The SUPER Early Conference Projections Thread

[Jordan]

Am I the only one who just doesn't believe the new hype around Miami? I just don't see it... Yeah it's a good starting 5, but old man Wade has to preserve his fossils of knees until May and besides Winslow, your bench consists of Gerald Green and Josh McBob? Idk maybe I still have some lingering hatred for them but I just don't see this "Miami can knock off Cleveland" talk... Stephen A. is a douche

Even though I think Heat reach ECF I agree with you... Especially when people talk about how they matchup well with us.

The Heat have a few major problems/unknowns:
1) They have no three point shooters, outside of Bosh, that aren't a liability to keep on the court for extended minutes.
2) Dwayne Wade is not the same player he once was. He's lost a bit of athleticism and he cannot function as a #1 options against most starting lineups.
3) The Hassan Whiteside hype. Hassan played very well last year, but, a lot of his numbers were empty. When you watched the Heat last year, Hassan just wasn't helping them win games.
4) Their bench depth is mediocre at best. Assuming Justice Winslow can't contribute at a high level this year, this will be problematic.

Ultimately, I find Spoelstra to be a really good coach, and I think 3/4 of these problems are solveable by coaching. I expect him to do the following:

First, The Heat won't rely on three point shooting. Expect them to play a very similar style to the Bulls last year. They'll beat you through post-ups and slashing plays. Second, Bosh is still a good enough player that he can be a #1 option. He can create his own shot on the perimeter or in the post, as well as creating opportunities from the elbow. Do not be surprised if Dragic/Bosh each have the ball in their hands significantly more than Wade. Finally, if Spo can help Whiteside continue to improve the Heat will be in a good place.

That leaves one major problem: lack of depth. Fortunately for Miami, this problem is widespread in the East. The only three teams (in my mind) that don't have this problem in the East are Cavs, Bulls, and Celtics. So ultimately, I see this being less of a problem.

Can the Heat beat the Cavs in seven games? I don't think they have a shot. The Cavs are way too deep and play a much more analytical style of basketball, which the Heat do not have an answer for. But, can the Heat win one or two games against the Cavs in a seven game series? Yeah, especially at home.

 

[Adam]

I think claiming the celtics have depth is more a slap in the face to the quality of their starters than praise for their bench. They have a team of bench players

 

[Damien O'Connel]

good odds, def..

but playing ful strength against SA and squeeking it out with an epic game from Kyrie, and they just imporoved drastically, and losing to GSW with arguably better +/- lineups than we'd have with kyrie and love dont make me feel confident about winning it all.


I know you guys dont like to hear any of that. but its just true, and vegas agrees.

Gsw are favorite if they make it to the finals. san antonio is a heavy favorite to beat the living shit out of us if we both make it to the finals. we had an underwhelming offseason, and they added studs.

yes, we only have to worry about one team in the west and the rest will bea each other up, but general consensus says that team will beat us and that we are not the best team in basketball.

EDIT: Didn't realize how old this post was lol.

 

[Rich]

I look at the talent level on Washington and then look at it on Orlando....I'm not so sure Orlando can't make the playoffs. Assuming their young dudes who looked so good last year like Payton and Oladipo improve, that is. But Washington's front court sucks and Otto Porter has to make a big, big leap. I think I might like Orlando more.

 

[Derek]

EAST:
1. Cleveland
2. Toronto
3. Atlanta
4. Miami
5. Chicago (Who saw that collapse coming?)
6. Washington (Weren't far off, finished .500)
7. Indiana
8. New York (Bad pick)

WEST:
1. OKC
2. Golden State
3. Houston
4. Los Angeles Clippers
5. Memphis
6. San Antonio
7. New Orleans (Disastrous)
8. Dallas

Overall, not bad. Certainly some stinkers on there, but I made worse picks. The Caesar's sportsbook can vouch for that.

My top 4 in the East looks good, after that it blows. I figured Boston would be in a tight race for those bottom seeds, so they outperformed my expectations. I was also jaded at the time by a lot of projections for them to win 55 games, so I was overcompensating.

Never understood why people thought Greg Monroe to the Bucks was a good move for them.

I hit 7/8 West playoff teams, but the order was off. I never thought the Spurs would care enough in the regular season to be a top seed.

Houston falling off to 8 seed was unexpected.

 

[Walter White]

I don't like Toronto at all. I really wouldn't be stunned to see them as one of the top 3 worst teams in the East.

I have them number 4. I'm not hating on them either.

1.) SA
2.) OKC
3.) LAC
4.) Warriors

Dang bro...

 

[Jstock12]

Dang bro...

Quick, @godfather , make a prediction that Cavs won't win the championship this year.

 

[Real Deal]

Cavs
Heat
Bulls
Hawks
Raptors
Wizards
Bucks
Pistons ( Do we really have to beat Detroit again?)

I'm trying not sleep on Indy with the return of PG, adding Monta, but they have no good bigs.

I really like what Toronto did over Washington in the offseason. They get the nod above. Chicago will most likely want to avoid us in the 2nd round, they'll play good season ball.

West is much more fun to predict.

Warriors
Thunder
Spurs
Clippers
Rockets

Grizzlies
Suns
Mavs

Memphis is there by respect. I like this Suns team to win some games, and it was either Mavs or Pelicans, I'll go with Cuban. I'd have to see it to believe it concerning Dallas and Dirk, Parsons, Wesley, and Deron missing the playoffs.

Kings is also another team that will compete, were going to get some even better late night games.

Nailed it.

 

[go cavs275]

1. Cleveland
2. Atlanta
3. Miami
4. Toronto
5. Chicago
6. Milwaukee
7. Washington
8. Indiana

1. Warriors
2. San Antonio
3. OKC
4. LAC
5. Houston
6. Memphis
7. New Orleans
8. Dallas

Did damn good on the top 4 for each conference, including perfect in the west. After that, meh. I guess 3/4 bottom 4 of the west aint bad