After the Cavs, who are the 3 best teams in the East?

[insidehoops]

After the Cavs in the East, how would you rank East teams 2, 3 and 4 for next season?

(And why?)

[NBAGOAT]

raptors, celtics, hawks. raptors still have that all star backcourt and should get 50+, celtics added horford to a nice team, and hawks with howard/millsap should stay great defensively. pacers and pistons are contenders for those spots too and maybe even the bucks. miami will drop without wade and bosh being a question and think charlotte overachieved a little last year.

[Young X]

Raptors
Hawks
Celtics

I don't know why everybody underrates the Raptors. 56 wins with 2 all-star players and took the Cavs to 6 in the ECF. They should get the benefit of the doubt.

[Velocirap31]

2. Raptors - 2nd best last year and didn't lose any key pieces.
3. Celtics - Added Horford and have great young players.
4. Hawks - Added Dwight and have a good coach.

[PJR]

Toronto
Boston
MIAMI

[Inferno]

Looks like the consensus 3 are the Raptors, Hawks, and Celtics. In other words, no contenders. East gonna East :oldlol:

[Fudge]

Pacers - All they needed was more consistent offense to relieve some pressure off of George. Picked up Teague, Big Al, Thad Young while still retaining valuable components in Turner, Miles, Ellis, and Stuckey. Still thought they should've held onto Vogel, though.

They won the jackpot this offseason, right behind GSW.

Knicks - Their fans are the scum of the Earth, but you're lying to yourself if you don't think their starting 5 is easily one of the most well balanced lineups right now. The team will respond and do great if Melo allows them. No more holding the ball for 20 seconds and going iso.

Has enough scoring to fall back on now. No more excuses for that fat piece of shit.

Raptors - Basically stood pat. But they get a healthy Carroll back, and got a massive upgrade at the 4, with Sullinger. If he plays his ass off this year, do whatever it takes to re-sign him next summer.

Celtics. Now that I think of it, they're easily a top 3 team in the East. Lost Sullinger and Turner, but got Horford, Jaylen Brown, and Gerald Green. They're an elite team...in the East. A KD signing would have easily put them over the top. I feel like they're missing one more piece. KD was that piece. Another elite scoring option on the perimeter beside IT.


This is how I look at it...

1. Cavs - Just another level above the rest. No explanation needed.



2. Pacers
3. Celtics
4. Knicks
5. Raptors

[MintBerryCrunch]

I want the Bulls to jell, but I don't see it happening.

[MintBerryCrunch]

2. Raptors - 2nd best last year and didn't lose any key pieces.
3. Celtics - Added Horford and have great young players.
4. Hawks - Added Dwight and have a good coach.
I think that the addition of Dwight does not make up for the loss of Horford.

[Young X]

Looks like the consensus 3 are the Raptors, Hawks, and Celtics. In other words, no contenders. East gonna East :oldlol:The west isn't that much better outside of the Spurs.

Because of these cowards teaming up, it's just not a great time period for competitiveness in the league.

We had a brewing rivalry but the best players ruined it with a "if you can't beat them, join them" mentality.

We all know who will be in the finals already.

[hold this L]

The west isn't that much better outside of the Spurs.

Because of these cowards teaming up, it's just not a great time period for competitiveness in the league.

We had a brewing rivalry but the best players ruined it with a "if you can't beat them, join them" mentality.

We all know who will be in the finals already.
Err that was Durant. Warriors beat Cavs in 2015, it wasn't that long ago. :facepalm

[GoatBoy]

It truly doesn't matter how many 50 win teams the east racks up... The polls in the conference finals are still gonna say Cavs/Warriors/Spurs/other :confusedshrug:

[PP34Deuce]

I think if Horford is healthy, Boston is better than New York and Indy.

This is a wildcard season. New York has a starting 5 that can mesh if everyone's healthy.

[InsanityKills]

1. Raptors
2. Celtics
3. Hawks
4. Pacers
5. Cavs

Bloodbath East!

LeBron has a mountain to climb to get back to the Finals.

