Post by pudgejeff on Apr 27, 2009 0:58:21 GMT -8
With the season getting down to the stretch it's about time we start looking at the playoff bound teams and there chances at winning it all. In my first preview I'm gonna give a look into the East which is loaded up top but doesn't have a lot of depth and completely falls of towards the bottom. We'll see if this ends up being good for the top teams by getting them some rest in the playoffs or if there weak schedule's all year and that little added rust they'll have from the layoff will leave them blindsided by the West's champion.
#1 seed Chicago Bulls:
With the MVP and the best young budding superstar in the league teaming up with a great supporting cast this was a team with a chance to challenge for the title. You throw in the mid-season acquisition's of all-star caliber PG Isiah Thomas and future Hall of fame Center Robert Parrish and this team has to be considered the favorite to win there 3rd state title. (With Pippen dislocating his knee it's gonna be tough for them to get home-court advantage but I don't see that stopping this teams march to a championship.)
#2 seed Philadelphia 76ers:
A great defensive team anchored by strong guard play and steady play from veterans Armen Gilliam and Eddie Lee Wilkins. Manute Bol has been a shot blocking machine coming off the bench. There a huge surprise this year and seem to be playing well above there heads. Have the players to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals but if they're gonna challenge the Bulls they need to make a big move before the trade deadline to pick up a dominant 4 man.
#3 seed New York Knicks:
Over the last few weeks the Knicks have been trending straight upwards. They're a team full of gritty veterans that know how to win. Patrick Ewing is a dominant presence inside. They just don't have enough firepower to match the Bulls but they should make for a great series with the 76ers in the Eastern Conference semi's which should be full of great defense and hard fouls.
#4 seed Indiana Pacers:
Reggie Miller. That's all that needs to be said. He has the ability to put this team on his shoulders and carry them through any game. They're a very well rounded team outside of him with upper-tier players at the 3,4 and 5 spots and a young floor general at the 1. They could have stood pat and accepted a 2nd round loss to the Bulls but they don't seem content with that. They traded there 1st round pick in the '95 draft to get a great scorer and veteran leader in Joe Dumars at the point and look to be maybe give the Bulls a push if Reggie goes unconscious. They take Chicago to game 6.
#5 seed Cleveland Cavaliers:
Scared of this?Under new management the Cavs seem to be going in a surprising direction. They are trading away there top talent looking to get younger with picks and high potential young players and some salary relief. They are so far ahead of the teams behind them I can't see them dropping any lower than the 5 seed but expect them to be swept out by Indiana.
#6 seed Orlando Magic:
Maybe the scariest 6 seed of all time. With all-NBA SF Dominique Wilkins, dominating all-star center Shaquille O'neal whose a monster on the inside on both ends of the court and on the boards, and Dennis Rodman cleaning up the rest at the 4 this is a great team. They mortgaged there future early trading for 'Nique but they continued to struggle. In a bold move they gave away a young budding superstar in Nick Anderson to bring in a better PG in Dee brown and another veteran presence in SG Reggie Lewis. It took a few weeks but this team which looks nothing like it did at the start of the season with new starters at all positions except Center seems to have finally meshed. If they truly have, they just may have the pieces to knock off the Bulls but I have a feeling there lack of depth is gonna end up being there achilles heel.
#7 seed Charlotte Hornets:
They've got a great young core to build around starting with Alonzo Mourning, Larry Johnson and PG Mugsy Bougues. But they are just to young and inexperienced to do anything other than a first round exit. With there young talent all signed for a few years all they need to do is get Mugsy resigned and bring in a good SG with there draft pick and they'll be a team to be reckoned with in the next few years.
#8 seed Milwaukee Bucks:
They're outside of the top 8 right now but they're playing well and the Nets are just crumbling after there ill advised trade of superstar Derrick Coleman. Eric Murdock has the Bucks playing very good and they have a great young core to build around. If they add a good player in the draft and make a big splash in FA with there cap room they should be a contender in the next few years. They get the honor of being swept by the Bulls but it should provide good experience for the young group.
I hope you enjoyed the preview and you can look forward to the Western Conference preview in the next few weeks as we close in on the playoffs.
