Re: 2010-2011 NBA Thread

[17 Seconds]

The Bucks beat Dallas tonight in Dallas? WTF?

 

watched the end of it. huge win for the bucks.

 

it's been said over and over on this board, but skiles' teams really do play hard

 

And the Heat keep winning.

 

still want to see them beat some better teams. the only impressive win they've had during this streak was the win at utah. new orleans has lost like 9 of 13 or something like that.

 

i'd go like this as of right now

 

1. Boston

2. Miami

3. Chicago

4. Orlando

5. Atlanta

6. Milawuakee

7. Indiana

8. New York

 

I really don't think the Bulls at 3 is a homer pick either, even though you could easily put Orlando there. We've had the toughest schedule so far, were without Boozer until recently, and are still only a half game worse than Orlando (though they did get screwed by the flu bug).

 

And I think the knicks are still getting way too much hype considering they've played the easiest schedule in the NBA. Their upcoming schedule is bruuuutttalll

[ELCABALLO45]

Its not homer at all. the Bulls are pretty good.

[bukie]

Coming into today, here were the East rankings by Sagarin predictor:

 

1. Boston - 99.26

2. Miami - 98.86

3. Orlando - 94.08

4. Chicago - 93.23

5. Atlanta - 92.11

6. Indiana - 91.95

7. Philadelphia - 90.39

8. New York - 89.99

9. Milwaukee - 88.95

10. Toronto - 87.70

11. Charlotte - 87.07

12. New Jersey - 85.14

13. Detroit - 83.33

14. Washington - 82.73

15. Cleveland - 81.45

 

Already, Boston and Miami have separated themselves from the pack, and it looks like only complacency by one of them would allow any other team to sneak into a top 2 spot. So, the best case scenario for Chicago would appear to be the 3 seed, which would allow them a somewhat easier first round matchup, but still require them to beat likely both Boston and Miami to even reach the finals.

[JonJayCutler]

I really don't think the Bulls at 3 is a homer pick either, even though you could easily put Orlando there. We've had the toughest schedule so far, were without Boozer until recently, and are still only a half game worse than Orlando (though they did get screwed by the flu bug).

 

107-78. In Chicago.

[bukie]

I really don't think the Bulls at 3 is a homer pick either, even though you could easily put Orlando there. We've had the toughest schedule so far, were without Boozer until recently, and are still only a half game worse than Orlando (though they did get screwed by the flu bug).

 

107-78. In Chicago.

On Boozer's first game back.

 

But yes, I'm sure Orlando is 30 points a game better than Chicago at all times, and there is no chance the Bulls could finish higher in the East.

[17 Seconds]

I really don't think the Bulls at 3 is a homer pick either, even though you could easily put Orlando there. We've had the toughest schedule so far, were without Boozer until recently, and are still only a half game worse than Orlando (though they did get screwed by the flu bug).

 

107-78. In Chicago.

 

the magic lost to the raptors at home. are the raptors better?

[Flames24Rulz]

I'm still very reluctant to put the Bulls ahead of the Magic.

[SouthSideRyan]

I really don't think the Bulls at 3 is a homer pick either, even though you could easily put Orlando there. We've had the toughest schedule so far, were without Boozer until recently, and are still only a half game worse than Orlando (though they did get screwed by the flu bug).

 

107-78. In Chicago.

On Boozer's first game back.

 

But yes, I'm sure Orlando is 30 points a game better than Chicago at all times, and there is no chance the Bulls could finish higher in the East.

 

I'm sure a full game of Carlos Boozer makes a 30 point difference.

[bukie]

I really don't think the Bulls at 3 is a homer pick either, even though you could easily put Orlando there. We've had the toughest schedule so far, were without Boozer until recently, and are still only a half game worse than Orlando (though they did get screwed by the flu bug).

 

107-78. In Chicago.

On Boozer's first game back.

 

But yes, I'm sure Orlando is 30 points a game better than Chicago at all times, and there is no chance the Bulls could finish higher in the East.

 

I'm sure a full game of Carlos Boozer makes a 30 point difference.

Of course not, but it's still just one game.

[SouthSideRyan]

Well yeah. I wouldn't be stunned to see the Bulls finish ahead of the Magic, but they really need to avoid them in the playoffs. They're too big.

[bukie]

Well yeah. I wouldn't be stunned to see the Bulls finish ahead of the Magic, but they really need to avoid them in the playoffs. They're too big.

