SI's Marty Burns ranks us 8th in East

[Real]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writ...ings/index.html</p>

Thoughts?</p>

 

[pegs]

okay..? so the wizards raptors, and heat are supposed to be better than the nets?</p>

nets beat the raptors in the playoffs without magloire and krstic. that's pretty laughable. </p>

and boston's automatically the best team in the atlantic division because they got 3 all-stars, surrounded by mostly scrubs? okay. makes sense. in an NBA Live game.</p>

nice to see the nets are underdogs, though.</p>

 

[ghoti]

His rankings look good to me.</p>

The Nets will battle the Wizards, Heat, Magic and Raptors for position this season.</p>

 

[GMJ]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (peg182)</div><div class='quotemain'>

okay..? so the wizards raptors, and heat are supposed to be better than the nets?</p>

nets beat the raptors in the playoffs without magloire and krstic. that's pretty laughable. </p>

and boston's automatically the best team in the atlantic division because they got 3 all-stars, surrounded by mostly scrubs? okay. makes sense. in an NBA Live game. </p>

nice to see the nets are underdogs, though. </p>

</div></p>

</p>

Good points all around. I think signing eddie house gives them a legitimate piece off the bench but thats about it.</p>

</p>

The Cavs shouldn't be the number 1 seed. They caught a lucky break with the seeding last year. Their first two opponents were distraught with injuries, and one series against the Pistons shouldn't give them the crown next season.</p>

Yeah I don't mind the Nets at the bottom half of the division, I think thats fair. I have problems with the raptors at 5th, they should be fighting for the 8th spot. </p>

The Wizards would be a solid 8th seed. </p>

 

[gambitnut]

I'm not sure what to expect from the East. In the West, there are five top teams, San Antonio, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, and Utah, with Denver not far behind, and three teams that most people agree have little chance of making the playoffs, Seattle, Minnesota, and probably Sacramento. The rest are fighting for the last two playoff spots. In the East, I suspect that Detrioit, Cleveland, Chicago and Boston will be the teams to beat, any others? Which teams have no chance to even make the playoffs in the East and which ones are fighting for the last spots?</p>

 

[Kid Chocolate]

The 6ers have NO chance at making the playoffs.

 

[GMJ]

With a healthy KMart the Nuggets could be serious, even in the West. That's a nice big-4 with Iverson, Carmelo, Martin, Camby. Nene is no slouch either.

 

[ly_yng]

The Raptors, Pistons and Bulls and Cavs are all sure things to make the playoffs.</p>

The field is so deep though that anyone else could miss it if their chemistry doesn't work right, or if they have a key injury or two. The Hawks and Pacers look terrible, and the Sixers will be surprisingly good, but not playoff-team good. Aside from those three, the 12 other teams in the Eastern Conference all look like they've got a shot to make the playoffs. It's just wide open.</p>

I think that the Nets, Celtics, Knicks and Wizards will all make it too, but I'm not that confident in it, and I have absolutely no idea what the playoff order will be. </p>

 

[pegs]

i'm sort of half surprised half not-surprised to see that no one is arguing over the bulls being #1. </p>

they do seem like the most solid and well-built team, and they seem to have great chemistry as well. seems to me they could be a sleeper team to make the finals, they have a great team there. </p>

 

[ZAE]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga)</div><div class='quotemain'>With a healthy KMart the Nuggets could be serious, even in the West. That's a nice big-4 with Iverson, Carmelo, Martin, Camby. Nene is no slouch either.</div>And J.R. Smith

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Z&AElig</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga)</div><div class='quotemain'>With a healthy KMart the Nuggets could be serious, even in the West. That's a nice big-4 with Iverson, Carmelo, Martin, Camby. Nene is no slouch either.</div>And J.R. Smith
</div>wow...i forgot they had j.r.</p>

karl is an a**, he shoulda played j.r. more during the spurs series.</p>

 

[reganomics813]

It's not an entirely unrealistic scenario I mean we did sneak into the 6th spot last season partly because of Washington's injuries and Orlando's inexperience. I think the East is pretty even all around. There's still time to add guys but so far Miami's getting some holes, Cleveland's done nothing, Boston is scurrying for depth, Washington is basically the same team, Toronto lost one of it's MVP players in our series: Mo Pete, the Bulls still don't have a low post scorer either, and Orlando has to figure out a buncha crap too. I mean maybe Big Cat and a healthy lineup could make us a top 3 team but a little bit of bad luck it could easily go the other way and this is the case for just about everybody. This ranks us somewhere in the middle and we still make the playoffs so it's not the worst prediction ever.

 

[GrandKenyon6]

Looks fine to me. Nets, Heat, Raptors, Magic, and Wizards will battle for the last few playoff spots.

