East 1. Detroit (25-4) Central leaders 2. New Jersey (17-12) Atlantic leaders 3. Miami (19-14) Southeast leaders 4. Cleveland (19-10) 5. Milwaukee (17-12) 6. Indiana (16-13) 7. Philadelphia (16-16) 8. Boston (13-18) **** 9. Orlando (12-17) 10. Washington (12-17) 11. Chicago (12-19) 12. Charlotte (10-22) 13. Toronto (10-22) 14. New York (8-21) 15. Atlanta (7-22)
West 1. San Antonio (25-7) Southwest leaders 2. Phoenix (20-11) Pacific leaders 3. Minnesota (15-14) Northwest leaders 4. Dallas (23-9) 5. Memphis (20-10) 6. LA Clippers (17-12) 7. Golden State (17-15) 8. Utah (16-16) **** 9. Denver (16-17) 10. LA Lakers (15-16) 11. Seattle (14-17) 12. New Orleans (14-17) 13. Sacramento (12-18) 14. Houston (11-18) 15. Portland (10-22)
First Round Matchups: East: Boston at Detroit Philadelphia at New Jersey Indiana at Miami Milwaukee at Cleveland
West: Utah at San Antonio Golden State at Phoenix Minnesota at LA Clippers Memphis at Dallas
Wow, Boston and Utah crack in? The East seems to be shaping up to Detroit and a tough middle pack with a cupcake at the end. The West seems fairly strong in the first 5 seeds, while 6-8 look pretty easy. The Southwest and Central divisions are amazing this year.
For all the talk in the first month of the season about the Atlantic being "the worst division ever" and "Looks like the Atlantic winner will be the only team in the playoffs this year"; if the playoffs started today 3 Atlantic teams would make (same number that made the playoffs last year) while 1 would make it from the Southeast.
Also, both the Northwest and Atlantic currently have the same number of teams that have .500 or better records. And continuing to compare Atlantic vs. Northwest; Atlantic leaders NJ have 1 non-division leading team in their conference that has a better record (Cleveland) while Minny has 4 (Dallas, Memphis, Clips, GS). I'm not saying the Atlantic is great, but the division isn't as bad as it's made out to be. Atlantic teams started off slow last year too and there was similar talk about it being so horrible then, and as said before, 3 teams made the playoffs from that division at the end.
As for this year? I think my Celtics could get better and solidify a spot at 7 or 8 if they decide to play some semblance of defense. I am surprised that Chicago and Washington are doing as bad as they are. And speaking of the Bulls, with Isiah sending an unprotected first round pick from the 2006 draft to Chicago for Curry; if BOTH Chicago and NY miss the playoffs (I think Bulls could still make it while NY will be lucky to win 25 games), the Bulls have a slim chance at getting the top 2 picks in the 2006 draft. A slim chance, but a chance none the less.
Originally posted by BOSsportsfan34As for this year? I think my Celtics could get better and solidify a spot at 7 or 8 if they decide to play some semblance of defense. I am surprised that Chicago and Washington are doing as bad as they are. And speaking of the Bulls, with Isiah sending an unprotected first round pick from the 2006 draft to Chicago for Curry; if BOTH Chicago and NY miss the playoffs (I think Bulls could still make it while NY will be lucky to win 25 games), the Bulls have a slim chance at getting the top 2 picks in the 2006 draft. A slim chance, but a chance none the less.
If the Celtics can't find someone other than Pierce and Davis who can consistenly get 15 a night, those two will be dead on their feet come March. Having the Top 2 picks in the '06 Draft isn't as great as it would seem, as this is the first age limit draft, thus a lot of players already jumped last year, and the current high school players aren't eligible. Now, the 2007 Draft might be the key draft in the NBA for the next decade if Greg Oden only goes to Ohio State for 1 year. I know he's still only a senior in high school, but, if the hype is true, he is the great center that only comes along once every 5 years and the vast majority of NBA World Champions throughout the league's history have had centers that have fallen into the very good/great/other worldly category. You might see some of the greatest exhibitions of tanking in the '06-'07 season should teams realize they won't make the playoffs anyway, and Oden might be the guy to save the franchise.
(edited by redsoxnation on 6.1.06 2131) Any complaints about the preceding post can be directed at the time traveling aliens who edited it.
Originally posted by redsoxnationNow, the 2007 Draft might be the key draft in the NBA for the next decade if Greg Oden only goes to Ohio State for 1 year. I know he's still only a senior in high school, but, if the hype is true, he is the great center that only comes along once every 5 years and the vast majority of NBA World Champions throughout the league's history have had centers that have fallen into the very good/great/other worldly category. You might see some of the greatest exhibitions of tanking in the '06-'07 season should teams realize they won't make the playoffs anyway, and Oden might be the guy to save the franchise.
Trust me, the hype is, if anything, understated on Greg Oden. He really is that good. He's got a stellar post game, plays good to great defense, is really athletic, and seems to have the right attitude.
I saw a couple of Lawrence North's games during last year's state tourney and his performance was just scary good. He's easily the most dominant player I've ever seen at that level. A couple of different people whose opinions I really respect have said that Oden may be the best prep player ever in the state of Indiana which would certainly put him in some elite company.
Tim
Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus aderit. -- Erasmus
Originally posted by redsoxnationIf the Celtics can't find someone other than Pierce and Davis who can consistenly get 15 a night, those two will be dead on their feet come March. Having the Top 2 picks in the '06 Draft isn't as great as it would seem, as this is the first age limit draft, thus a lot of players already jumped last year, and the current high school players aren't eligible. Now, the 2007 Draft might be the key draft in the NBA for the next decade if Greg Oden only goes to Ohio State for 1 year. I know he's still only a senior in high school, but, if the hype is true, he is the great center that only comes along once every 5 years and the vast majority of NBA World Champions throughout the league's history have had centers that have fallen into the very good/great/other worldly category. You might see some of the greatest exhibitions of tanking in the '06-'07 season should teams realize they won't make the playoffs anyway, and Oden might be the guy to save the franchise.
(edited by redsoxnation on 6.1.06 2131)
It looks like Delonte West is developing into that scorer RSN, plus Tony Allen is back from injury too. He should give Pierce and Davis some rest. Their defense is what is killing them right now. That and the fact that the C's starting center Mark Blount averages less rebounds than their starting point guard West.
This draft is weak I agree, but the potential top 3 (Rudy Gay, Adam Morrison, LaMarcus Aldrige) are still very nice rookies to get, especially the possibility of getting 2 of those 3. And speaking of the 2007 draft, the Curry trade could also get the #1 pick for Chicago then too. NY and Chicago swap first rounders that draft if NY has a higher pick. So say for example if NY got #1 and Chicago got #20, they swap and the Bulls get the #1 pick and NY gets #20.
If LeBron ends up in Boston, someone in this area must have made an incredible deal with the devil for 3 Super Bowls, a World Series and the Cavaliers to bring in a mental pigmy as owner to trade LeBron. I understood New York and L.A.