Right Now, Project the Eastern Conference

[Moranis]

I think Boston is the heavy favorite to represent the East in the Finals, but do you think they finish as the 1 seed or does Toronto stay there?  Does Philly take another win jump and pass both Boston and Toronto (or either one of them)?  Do Washington's moves put them into the discussion?  Do you expect Giannis and the Bucks to make another step up?  What about the Pacers, was last year a fluke or are they for real with the addition of Evans?  Is Miami able to take a step up?  And what does that 8th team look like, is Detroit going to elevate, does Cleveland stick around in the playoffs?  What about the Hornets?  Are the Nets going to finally surpass the Knicks for "king of NY"?  Do the Magic finally make a jump?  Will the Bulls or Hawks bring up the rear?  Or do I have this all wrong?

So what do you think the playoff picture looks like if the teams are substantially the same entering the season

So here are my current projections based on the rosters as they sit right now (and assuming no major injuries)
1. Boston - 58-63 wins
2. Toronto - 55-60 wins
3. Philly - 53-58 wins
4. Milwaukee - 48-53 wins
5. Washington - 48-53 wins
6. Indiana - 47-52 wins
7. Miami - 41-46 wins
8. Detroit - 38-43 wins
9. Charlotte - 35-40 wins
10. Cleveland - 35-40 wins
11. Orlando - 31-36 wins
12. Brooklyn - 30-35 wins
13. New York - 29-34 wins
14. Chicago - 20-25 wins
15. Atlanta - 15-20 wins


So projected playoffs

Boston v. Detroit - Boston in 5
Milwaukee v. Washington - Washington in 6
Philadelphia v. Indiana - Philadelphia in 7
Toronto v. Miami - Toronto in 5

Boston v. Washington - Boston in 5
Toronto v. Philadelphia - Toronto in 7

Boston v. Toronto - Boston in 6

[JBcat]

I think Orlando has a chance to surprise, and might inch closer to 40 wins.  The Cavs relied so much on Lebron.  That roster is a mess now.  I say around 30 wins for them.  I think the Bulls have chance to be a little better maybe closer to 30 wins. 

[Evantime34]

I agree with your first four. Indiana should be ahead of Washington.

As of right now, Orlando doesn't have a point guard so I would put them above only New York (assuming Porzingis misses a bunch of the season) and Atlanta. I could see Cleveland stripping down their roster and being the worst team.

I expect some trades between now and training camp that should shake things up.

[ETNCeltics]

1. Boston ~65 wins
2. Toronto
3. Philly
4. Indiana
5. Milwaukee
6. Washington
7. Charlotte
8. Miami
9. Detroit
10. Brooklyn
11. Chicago
12. Cleveland
13. Orlanda
14. New York
15. Atlanta

[Celtics4ever]

1. Boston 66 wins
2. Philly
3. Toronto
4. Milwaukee
5. Washington
6. Indiana
7. Detroit
8. Charlotte
9. Miami
10. Cleveland
11. Orlando
12. Brooklyn
13. Chicago
14. New York
15. Atlanta

I am going with this projection. If Embiid gets hurt I am moving Philly to fifth.

[Who]

Celtics will have more wins. I am going for 65-70 range.

[fairweatherfan]

I'm curious to see where Indiana winds up because while I think they overachieved a bit last year they've added some solid pieces this offseason. I think probably in more or less the same spot.

Also interested to see if Toronto treats this as a major opportunity or if the season turns into kind of a joyless death march as they realize their window has closed. I think it kinda looks like the former while still feeling like the latter.

I guess I'd go:

1. Boston ~62 wins
2. Toronto ~57
3. Philly ~54
4. Milwaukee ~50
5. Indiana ~48
6. Washington ~47
7. Detroit ~43
8. Miami ~41
9. Charlotte ~39
10. Orlando ~38
11. New York ~36
12. Brooklyn ~35
13. Cleveland ~29
14. Atlanta ~24

[saltlover]

Indiana was the 4 seed last year.  They have added Tyreke, O’Quinn, and McDermott while removing Al Jefferson and Lance Stephenson from their rotation.  That’s a real upgrade, and I fully expect them in the 2-4 seed range.

[fairweatherfan]

Indiana was the 4 seed last year.  They have added Tyreke, O’Quinn, and McDermott while removing Al Jefferson and Lance Stephenson from their rotation.  That’s a real upgrade, and I fully expect them in the 2-4 seed range.

Nitpicking but they were the 5 seed, their Game 7 was in Cleveland.

[JBcat]

I agree with your first four. Indiana should be ahead of Washington.

As of right now, Orlando doesn't have a point guard so I would put them above only New York (assuming Porzingis misses a bunch of the season) and Atlanta. I could see Cleveland stripping down their roster and being the worst team.

I expect some trades between now and training camp that should shake things up.

Orlando just signed IT, and if they protect him defensively it’s a start.  I also expect Aaron Gordon to improve on his breakout season.

[saltlover]

Indiana was the 4 seed last year.  They have added Tyreke, O’Quinn, and McDermott while removing Al Jefferson and Lance Stephenson from their rotation.  That’s a real upgrade, and I fully expect them in the 2-4 seed range.

Nitpicking but they were the 5 seed, their Game 7 was in Cleveland.

Thanks for the nitpick.  I thought I should look it up, but then relied on my memory (a mistake to do on 3 hours of sleep).

That said, Cleveland isn’t going to be the 4 seed this year.

[JBcat]

Celtics will have more wins. I am going for 65-70 range.

TP.  I love the optimism.  If we don’t suffer major injuries I can see this happening.

[Monkhouse]

Indiana was the 4 seed last year.  They have added Tyreke, O’Quinn, and McDermott while removing Al Jefferson and Lance Stephenson from their rotation.  That’s a real upgrade, and I fully expect them in the 2-4 seed range.

Loved their off-season moves, plus it gives them enormous flexibility for next year.

[Smitty77]

I see that everyone has the Hornets in the 7 to 9 spots.  How?  How did they get better?  They lost Howard (Now they do NOT have a true center unless you count Mosgov!!!) and they drafted wisely (Shai) and then proceeded to trade him for Miles Bridges, and SG that cannot dribble and the does not have much lift on his shot.

Did I miss HOW they improved?

Thanks,

Smitty77

[fairweatherfan]

Indiana was the 4 seed last year.  They have added Tyreke, O’Quinn, and McDermott while removing Al Jefferson and Lance Stephenson from their rotation.  That’s a real upgrade, and I fully expect them in the 2-4 seed range.

Nitpicking but they were the 5 seed, their Game 7 was in Cleveland.

Thanks for the nitpick.  I thought I should look it up, but then relied on my memory (a mistake to do on 3 hours of sleep).

That said, Cleveland isn’t going to be the 4 seed this year.

Definitely not. I just feel like the Pacers overachieved a bit with the roster they had last year (to their credit), and their regression to the mean will mostly be negated by their improved rotation.  I think a competently coached Bucks team should be better than them, at least in the regular season.