The only way I could see the Bulls playing the Magic in the playoffs at this point would be one of two scenarios:

 

1 - Atlanta passes both of them and they meet in the 4-5 matchup.

2 - They both somehow oust Miami and Boston in the East semis and meet in the conference finals.

 

One would be a disaster. Two I'd actually be OK with.

[SouthSideRyan]

Orlando's only a game back of the Heat, and Boston is likely to take their foot off the gas in the 2nd half. a 1-4 matchup isn't out of the question.

[bukie]

Projected final standings according to BP's POW ratings (through 12/12):

 

East

1. Boston 66-16

2. Miami 58-24

3. Chicago 57-25

4. Orlando 51-31

5. Atlanta 48-34

6. Indiana 43-39

7. New York 40-42

8. Milwaukee 35-47

---------------------------

9. Philly 34-48

10. Toronto 33-49

11. Charlotte 30-52

12. New Jersey 24-58

13. Detroit 22-60

14. Cleveland 20-62

15. Washington 19-63

 

West

1. San Antonio 62-20

2. Dallas 62-20

3. Utah 55-27

4*. LA Lakers 48-34

5. New Orleans 52-30

6. Denver 51-31

7. OKC 50-32

8. Portland 44-38

---------------------------------

9. Phoenix 40-42

10. Houston 38-44

11. Memphis 37-45

12. Golden State 29-53

13. Minnesota 22-60

14. LA Clippers 20-62

15. Sacramento 18-64

[JonJayCutler]

I really don't think the Bulls at 3 is a homer pick either, even though you could easily put Orlando there. We've had the toughest schedule so far, were without Boozer until recently, and are still only a half game worse than Orlando (though they did get screwed by the flu bug).

 

107-78. In Chicago.

 

the magic lost to the raptors at home. are the raptors better?

 

There's a difference between losing to a team and getting demolished. Plus it's not like Orlando continually loses to the Raptors. The Bulls continually lose to Orlando. They've owned Chicago the past few years, and there's no reason at all to think that will change this year, barring an injury.

 

This isn't even me being a homer. I'm pretty sure 9 out of 10 people who aren't fans of either team would tell you Orlando is still the superior team. But we aren't even having this discussion if half our team doesn't come down with the flu right before the road trip out West. If you don't think all four of our losses last week were tied to the team having/getting over the flu then I don't know what to tell you. Without it we go 3-1 at worst over those 4.

[SouthSideRyan]

Rajon Rondo gets to the free throw line less per shot attempt than Derrick Rose does.

[JonJayCutler]

Oh and there's a decent chance the Magic will land a somewhat big name via trade. So far I've heard Arenas, Carmelo, Paul, and Mayo. Of course most if not all those rumors are/were entirely hogwash, but it could happen.

[bukie]

This isn't even me being a homer. I'm pretty sure 9 out of 10 people who aren't fans of either team would tell you Orlando is still the superior team. But we aren't even having this discussion if half our team doesn't come down with the flu right before the road trip out West. If you don't think all four of our losses last week were tied to the team having/getting over the flu then I don't know what to tell you. Without it we go 3-1 at worst over those 4.

If you don't think the Bulls and Magic are in a similar position this year in terms of conference finish in the standings, then you're being a homer. 9 out of 10 people who aren't fans of either would view both as a step behind Boston and Miami, currently. Just because the Magic are a bad matchup right now for the Bulls specifically, doesn't mean a whole lot in terms of the teams' outlook for the season and playoffs.

[davell]

I think the East will be decided by the trade deadline. No idea who the Bulls can go get that's going to be an impact 2 or 3 though. Personally, I don't think of Mayo as a difference maker. I doubt Boston makes any impact moves, but I think Orlando will do their damndest to try. If they could somehow land Paul, I'd put them at 1. Miami is stuck with their team for this year and probably next as well, since they won't have a mid level to use then either. What I'm going to hate watching though, is Carmelo getting dealt to the Knicks. That will put them in the running unfortunately.

[bukie]

For the Bulls, it may be as simple as not using Bogans, who is useless, and starting either Korver or Brewer. Korver can shoot, it's the defending that is the question for him.

[JonJayCutler]

This isn't even me being a homer. I'm pretty sure 9 out of 10 people who aren't fans of either team would tell you Orlando is still the superior team. But we aren't even having this discussion if half our team doesn't come down with the flu right before the road trip out West. If you don't think all four of our losses last week were tied to the team having/getting over the flu then I don't know what to tell you. Without it we go 3-1 at worst over those 4.

