a majority oft he coming games with injury. I fully expect a swift downfall in the standings. The Jazz don't seem to excel in anything besides rebounding and that will take a huge hit with arguably two of their best rebounders.
1. Chicago Bulls - Team Record: 51-16 - PPG: 118 - OPPG: 107.9
Comments: The Bulls are still the team to beat this year, after pulling off an incredible 20+ game win streak the Bulls finally slowed up a bit but still maintain the best record in the league. Jackson/Langston are still arguably the best backcourt in the league. On paper, the Bulls don't seem to be genuinely great when it comes to the front court but right now it's working. Will this success continue come playoff time only time will tell.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves -Team Record 43-20- PPG: 122pg - OPPG:110.8
Comments: The Wolves pulled off an arguably head scratching trade when they dealt veteran Bob Cousy for youngster Guy Rodgers to the Bobcats. No one doubts Rodgers abilities to eventually be a stud PG in this league but right now he's unpolished and not ready to lead a team to contention for a title with that being said, Wilt Chamberlain may very well be the most dominating big man in history, perhaps even more than Shaquille O'Neal was, and based on that history if Wilt finds a way to carry this team they can very well get a title. Rodgers needs to find a way to control his turnovers though.
3. Los Angeles Clippers - Team Record: 44-20 - PPG:117.8 - OPPG- 110.0
Comments: The Clippers are the most underrated team in the league right now, no one thinks the Clippers are real. GMs questions the move trading away Kevin White for a lotto bound pick and Antonio Ramsey. Many thought the Clippers were rebuilding. Since that time, the Clippers have the second best record in the league and currently sitting atop the Western Conference. They recently made another move for CLyde Lovelette shipping out both the pick and Ramsey. Lovelette seems to fit the CLippers style better and Los Angeles seems prepared to finally make some noise with the west being as weak as it is currently.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers - Team Record 42-25 - PPG-115.7 - OPPG-112.3
Comments: The Cavaliers are quietly creeping up the standings. Making some big moves to acquire Kevin White and then Jacquez Knight, I firmly believe the Cavaliers may have what it takes to come out the East. Bill Russell, is the best defender in the league and should have no problems shutting down opposing defenders. The Cavaliers are my pick out East.
5. Orlando Magic - Team Record 38-23 - PPG 110.2 - OPPG-103.4
Comments: The Magic were barely playoffs a few weeks ago and now are quickly rising up the standings. A poor start attributed mainly to injuries the relatively outspoken Magic GM has been quiet of late. Perhaps the Magic will finally achieve success come playoff time where they've gone out relatively early for the past few seasons? Bob Petit has been on the trade block for what seems like ages but it seems Orlando is unwilling to part with their superstar player despite numerous interst from various teams. The Magic are very great defensively and defense does win championships.
6. Philadelphia 76ers - Team Record 40-21 PPG - 117.0 - OPPG 110.7
Comments- The 76ers are one of those teams built for regular season success but bound for playoff failure. There lack of a true floor general will hurt come playoff time when they face the elite PGs of the East who seem to dominate when the playoffs roll around. With that being said, OScar Robertson seems to finally be coming into his own and has had some dominating performances. If he's capable of carrying this team, perhaps they can make it out of the second round, but right now, I don't see them making it very far.
7. Atlanta Hawks - Team Record: 40-22 - PPG -118.2 - OPPG - 114.2
Comments: Since Outlawz has taken over the team the Hawks have only been to the playoffs 2 out of the 8 seasons, and this will be only the third time out of 9. To say the current GM Outlawz has done a good job would only be fooling themselves. Despite numerous success in earlier seasons, Outlawz can not quite put together a dominant team. The Hawks will need to rely on their scoring come playoff time. Defensively, they are among worst in the league they don't create alot of turnovers and they allow alot of points. Though with Outlawz, you can never let your guard down he's capable of pulling out of impossible situations and very capable of winning a championship with an otherwise mediocre team with that being said, the East is just way to good this year. A 1st round exit would not be surprising.
8. Boston Celtics - Team Record: 39-27 - PPG 108.6 - OPPG-107.9
Comments: The Celtics have built a solid squad acquiring perhaps the best player in the league Dean Hollis in the off-season and recently acquired Randy Sinclair from the Blazers. Much like the 76ers though, there lack of a legitimate franchise PG will hurt them come playoff time. The Celtics will have a dominant front court presence though and if they find a way to use that to their advantage they have just as much a chance as anyone coming out of the East.
9. Charlotte Bobcats - Team Record: 35-27 - PPG 117.4 - OPPG - 114.2
Comments: The Bobcats recently dealt future franchise PG in Guy Rodgers for the veteran Bob Cousy and I think that was an excellent move, for the present. While, the Wolves made out on that trade for the future the Bobcats improved there team right now. Rodgers turnover problem was hurting them and in Cousy they get someone who is an efficient scorer as well as somone with a high assist to turnover ratio. Perhaps the biggest hole is the lack of a legitimate presence at the 2 and 3 but the Bobcats have exactly what one needs come playoff time. An Elite 5 in Dickerson and an elite 1 in Bob Cousy.
10. Detroit Pistons - Team Record: 34-26 - PPG 115.8 - OPPG -114.7
Comments: The Detroit Pistons started out the season on fire but have gone completely cold recently. On paper the Pistons have arguably one of the better teams in the league but their lack of rebounding and defense is killing them. The Pistons much like many teams in the East, still are very much capable of advancing far in the playoffs if they set their depth charts correctly. The East perhaps 1-8 are very much capable of coming out the East and even winning a title.
11. Utah Jazz - Team Record: 40-26 - PPG-108.6 - OPPG-106.7
Comments- Despite having a better record than some of the teams listed ahead of them, the Jazz are benefiting from playing in a much less competetitive western conference than the previous year. With their starting PF and C Reinhart and Rosenbluh missing a majority oft he coming games with injury. I fully expect a swift downfall in the standings. The Jazz don't seem to excel in anything besides rebounding and that will take a huge hit with arguably two of their best rebounders.
