I think the big takeaway from this year is that the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics are the class of this conference. No one is even remotely in the league of those two teams. I think Miami is clearly better than Boston but I also think Boston has a burning hatred for Miami this year. It will be an interesting class if they meet in the playoffs. Miami is more talented but Boston could compete based on emotion.
Looking over the playoff map, this is how I see it unfolding for the playoff seeding:
1. Miami Heat
2. Boston Celtics
3. Chicago Bulls
4. Indiana Pacers
5. Atlanta Hawks
6. Philadelphia 76ers
7. New York Knicks
8. Brooklyn Nets
I'm going really safe with those picks. The problem with this year is the Eastern Conference is very mediocre outside of the Celtics and Heat. I could see anyone of the bottom 4 teams missing the playoffs and a team like Milwaukee sneaking in as the 8 seed.
As for the bottom of the league. Charlotte is the obvious answer there. I think they'll be the last place team by 6 or 7 games easily. Orlando will probably be the second worst team in the conference.
Stay tuned as the Western Conference preview will start up later today or tomorrow.
The Bulls have an MVP in Derrick Rose and were the #1 seed last year or the year before. If Rose stays healthy, they can beat the heat or celtics. I'm not saying they will in a 7 game format, but they can.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is, Rose is probably out until February and he won't be 100% until probably next season. Past that, the Bulls bench got significantly worse in the offseason. Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver and Omer Asik were all key contributers and are replaced by guys like Nate Robinson and Nazr Mohammed. That's a big downgrade in my opinion.
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