[Smoke117]

I think that the addition of Dwight does not make up for the loss of Horford.

lol...Dwight is going to be much better than Horford this season. Look to him to have his best year since 2014. They were already the 2nd defensive team in the league this past season...with Dwight there now? They will easily be one. The Hawks will make some noise this upcoming season.

[MellowYellow]

Pacers - All they needed was more consistent offense to relieve some pressure off of George. Picked up Teague, Big Al, Thad Young while still retaining valuable components in Turner, Miles, Ellis, and Stuckey. Still thought they should've held onto Vogel, though.

They won the jackpot this offseason, right behind GSW.

Knicks - Their fans are the scum of the Earth, but you're lying to yourself if you don't think their starting 5 is easily one of the most well balanced lineups right now. The team will respond and do great if Melo allows them. No more holding the ball for 20 seconds and going iso.

Has enough scoring to fall back on now. No more excuses for that fat piece of shit.

Raptors - Basically stood pat. But they get a healthy Carroll back, and got a massive upgrade at the 4, with Sullinger. If he plays his ass off this year, do whatever it takes to re-sign him next summer.

Celtics. Now that I think of it, they're easily a top 3 team in the East. Lost Sullinger and Turner, but got Horford, Jaylen Brown, and Gerald Green. They're an elite team...in the East. A KD signing would have easily put them over the top. I feel like they're missing one more piece. KD was that piece. Another elite scoring option on the perimeter beside IT.


This is how I look at it...

1. Cavs - Just another level above the rest. No explanation needed.



2. Pacers
3. Celtics
4. Knicks
5. Raptors


LOL are u mad that melo had to save your boy from the embarrassment of causing team usa to lose in the olympics to australia?

[HylianNightmare]

Hawks
Celtics
Heat

[Monta Ellis MVP]

Pacers!

[GrapeApe]

Hawks
Celtics
Heat

I'm a homer and I'd be happy if they compete for a playoff spot, much less a top 4 seed. In fact I'm not entirely opposed to tanking (assuming Bosh is out).

I think the Raptors and Celtics are clearly the 2nd and 3rd best teams entering the season. After that it's pretty wide open, but the Hawks would probably be my pick as the 4th best team. A lot of people seem to be sleeping on the Hornets.

[Fudge]

LOL are u mad that melo had to save your boy from the embarrassment of causing team usa to lose in the olympics to australia?
meltdown lmao

[Dray n Klay]

meltdown lmao

:oldlol: :banana:

[crunk-juice]

1. Cavs
2. Raptors
3/4. Celtics/Pacers

[red1]

2. raptors
3. celtics
4. pacers

[ILLsmak]

Knicks and Cs are prolly gonna do well, but I dunno who else... Raps/hawks will prolly win games and get rekt in the playoffs as usual.

Edit: forgot about Pacers. I guess they're my 3rd.

-Smak

[tanibanana]

Pacers - The offseason movement of this team is way too good, all we need to see if they will develop chemistry. Teague and Jefferson
Raptors - They are the only eastern team to challenge (a bit) the defending Champs, so it is definitely safe to say they are still a contender in the east. Especially the confidence they developed after that.
Hawks - The addition of Dwight will increase the paint's defense of Atlanta, although i have to agree that they will still miss Horford. Schroeder's growth need to continue.

[Draz]

Cavs
Celtics
Knicks
Raptors
Pacers
Hawks
Heat

[RedBlackAttack]

A lot of people are seriously sleeping on the Pacers. I loved their offseason moves and I think Myles Turner is going to be a really good player.

PG: Jeff Teague
SG: Monta Ellis
SF: Paul George
PF: Myles Turner
C: Al Jefferson

Bench: Thad Young, CJ Miles, Ty Lawson, Aaron Brooks, Lavoy Allen, Rodney Stuckey


Because Turner is a versatile defender, they might slot him in as the starting center and start him and Thad Young together, which would allow them to limit Jefferson's minutes off the bench.

But, I really like the make-up of the team's 7-man rotation.

I wouldn't be shocked if they were a top four seed.

[El Gato Negro]

Raps , celts , pistons , I think the pistons take a big step forward next year. Hawks fall off.

[feyki]

Raptors,Celtics and Pacers .