If you don't think the Bulls and Magic are in a similar position this year in terms of conference finish in the standings, then you're being a homer. 9 out of 10 people who aren't fans of either would view both as a step behind Boston and Miami, currently. Just because the Magic are a bad matchup right now for the Bulls specifically, doesn't mean a whole lot in terms of the teams' outlook for the season and playoffs.

 

I never said the Bulls wouldn't finish near the Magic in the standings. They'll probably indeed finish 4th. What I basically said is that ranking them ahead of Orlando right now is BS because they've done nothing to prove they are better. And again, it's being assumed that the Magic being ravaged by the flu has somehow weakened the team for good. Without the flu, Orlando is at least 18-6, most likely 19-5 and nobody is calling Chicago the better team.

[Cubbies622]

I think the point people are trying to make is that Chicago has looked at least as, if not more, impressive against all other teams except for Orlando. You can not say Orlando is a better team than Chicago just because they seem to play Chicago very well so far. I do not want to face Orlando in the playoffs, more than any other team, but I do not think they are a better team than Boston or Miami, they just do well against Chicago.

[rawaction]

I think the East will be decided by the trade deadline. No idea who the Bulls can go get that's going to be an impact 2 or 3 though. Personally, I don't think of Mayo as a difference maker. I doubt Boston makes any impact moves, but I think Orlando will do their damndest to try. If they could somehow land Paul, I'd put them at 1. Miami is stuck with their team for this year and probably next as well, since they won't have a mid level to use then either. What I'm going to hate watching though, is Carmelo getting dealt to the Knicks. That will put them in the running unfortunately.

 

Carmelo to the Knicks doesn't make that a good playoff team to me. If the trade goes down today, they're probably a 50 win team. But I still don't see them rebounding or defending enough to get past the top 4 teams in the East.

[bukie]

This isn't even me being a homer. I'm pretty sure 9 out of 10 people who aren't fans of either team would tell you Orlando is still the superior team. But we aren't even having this discussion if half our team doesn't come down with the flu right before the road trip out West. If you don't think all four of our losses last week were tied to the team having/getting over the flu then I don't know what to tell you. Without it we go 3-1 at worst over those 4.

If you don't think the Bulls and Magic are in a similar position this year in terms of conference finish in the standings, then you're being a homer. 9 out of 10 people who aren't fans of either would view both as a step behind Boston and Miami, currently. Just because the Magic are a bad matchup right now for the Bulls specifically, doesn't mean a whole lot in terms of the teams' outlook for the season and playoffs.

 

I never said the Bulls wouldn't finish near the Magic in the standings. They'll probably indeed finish 4th. What I basically said is that ranking them ahead of Orlando right now is BS because they've done nothing to prove they are better. And again, it's being assumed that the Magic being ravaged by the flu has somehow weakened the team for good. Without the flu, Orlando is at least 18-6, most likely 19-5 and nobody is calling Chicago the better team.

You are also not taking into account the Bulls playing both the toughest schedule in the NBA to this point, and also being without their second best player for 15 games. With Boozer and Orlando's schedule, Chicago is at least 18-6, most likely 19-5 and nobody is calling Orlando the better team.

[JonJayCutler]

I think the point people are trying to make is that Chicago has looked at least as, if not more, impressive against all other teams except for Orlando. You can not say Orlando is a better team than Chicago just because they seem to play Chicago very well so far. I do not want to face Orlando in the playoffs, more than any other team, but I do not think they are a better team than Boston or Miami, they just do well against Chicago.

 

I don't think Orlando's better than Boston or Miami either, but they're one trade away from being just as good. And even if they don't make a trade, they're still plenty capable of beating both teams in a series, even if it's unlikely. I just don't think the Bulls are there yet.

 

This is all just a result of their 6-game winning streak anyway. It's amazing how confident fans get in their team after going on a bit of a run that included beating the Lakers. Unfortunately it's not going to get better anytime soon because the Bulls schedule is absolute cake for the rest of the month. We'll find out in April/May how good they really are.

[David]

I really don't think the Bulls at 3 is a homer pick either, even though you could easily put Orlando there. We've had the toughest schedule so far, were without Boozer until recently, and are still only a half game worse than Orlando (though they did get screwed by the flu bug).

 

107-78. In Chicago.

On Boozer's first game back.

 

But yes, I'm sure Orlando is 30 points a game better than Chicago at all times, and there is no chance the Bulls could finish higher in the East.

 

I'm sure a full game of Carlos Boozer makes a 30 point difference.

 

 

I'm sure a one game sample size means everything.