 

[cpawfan]

Some of you are placing too much emphasis on the Nets beating the Raptors in the playoffs. The Nets were able to stop the Raptors because Twin was able to get to Bosh and the Raptors didn't have a veteran that they could turn to right the ship. </p>

The regular season is a different animal as the Raptors present match up problems for a lot of teams and the experience of losing in the playoffs will help motivate and drive them. Bosh and especially Bargnani are still developing their games and should be even better this season. I'll have to see how the Raptors play this season to determine if they will be a better playoff team, but they are certainly a team that is well built to have a good regular season. </p>

 

[GrandKenyon6]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Some of you are placing too much emphasis on the Nets beating the Raptors in the playoffs. The Nets were able to stop the Raptors because Twin was able to get to Bosh and the Raptors didn't have a veteran that they could turn to right the ship. </p>

The regular season is a different animal as the Raptors present match up problems for a lot of teams and the experience of losing in the playoffs will help motivate and drive them. Bosh and especially Bargnani are still developing their games and should be even better this season. I'll have to see how the Raptors play this season to determine if they will be a better playoff team, but they are certainly a team that is well built to have a good regular season. </p>

</div></p>

</p>

Yes. Exactly.</p>

 

[zєяσ]

Seems about right to me. i'd say we are better than the Wizards but other then that i have no qualms of where we are ranked.

 

[JCB]

I've got no problem with that ranking. Seems about right.

 

[CelticKing]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga)</div><div class='quotemain'>

</p>

Good points all around. I think signing eddie house gives them a legitimate piece off the bench but thats about it.</p>

</p>

The Cavs shouldn't be the number 1 seed. They caught a lucky break with the seeding last year. Their first two opponents were distraught with injuries, and one series against the Pistons shouldn't give them the crown next season.</p>

Yeah I don't mind the Nets at the bottom half of the division, I think thats fair. I have problems with the raptors at 5th, they should be fighting for the 8th spot. </p>

The Wizards would be a solid 8th seed. </p>

</div></p>

I agree. They were lucky to make it to the finals. Bulls were a better team. So were you guys (nets). I too have a problem with the raptors at 5th. I don't see Bosh like some do, like some type of KG or Duncan, he's just another PF, IMO not even close to JO. And besides him, they have no one else. </p>

My top four as I see it are (in no order), Celtics, Nets, Bulls, Pistons. </p>

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga)</div><div class='quotemain'>

</p>

Good points all around. I think signing eddie house gives them a legitimate piece off the bench but thats about it.</p>

</p>

The Cavs shouldn't be the number 1 seed. They caught a lucky break with the seeding last year. Their first two opponents were distraught with injuries, and one series against the Pistons shouldn't give them the crown next season.</p>

Yeah I don't mind the Nets at the bottom half of the division, I think thats fair. I have problems with the raptors at 5th, they should be fighting for the 8th spot. </p>

The Wizards would be a solid 8th seed. </p>

</div></p>

I agree. They were lucky to make it to the finals. Bulls were a better team. So were you guys (nets). I too have a problem with the raptors at 5th. I don't see Bosh like some do, like some type of KG or Duncan, he's just another PF, IMO not even close to JO. And besides him, they have no one else. </p>

My top four as I see it are (in no order), Celtics, Nets, Bulls, Pistons. </p></div>what about the southeast division...who's the best from there? it'd be important, considering the top 4 seeds are from each division, plus the next best team. i want the magic, but i'm expecting the wizards.

 

[CelticKing]

It could be the Heat as well. But I've always liked Lewis, got overpaid now, but I can see the Magic winning the SE division. </p>

</p>

 

[ly_yng]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Some of you are placing too much emphasis on the Nets beating the Raptors in the playoffs. The Nets were able to stop the Raptors because Twin was able to get to Bosh and the Raptors didn't have a veteran that they could turn to right the ship. </p>

The regular season is a different animal as the Raptors present match up problems for a lot of teams and the experience of losing in the playoffs will help motivate and drive them. Bosh and especially Bargnani are still developing their games and should be even better this season. I'll have to see how the Raptors play this season to determine if they will be a better playoff team, but they are certainly a team that is well built to have a good regular season. </p>

</div>The only thing holding the Raptors back is their coach. Feels a bit like a Byron Scott situation, no?</p>

But yeah, they're going to be very good next year. And they've got the depth to sustain a key injury or two, as long as Bosh doesn't get hurt for any extended period of time.</p>

 

[ghoti]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'>

It could be the Heat as well. But I've always liked Lewis, got overpaid now, but I can see the Magic winning the SE division. </p>

</p></div>

I can see neither of them winning that division.</p>

 

[ly_yng]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'>

It could be the Heat as well. But I've always liked Lewis, got overpaid now, but I can see the Magic winning the SE division. </p>

</div></p>

I can see neither of them winning that division.</p>

</div></p>

It's going to be the Magic, the Heat or the Wiz, and I really can't see any of them running away with it, especially cause Charlotte should be better.</p>

 

[pegs]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ly_yng)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing)</div><div class='quotemain'>

It could be the Heat as well. But I've always liked Lewis, got overpaid now, but I can see the Magic winning the SE division. </p>

</div></p>

I can see neither of them winning that division.</p>

</div></p>

It's going to be the Magic, the Heat or the Wiz, and I really can't see any of them running away with it, especially cause Charlotte should be better.</p>

</div>
ya, if charlotte does improve, and everyone stays healthy, that is one scary team. </p>

with a lineup of felton, jrich, wallace, okafor, and brezec, they have the potential to become one of the top teams in the east sooner or later.</p>

