The East

[jod23]

Forget the West...sure the big 5 battle is entertaining but we all know they will be there come playoff time. What intrigues me with just around 30-35 games left in the season is the WIDE OPEN East. Apart from bolter New Jersey who are 5 games clear on top of the East, it is amazingly close.

Teams from second to tenth are astoundingly just 4 and half games apart. This is how it looks now.

1. New Jersey 36-17
2. Milwaukee 30-22
3. Detroit - 30-22
4. Boston - 31-24
5. Orlando - 28-25
6. Toronto - 29-27
7. Philadelphia - 27-26
8. Charlotte - 27-26
9. Washington - 27-26
10. Indiana - 26-27
    [/list=1]
    
    New Jersey are home, wouldnt worry about them. Milwaukee look the goods but its so close nobody is safe. Can Detroit keep winning and avoid another collapse like before the All Star Break. Will Bostons new aquisitions keep them in a top 4 spot or will it ruin chemistry and see them fall away. Can Orlando keep it up without Hill, they have been up and down all season. How long is Carter out for? Toronto cant win a game without him. Are Philly fooling us all or are they really a struggling .500 team. With Mash back can Charlotte push for the postseason. Can Washington stop the recent slide and continue there amazing turnaround. Miller, Artest and Mercer have arrived in Indy, will that make them good enough for another playoff run???
    
    2 teams have to miss out...i want to know your picks? I wouldnt have a clue....throw a blanket over em!

 

[X_box_X]

Awesome summary Jod, very well done!
I have to back my team and pick them for the 8th spot in the East.
I think the Pacers will miss out, and ill just go and say Washington will miss out aswell!

 

[Abel Xavier]

Indiana and the Wizards


BYE BYE

 

[jod23]

Interesting that you would go with Indy and Washington? Indiana IMO have certainly improved there list with the Rose trade and Washington have Micheal Jordan...that ones a no brainer. The East is so close that yesterday the Wizards were in 9th and just outside a playoff spot and today without even playing they have moved to 6th....its crazy. Gotta love it though.

 

[jod23]

Devo, P&P, Coxy....wouldnt mind your guy's views on the East?

 

[Fall Out Boy]

For me i think the main two contenders to miss out would be Washington and Toronto.

Washington have improved rapidly this season, but i think the signs are showing that they are slowing down, which was expected.

I see them winning maybe 35 games, if MJ is fit and firing.

Toronto, i cannot see them winning 40 games, a figure needed, imho, to make the playoffs.

To make it they need a fit, healthy and firing Carter, atm they haven't got that.

 

[coxon]

the two that shall miss out are detroit & washington...

detroit has been doing surprisingly well, while missing some key postition players.. surviving on b.wallace's great play, and stackhouse's unselfishness.... but, i dont think they'll last too long... another collapse coming their way..

washington... as much as i'd like to see them get up... i think they'll falter... MJ will still keep firing, but i cant say the same about the rest of the sorry wiz's bunch..

it was tough, a toss up between washington & charlotte... but i think charlotte should squeeze in... awesome play of baron davis this year, and the return of mash... big bodies... should make it..

was reading an interesting article today, re indiana.. and how it seems as tho isiah is building 'the bad boys mark II' ! hahah..

eg.

tinsley (isiah)
artest (dumars)
harrington (rodman)
j'oneal (john salley)
miller (laimbeer)

r.mercer (microwave johnson)

donno where reggie miller fits in tho!
what y'all think?

 

[jod23]

Originally posted by coxon
the two that shall miss out are detroit & washington...

detroit has been doing surprisingly well, while missing some key postition players.. surviving on b.wallace's great play, and stackhouse's unselfishness.... but, i dont think they'll last too long... another collapse coming their way..

washington... as much as i'd like to see them get up... i think they'll falter... MJ will still keep firing, but i cant say the same about the rest of the sorry wiz's bunch..

it was tough, a toss up between washington & charlotte... but i think charlotte should squeeze in... awesome play of baron davis this year, and the return of mash... big bodies... should make it..

was reading an interesting article today, re indiana.. and how it seems as tho isiah is building 'the bad boys mark II' ! hahah..

eg.

tinsley (isiah)
artest (dumars)
harrington (rodman)
j'oneal (john salley)
miller (laimbeer)

r.mercer (microwave johnson)

donno where reggie miller fits in tho!
what y'all think?

Definitlely agree, Thomas is coaching just like he played and is building Indiana into a real tough team. Which is certainly a good thing as the Knicks were always the tough team during the 90's, before that it was the Pistons. With the Knicks fading its time for a new bad boy..Indy fits perfectly.

I still cant decide. I dont think it will be Detriot, they are playing really well and the understanding in the team seems really good. If Carter is still going to be out for 4 or 5 games we could see Toronto fall too far behind to get back into it. I dont know when Carter is coming back though. Charlotte or Indy is the other one i think could miss out. Charlotte lack the big time player despite Davis' great play of late he is yet to really stamp his mark as a superstar of the league. Indy's lineup change might be bad in the short run before getting better. They lost there first game together so we will have to wait and see if they gel as a team.

Toronto (if Carter is out for longer) & Charlotte for me.

 

[CURVE]

I still believe Miami will make it in, and because it's so close they could get as high as sixth. I think Washington are definitely gone. Toronto and Charlotte are the other 2 teams to go.

 

[jod23]

Yeah Washington are certainly struggling. Back to back losses to Miami with Jordan barely playing 30 minutes in the second game, got his knee drained before the game, thats the second time in a week. He said it bothered him a lot and theres a strong possibility he could have a stint on the IL!!! That means 5 games without MJ??? With it being so close the WIzards need to stand up and they need to do it now. Next 4 games are against Portland, Orlando and the Bulls twice. Hoping for a couple of wins.

Gotta agree though Devo, Miami continue to charge towards a playoff spot. I never counted them out as Pat Riley is too good a coach to not get things right and start winning, especially with the talent the team has.

GO BULLS
GO WIZARDS