At 5-7, we lead the division..

[lilbeastnani]

:roll: :roll: :roll: Who would've ever expected that.

1. Toronto 5-7
2. Philly 5-8
3. Boston 4-8
4. NY 3-7 (pending completion of current game
5. Brooklyn 3-8

Who the hell could've seen THIS coming. We're 4th in the East by default.

[BoogieWoogieMan]

Tanking? Pffffft

We going for 4th!

[bokes15]

I can't believe we're the titanic division again. Boston, Philly and TO I expected to be bad or below average. NY and BK being the bottom 2 teams, total shocker.

[Jballer]

Nets and Knicks are the shocker. Boston and Philly I think are "coming back to earth" likely as projected.

In so much as it ruins my preseason projections...I cannot exclaim how happy I am to see the Knicks imploding and to a lesser degree the Nets. My "fan season" would be complete if the Knicks failed to get into the post season and the Nets were one and done...

It may spoil the high pick if Toronto performs better in the Titantic than expected all season long... but frankly this team is not constituted to tank in the first place. This team always had enough talent to compete for a 6-7-8 spot in the east; unless MU had really unwound the team at training camp we all sort of said the same thing.

Middling performance middling draft pick.

Moves I suspose are all still possible but this start to the season means the Raptors management are :

1) going to push for the playoffs
2) more likely to add a minor piece than subtract from the core team..i.e. ticker at the edges.
3) Make any decisions about Gay and Klow in the offseason.

I would assume that at 15th overall draft pick next season they are looking for a quality young PG and PF

[Qwyjibo]

I am very scared of a repeat of what happened the last time the Raptors won the division.

The only reason they won was because everyone was tanking, not because they were a good team. The Raptors won the "Titanic "division, lost in the 1st round and then became totally irrelevant afterwards because they actually thought they had a good enough core to move forward with. If the Raptors win the division this year, it will be for the same reason. And this time, they don't even have a player as good as Chris Bosh was.

Again, this roster should have been dismantled. Casey too.

[kmart]

Enjoy it while it lasts.

Brooklyn and Knicks are probably coming back.

[GoRapz]

This doesn't mean anything. We're 12 games deep into the season

[lilbeastnani]

This doesn't mean anything. We're 12 games deep into the season
To say it's still early is one thing. But to say a 3-8 start for both NY and BK, teams picked to be top 4-5 in the East means nothing is just stupid. As for Toronto, believe it or not last year we got our 5th win on December 14 after playing 24 games. This year we got our 5th win in 12. So damn right it means something. Sure we're mediocre, but sadly that's still an upgrade. And that's with a couple of games we should've won but let slip away.

[Jballer]

Enjoy it while it lasts.

Brooklyn and Knicks are probably coming back.

I am not so sure. You may very well be correct... :cheers:

...but I am looking at the Knicks especially close and frankly I am not sure this team comes back...

1) Chandler gone for months. Not withstanding the beasts hyping his solo numbers - the Knicks are relying on Bargnani to be their center... 12 points 4 rebounds verses Indiana.. their number 2 option. He isnt the type of player that thrives in low post rebounding buckets ala Chandler and the o scheme for Melo

2) Felton a questionable starter also injured as primary PG.

3) Amare on time limits per game. Even if he comes back there are some indications he doesnt have it anymore.

4) Say what you want about the Bargnani trade from a Toronto perspective but they seem to have given up depth and outside shooting.

5) Shupert on the way out as a disgruntled employee...

which only leaves... Melo. Melo cannot carry a team on his back.

But even further true is that every 5-10 seasons the Knicks implode and the team starts all over - all over the cap before and after.The rumors for Rondo etc speak volume about desparation.

In 68 games left they will play a fair number verses Boston/Philly/Bucks - but they also have to play against the Wizards/Cavs/Raptors/Pistons/Hawks - all teams that are at least marginally improved enough to compete for the playoffs. Further they still have a "big west coast swing" due...

16 - 24 @ midpoint when Chandler comes back is not out of the realm of possibility.

[GoRapz]

To say it's still early is one thing. But to say a 3-8 start for both NY and BK, teams picked to be top 4-5 in the East means nothing is just stupid. As for Toronto, believe it or not last year we got our 5th win on December 14 after playing 24 games. This year we got our 5th win in 12. So damn right it means something. Sure we're mediocre, but sadly that's still an upgrade. And that's with a couple of games we should've won but let slip away.

70 games left dude. Who's to say NYK and BK can't come out blazing hot from here on out? Weren't we .500 after the Rudy Gay trade to bring us up in the standings from horribly bad to seeing some sort of light at the end of the tunnel? Get back to me January where the picture becomes a bit more clearer.

[bokes15]

Call me bold, but I can see both Brooklyn and NY coming back into the playoff picture before the seasons out. Chandler they said is out 4-6 weeks, so that means unless it gets pushed back he probably comes back sometime mid december or if they are really cautious with it, in January. Brooklyn made a higher seed with a lesser team last year. They need some time to figure things out. As for Toronto, they may not finish at the top of the division but with the way the east is panning out they do have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs.

[bluerap]

I am very scared of a repeat of what happened the last time the Raptors won the division.

