G9.
Pistons GM
- Messages
- 6,172
Pre-Season Power Rankings: Eastern Conference Top 10.
By
NC, G9.
1
NC: The Knicks were busy on the trade market over the past few days. They have dealt themselves into a core of Malik Rose, Artis Gilmore, Facundo Pinero, Matt Bouldin, and Bruce Ellington. They have plenty of depth too and youth to move if they want to improve their roster even more. They are more early favorites to win it all this season.
G9: A, A-, B+, A-, A- starting defenders. A number of double-digit scorers. Some of the league's premier rebounders. The New York Knicks can do it all - and while they don't have an R.J. Barrett-esque superstar, they have a squad full of players who can compete among the best. Expect the Knicks to stay atop the East throughout the season and into the Playoffs.
2
NC: The Wizards were handed Cliff and Mobley this off season, so their starting five significantly improves compared to last season. AI and Dell Curry still are the leaders of the team, but better help on the wing and in the post will help elevate this team from 8 seed last year to top 3 seed this year.
G9: Cliff Omoruyi, Dain Dainja, and Isaiah Mobley may be at the tail-end of their careers, but they are still some of the better players at their respective positions. Marshawn Powell and Dell Curry can be expected to contribute significantly at the 2 and 4, as they are both in the prime of their careers. And it is all tied together by reigning MVP and 3x Championship Winning Point Guard, Allen Iverson. Top 3 lock.
3
NC: Indiana still has RJ Barrett and Tyrese Maxey, so they will be a major threat come playoff time. If big Z can carry this 25 ppg play from the pre season into the regular season this Pacers team will be more dangerous than last season. Many teams in the East upgraded this off season while the Pacers look to have stayed stagnant. Maybe Beats can put together a mid year trade an upgrade at SG.
G9: I'm not sure Big Z will be dropping 25ppg in the regular season unless Beats continues with the inside offense, and I'm still not sure if he should be running inside in the first place? I really think Beats should maximize on his shooters and leave his bigs to boarding and putbacks. Regardless, with this much talent, it shouldn't take long for Marko to find a Depth Chart that can keep this team near the top.
4
NC: The Hawks lost Pinero, but have a Greeme ball type roster now. With Rodman and Lucas locking down the post and the trio of Barnes, Dillard, and Aaron Craft draining 3's this team is looking to stay in the mix at the top of the East.
G9: The Rodman/Lucas combo is going to be very nice upfront for Atlanta. Many teams around the league are hurting to find a big with better than B rebounding, while the Hawks will be running A-/B+ starters. Lucas and Rodman are no joke on defense either. With the post on lock, the Hawks will rely on Barnes, Dillard, and Craft to win their respective battles - battles that will likely end in their favor. Similar to the Knicks, there is no super-superstar, but there is plenty of talent and a GM who knows how to win.
5
NC: Two Words. Cole Anthony. The former Tar Heel and Chicago Bull is looking to carry New Orleans to their 2nd title. Anthony now has a worse supporting cast compared to his time in Chicago, but maybe Henny has enough magic to get this team to make a deep playoff run. Gediminas Orelik will be the biggest X-Factor for the Pelicans.
G9: I do think Cole Anthony is enough to carry New Orleans to a top seed in the East. Henny somehow added Anthony this past off-season and has a decent amount of talent around him. Gediminas Orelik was snagged on an MLE, and despite having some questionable fringes in the FAcy pool, he held strong through TC and looks like he can contribute significantly to a New Orleans playoff run. If Cole gets injured though...
6
NC: I didn't know where to put them since they are shopping star Steve Nash and role player Michael Snaer. Assuming they make zero deals, Nash and co are probably good enough to get this team into the playoffs. I do not expect this team to repeat as Eastern Conference Champs.
G9: Malik Rose gone?
Steve Nash OTB? Michael Snaer OTB? Looks like Chicago might be taking a step back. Still, as NC said, Nash and co are probably more than enough to keep this team in the hunt - but things may get more interesting in Chi-town if any more trades are made.7
NC: John Havlicek is coming off his best training camp, and finally has a great running mate in Hristo Zahariev. That duo plus the play of Sherman, Trent, and Jamail Jones should have Brooklyn back in the conversation as a playoff team for the first time in a while.
G9: Yoo, John Havlicek looks good. In Pre-Season the man dropped 30/10/5 and led the league in SPG at 2.6. The Nets also added Hristo Zahariev this off-season and he looked similarly insane in Pre-Season. The surrounding talent in Brooklyn isn't anything to get too excited about, but it is nothing to scoff at either. The team is so deep that the only player on the roster with Championship experience doesn't even see the floor. If management can package some depth/picks/cash to beef up the cast around their duo - the Nets could be in serious contention.
8
NC: The Heat find themselves in this position almost every year. Tariq and their plethora of good guards led by Ivanovic should be enough to buy them a playoff spot. The Heat might be relying too much on a patchwork frontcourt but maybe it'll work out.
G9: Tariq and Ivanovic will outscore a number of PG/SF combos across the league but I'm not sure how well the rest of the team will do. Miami's roster consists of a lot of rotational players and not a whole lot of starter action It will be interesting to see how they mesh around the two key players.
9
NC: Three words. Tommy Mason Griffin. TMG had a fantastic playoff performance, and is hoping him and Abram can take that next step forward. Minnesota will need an upgrade in the frontcourt if they want to move up these rankings.
G9: NC might be disappointed to hear that Chris plans on benching TMG this year. TMG took a few steps back in TC, specifically on the defensive side, and Chris plans to look to his other players to step up this season. Abram is coming off a good TC - but Wayne Chism just took a tremendous step backwards with a -4 TC. Had Chism held strong in TC Minny may have been looking at a top 5 seed. Instead, expect Chris to experiment with his depth chart as he tries to figure out what to do with this team, both now, and in the future.
10
NC: Foreman's stock is low right now, so I'm buying tons of shares. Fisher got paid and the trio of Bradford/Hudson/Maker might be enough for them to steal a playoff spot. I believe Foreman knows what he is doing and one of these years people will be proven wrong... maybe this is the year.
G9: Foreman has been trying to run the inside game with his solid scoring bigs and a disher in Fisher and it hasn't worked as of yet. With the switch to a balanced offense Fisher's production is back where it should be and the rest of the squad might be able to combine to outscore a handful of opponents. I'm not sure it is enough to make the playoffs in a tough East, but if a few teams ahead of Philly experience injuries or trade out of the race, we might see the 6ers sneak in.
