Jballer
09-03-2014, 08:51 AM
http://www.si.com/nba/2014/08/25/eastern-conference-power-rankings-preseason-cavaliers-bulls
Always room for debate.
This actually would suggest Toronto is actually 3rd place finish in the east as the "Titanic Division" winner.
Interestingly they are placing Toronto behind Washington.
Hawks and Hornets follow closely.
Other notes is the Heat / Knicks make the playoffs and the very very large "drop off - low expectations" of the Pacers.
___
1. Cleveland Cavaliers – Picking upLeBron James and Kevin Love sends Cleveland to the top of the power rankings with a bullet. There's a lot to sort out in how the Cavs will defend against quality opponents, but in the meantime there should be stark and immediate offensive chemistry among Cleveland's new superstar core. The games of James, Love and Kyrie Irvingare all innately compatible; it shouldn't take long for them to get up to a blistering offensive clip, putting the rest of the East at a clear disadvantage.
GOLLIVER: Grading Love-Wiggins trade for Cavs, Wolves and 76ers
2. Chicago Bulls – The most credible in-conference challenger to the Cavs is also the beneficiary of significant upgrade. Derrick Rose is set to return in more confident and effective form after missing most of last season, which at the very least will give the Bulls the dribble-drive creator they so clearly lacked. Also vital are the additions of Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic at the expense of Carlos Boozer -- an exchange that broadens the horizons of Chicago's offensive execution. Such is a through line of the Bulls' offseason maneuvers: Those players added make for a more capable roster, suited to uphold Tom Thibodeau's defensive standards while building out a suitably robust offense.
3. Washington Wizards – Frankly, Washington underperformed for much of the 2013-14 season. Too often the Wiz played down to the level of their competition, which resulted in 44 wins and the No. 5 seed (out of a tiebreaker with the No. 6 Nets) for a team that should have been in the running for third. Another year of progress for John Wall and Bradley Beal should help, as will the keynote acquisition of Pierce. With the latter, Washington adds a needed creator to get its offense out of all-too-familiar jams, all while maintaining defensive competence. That on its own would be valuable, but to bring in Pierce while also retaining Marcin Gortat and fleshing out the frontcourt reserves (with Kris Humphries and DeJuan Blair) positions the Wizards for a fascinating run.
4. Toronto Raptors – In terms of net rating (pace-adjusted point differential), only two teams in the East last season outperformed Toronto: Miami and Indiana. Neither will be as formidable as they were last season, setting up the Raptors to fill the void as one of the better teams in the conference. It wouldn't come as much of a surprise for Toronto to finish third to Cleveland and Chicago, particularly with DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross all still developing. The Raptors aren't threatening to unseat the best teams in the conference yet, but rare are the two-way teams with legitimate upward mobility.
Always room for debate.
This actually would suggest Toronto is actually 3rd place finish in the east as the "Titanic Division" winner.
Interestingly they are placing Toronto behind Washington.
Hawks and Hornets follow closely.
Other notes is the Heat / Knicks make the playoffs and the very very large "drop off - low expectations" of the Pacers.
___
1. Cleveland Cavaliers – Picking upLeBron James and Kevin Love sends Cleveland to the top of the power rankings with a bullet. There's a lot to sort out in how the Cavs will defend against quality opponents, but in the meantime there should be stark and immediate offensive chemistry among Cleveland's new superstar core. The games of James, Love and Kyrie Irvingare all innately compatible; it shouldn't take long for them to get up to a blistering offensive clip, putting the rest of the East at a clear disadvantage.
GOLLIVER: Grading Love-Wiggins trade for Cavs, Wolves and 76ers
2. Chicago Bulls – The most credible in-conference challenger to the Cavs is also the beneficiary of significant upgrade. Derrick Rose is set to return in more confident and effective form after missing most of last season, which at the very least will give the Bulls the dribble-drive creator they so clearly lacked. Also vital are the additions of Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic at the expense of Carlos Boozer -- an exchange that broadens the horizons of Chicago's offensive execution. Such is a through line of the Bulls' offseason maneuvers: Those players added make for a more capable roster, suited to uphold Tom Thibodeau's defensive standards while building out a suitably robust offense.
3. Washington Wizards – Frankly, Washington underperformed for much of the 2013-14 season. Too often the Wiz played down to the level of their competition, which resulted in 44 wins and the No. 5 seed (out of a tiebreaker with the No. 6 Nets) for a team that should have been in the running for third. Another year of progress for John Wall and Bradley Beal should help, as will the keynote acquisition of Pierce. With the latter, Washington adds a needed creator to get its offense out of all-too-familiar jams, all while maintaining defensive competence. That on its own would be valuable, but to bring in Pierce while also retaining Marcin Gortat and fleshing out the frontcourt reserves (with Kris Humphries and DeJuan Blair) positions the Wizards for a fascinating run.
4. Toronto Raptors – In terms of net rating (pace-adjusted point differential), only two teams in the East last season outperformed Toronto: Miami and Indiana. Neither will be as formidable as they were last season, setting up the Raptors to fill the void as one of the better teams in the conference. It wouldn't come as much of a surprise for Toronto to finish third to Cleveland and Chicago, particularly with DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross all still developing. The Raptors aren't threatening to unseat the best teams in the conference yet, but rare are the two-way teams with legitimate upward mobility.