The only reason they won was because everyone was tanking, not because they were a good team. The Raptors won the "Titanic "division, lost in the 1st round and then became totally irrelevant afterwards because they actually thought they had a good enough core to move forward with. If the Raptors win the division this year, it will be for the same reason. And this time, they don't even have a player as good as Chris Bosh was.

Again, this roster should have been dismantled. Casey too.

Agree,
except on Casey. Who else is going to be the tank commander, if not an inept coach.

Right now we would play the bulls in the first round. That would be fun :biggums:

[Himan12]

Should pick up lots of losses in the next 20 game stretch.

Think I'll be done with this shitty organization if they continue to treadmill for next couple of years.

[avonbarksdale]

i would be happy if they made the playoffs

[RoundMoundOfReb]

Should pick up lots of losses in the next 20 game stretch.

Think I'll be done with this shitty organization if they continue to treadmill for next couple of years.
I hope so. Knicks and Nets need to get it together.

[bada bing]

lol. same conversation year to year. hopefully this will be the year we can have a great tank and finally be able to get a top pick in a very strong draft. I think if the knicks realize after 20 games that this is not their year they are going to go into tank mode and go for a high draft pick.

All these east coast teams are gonna go into tank mode after 30-40 games except the raptors ofcourse. We are too stupid to be able to tank properly. :banghead:

[Jballer]

Call me bold, but I can see both Brooklyn and NY coming back into the playoff picture before the seasons out. Chandler they said is out 4-6 weeks, so that means unless it gets pushed back he probably comes back sometime mid december or if they are really cautious with it, in January. Brooklyn made a higher seed with a lesser team last year. They need some time to figure things out. As for Toronto, they may not finish at the top of the division but with the way the east is panning out they do have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs.


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nba/news/20131122/carmelo-anthony-knicks/

Melo cant do it alone...

Chandler wont be in game shape till post All Star I suspect.

I dont think the Knicks can do it. They are cooked. Its influenced by hopeful wish on my side (maybe) but I dont see it with the pieces they have.

A trade would help but where they get talent and CAP relief ?

The Nets can / could do it... no disagreement based on all your logic above.

[kmart]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nba/news/20131122/carmelo-anthony-knicks/

Melo cant do it alone...

Chandler wont be in game shape till post All Star I suspect.

I dont think the Knicks can do it. They are cooked. Its influenced by hopeful wish on my side (maybe) but I dont see it with the pieces they have.

A trade would help but where they get talent and CAP relief ?

The Nets can / could do it... no disagreement based on all your logic above.

Not like the Raptors are much better anyways. They are 6-7 in an division that includes a injured Brook Lopez and Tyson Chandler. They are under 500 as we speak and I just don't think they can keep winning with the Nets and Knicks around.

[bokes15]

Not like the Raptors are much better anyways. They are 6-7 in an division that includes a injured Brook Lopez and Tyson Chandler. They are under 500 as we speak and I just don't think they can keep winning with the Nets and Knicks around.
Yeah, I tend to feel like things always balance out in the end. We're 13 games deep, in an 82 game season. The Knicks and the Nets have players on their respective teams that know how to win. Sure, it's possible that they continue to suck for the rest of the season, but logic would tell you that the Nets will get back their 2 best players (Lopez and Williams) and go on a run. And the Knicks will figure things out and get back their most important player (Chandler) and go on a run as well. As for Toronto, well we're an enigma right now. It is actually possible that we could continue to play average ball the rest of the season and make the playoffs. The difference is, playing average is our ceiling whereas with those other 2 teams, they have top 5 potential which is why they have a chance at coming back into the picture.

[Jballer]

The difference is, playing average is our ceiling whereas with those other 2 teams, they have top 5 potential which is why they have a chance at coming back into the picture.

Agreed based on Nets.

Did you see Knicks last night verses Portland ?

The more I see of the Knicks the more I am convinced this team cannot do it even if Chandler comes back.

I assume Chandler will come back but not be at game speed till all star. Shupert is just playing out the stretch till he can get traded. The PG and ball movement is awful and I dont think Felton brings that much more to the table. Melo looks like he is carrying the whole world on his shoulders in body language.

I had them as top 5 in my EC predictions but if they are winning at a 33% clip heading into the all star - they dont even make the playoffs.

Atlanta, Toronto, Washington, Detroit, Cleveland (more or less in that order) are just that good enough that they can exploit the Knicks cohesion issues.

[Jballer]

Take a look at the Knicks schedule between this week and Christmas.

Clippers this week to Thunder on Christmas day.

There are some Celtic/Magic/Bucks games in there but there is one important Nets game and a whole lot of west conference. Interestingly the Knicks will finish the season against the Raptors with two games at the tail end.

[bokes15]

Yeah, the Nets on paper have the best team in the division. I guess it doesnt always play out that way. But i do figure theyll still have a shot at a playoff seed if they ever get it together.

[kmart]

Today just proved that the Raps won't be at the top of the division for long. They weren't able to handle the Nets at home with a healthy line up the and Nets were without Brook Lopez and Deron Williams.

[bokes15]

I think this game went on to further my point. The Nets and the Knicks will probably improve as the year goes by (especially the Nets). 6-8 where we are currently is pretty close to what our ceiling is, which is that of a .500 or just below .500 team if everything goes perfectly well. We're not even really built for the playoffs despite their being a chance of us slipping in there.

[kaiteng]

They are not gonna lead anymore after Friday.