Post by CHANGEME on Sept 25, 2007 11:33:07 GMT -5
1. Chicago (My pick: 5) - Bulls were simply a dominant force in the 2nd half of the season. It's like they matured during the season, scored more and played even tougher D the rest of the season, cruising to 57 wins. I wouldn't doubt that they'll put up a fight in the Finals.
2. Boston (My pick: 4) Right after the article, Boston started winning games against quality teams. 46 wins isn't really that great considering they have Garnett, Pierce, and Ray Allen, but I didn't see them 2nd in the East, so good work on that.
T3 Charlotte (My pick: 7) JRich and Okafor started to play like superstars after I wrote this. I still think they overachieved at 44 wins, and I don't see them making much noise in the playoffs.
T3 Washington (My pick: off my radar) I'm a big fan of teams led by Superstars, so I should've seen Washington coming. Arenas was studly and they had 2 very good role playing scorers in Jamison and Caron Butler, so they reached 44 wins. Might make a little noise in the playoffs if Arenas goes for 35+ every game, but I don't see them as a big threat.
T5 Cleveland (My pick: 8) Well, LeBron did it again, carried his team about 2 wins higher than I thought he would. Cavs were a little freer with lineup adjustments and that may have made the difference, good job by them.
T5 Orlando - (My pick: off my radar) What was I thinking? They have Dwight Howard (Superstar) and a couple of good scorers. Granted, I didn't see Jameer Nelson being the factor he was, but Rashard Lewis and Howard would probably be enough to make some noise. Amazingly, I like them, and I think they could do a little damage in the East playoffs.
T5 Atlanta - (My pick: off my radar) More solid defensively than I realized, but I think this sorta proves you don't have to be that good to do well in the East. 43 wins is nothing to laugh at though, the Hawks have some talent and they can probably do a little damage.
8. Miami (My pick: 1) Wow, the injury to Shaq just decimated them. Dwayne is Superman, but without Shaq, they were an awful team. They finished 2-13 - Think they need some big men in their lineup to be successful even with Wade? ...I guess so. That is a brutal finish to a season that was looking promising. They are lucky to sneak into the playoffs with that freefall. Too bad they'll get obliterated in the 1st round without Shaq in the lineup.
What happened to...
Toronto (My pick: 2) - Finished 9th in the East - Probably just overachieiving a bit at the start of the season and I didn't pick up on it, finished 2-5 to miss out on the playoffs.
New York (My pick: 3) - Just weak defensively and fell apart? I'm not really sure, but I would probably have tried to dump the minutes on Randolph even more and try different styles trying to find a way to win games consistently. 36 wins though...ouch
New Jersey (My pick: 6) - This just proves I don't know crap in the East. How is this team not throttling people? I know they don't have Kidd, but O'Neal, Vince Carter, Jefferson with Ridnour distributing can't win 41 games in the East...boggles my mind.
2. Boston (My pick: 4) Right after the article, Boston started winning games against quality teams. 46 wins isn't really that great considering they have Garnett, Pierce, and Ray Allen, but I didn't see them 2nd in the East, so good work on that.
T3 Charlotte (My pick: 7) JRich and Okafor started to play like superstars after I wrote this. I still think they overachieved at 44 wins, and I don't see them making much noise in the playoffs.
T3 Washington (My pick: off my radar) I'm a big fan of teams led by Superstars, so I should've seen Washington coming. Arenas was studly and they had 2 very good role playing scorers in Jamison and Caron Butler, so they reached 44 wins. Might make a little noise in the playoffs if Arenas goes for 35+ every game, but I don't see them as a big threat.
T5 Cleveland (My pick: 8) Well, LeBron did it again, carried his team about 2 wins higher than I thought he would. Cavs were a little freer with lineup adjustments and that may have made the difference, good job by them.
T5 Orlando - (My pick: off my radar) What was I thinking? They have Dwight Howard (Superstar) and a couple of good scorers. Granted, I didn't see Jameer Nelson being the factor he was, but Rashard Lewis and Howard would probably be enough to make some noise. Amazingly, I like them, and I think they could do a little damage in the East playoffs.
T5 Atlanta - (My pick: off my radar) More solid defensively than I realized, but I think this sorta proves you don't have to be that good to do well in the East. 43 wins is nothing to laugh at though, the Hawks have some talent and they can probably do a little damage.
8. Miami (My pick: 1) Wow, the injury to Shaq just decimated them. Dwayne is Superman, but without Shaq, they were an awful team. They finished 2-13 - Think they need some big men in their lineup to be successful even with Wade? ...I guess so. That is a brutal finish to a season that was looking promising. They are lucky to sneak into the playoffs with that freefall. Too bad they'll get obliterated in the 1st round without Shaq in the lineup.
What happened to...
Toronto (My pick: 2) - Finished 9th in the East - Probably just overachieiving a bit at the start of the season and I didn't pick up on it, finished 2-5 to miss out on the playoffs.
New York (My pick: 3) - Just weak defensively and fell apart? I'm not really sure, but I would probably have tried to dump the minutes on Randolph even more and try different styles trying to find a way to win games consistently. 36 wins though...ouch
New Jersey (My pick: 6) - This just proves I don't know crap in the East. How is this team not throttling people? I know they don't have Kidd, but O'Neal, Vince Carter, Jefferson with Ridnour distributing can't win 41 games in the East...boggles my mind.