 

[CelticKing]

And they keep saying the East is weak. (the analysts)

 

[GMJ]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Some of you are placing too much emphasis on the Nets beating the Raptors in the playoffs. The Nets were able to stop the Raptors because Twin was able to get to Bosh and the Raptors didn't have a veteran that they could turn to right the ship. </p>

The regular season is a different animal as the Raptors present match up problems for a lot of teams and the experience of losing in the playoffs will help motivate and drive them. Bosh and especially Bargnani are still developing their games and should be even better this season. I'll have to see how the Raptors play this season to determine if they will be a better playoff team, but they are certainly a team that is well built to have a good regular season. </p>

</div></p>

</p>

But won't we still have Collins next year? And aren't the Raptors still without that veteran leadership? I don't think adding Kapono is the answer there.</p>

And while I agree that Bosh and Bargnani will get better, we have impact players on our team who will progress as well (Marcus, Antoine?, Boone, Williams?). Plus personally I think adding veteran players that specifically target an established team's weaknesses (Magloire and his muscle-play) will always have more of an impact that the natural progression of a couple of players.</p>

I think the Nets improved more than the Raptors have so far, significantly so by also adding Krstic. This only adds on to the fact that we were already better than the Raptors when we got our act together so I think its a fair assesment to make </p>

 

[cpawfan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Some of you are placing too much emphasis on the Nets beating the Raptors in the playoffs. The Nets were able to stop the Raptors because Twin was able to get to Bosh and the Raptors didn't have a veteran that they could turn to right the ship. </p>

The regular season is a different animal as the Raptors present match up problems for a lot of teams and the experience of losing in the playoffs will help motivate and drive them. Bosh and especially Bargnani are still developing their games and should be even better this season. I'll have to see how the Raptors play this season to determine if they will be a better playoff team, but they are certainly a team that is well built to have a good regular season. </p>

</div></p>

</p>

But won't we still have Collins next year? And aren't the Raptors still without that veteran leadership? I don't think adding Kapono is the answer there.</p>

And while I agree that Bosh and Bargnani will get better, we have impact players on our team who will progress as well (Marcus, Antoine?, Boone, Williams?). Plus personally I think adding veteran players that specifically target an established team's weaknesses (Magloire and his muscle-play) will always have more of an impact that the natural progression of a couple of players.</p>

I think the Nets improved more than the Raptors have so far, significantly so by also adding Krstic. This only adds on to the fact that we were already better than the Raptors when we got our act together so I think its a fair assesment to make </p>

</div>
You are still confusing regular season with the playoffs. The Nets weren't a better regular season team last season. Just as the Warriors were able to beat the Mavs in the playoffs doesn't mean that they will have a better regular season record than them.</p>

Also, the 4 young players you list are a far, far cry from Bosh and Bargnani (and I don't like Bosh at all).</p>

 

[GMJ]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Some of you are placing too much emphasis on the Nets beating the Raptors in the playoffs. The Nets were able to stop the Raptors because Twin was able to get to Bosh and the Raptors didn't have a veteran that they could turn to right the ship. </p>

The regular season is a different animal as the Raptors present match up problems for a lot of teams and the experience of losing in the playoffs will help motivate and drive them. Bosh and especially Bargnani are still developing their games and should be even better this season. I'll have to see how the Raptors play this season to determine if they will be a better playoff team, but they are certainly a team that is well built to have a good regular season. </p>

</div></p>

</p>

But won't we still have Collins next year? And aren't the Raptors still without that veteran leadership? I don't think adding Kapono is the answer there.</p>

And while I agree that Bosh and Bargnani will get better, we have impact players on our team who will progress as well (Marcus, Antoine?, Boone, Williams?). Plus personally I think adding veteran players that specifically target an established team's weaknesses (Magloire and his muscle-play) will always have more of an impact that the natural progression of a couple of players.</p>

I think the Nets improved more than the Raptors have so far, significantly so by also adding Krstic. This only adds on to the fact that we were already better than the Raptors when we got our act together so I think its a fair assesment to make </p>

</div>
You are still confusing regular season with the playoffs. The Nets weren't a better regular season team last season. Just as the Warriors were able to beat the Mavs in the playoffs doesn't mean that they will have a better regular season record than them.</p>

Also, the 4 young players you list are a far, far cry from Bosh and Bargnani (and I don't like Bosh at all). </p>

</div></p>

Oh I'm definitely with you on that one, but which is a better means of determining which team is better? Have them play other teams and see how they do, or have them face each other? Based on the playoffs, the Nets are the better team.</p>

But you're right that the regular season is different than the playoffs, and I say that the Nets will also do better in the regular season because our team has improved more than the Raptors have and therefore will be more competative in the east.</p>

What I'm saying is based on how the 06-07 Nets and Raptors ended up, and the changes those teams have undergone, the 07-08 Nets will finish with a higher playoff seed than the Raptors and will beat the Raptors if they face them in the playoffs.</p>

</p>

Yes our youngins are nothing compared to Bosh and Bargnani, but they're also not the leaders of our team. They should be compared to the Raptors bench, not their starters</p>