’14 – ’15 NBA forecast – Eastern Conference
By Brian Boake
Dec 27, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas (17) controls the ball against New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler (6) and New York Knicks power forward Andrea Bargnani (77) during the third quarter of a game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
An inability to clone myself has forced me into posting my NBA forecast for the Eastern Conference all at once. As I agonized over the numbers, I was struck by how tight the playoff race is going to be, particularly for the final spots. The Cavaliers, Bulls and Raptors should dominate the top ranks, while the Bucks, 76ers and Magic will be jockeying for the maximum number of ping-pong balls in the draft lottery. But there will be much contention in the middle, so I expect an interesting season and an exciting final week.
Here’s my rankings, and I hope to hear from you in the Comments.
NBA Eastern Conference - forecast
| TEAM | '13-'14 RECORD | '14-'15 FORECAST | COMMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 33 - 49 | 56 - 26 | From the outhouse to the penthouse - any team with LeBron James on it has to be stronger, & they dumped two #1 draft choices to grab Kevin Love, a wildly prolific scorer & rebounder. Kyrie Irving is a huge talent at point. Their second unit is full of veteran talent like Shawn Marion & Mike Miller. If their rookie coach can adjust to the NBA, & they show they can defend, this is a championship-calibre squad. |
| TorontoRaptors | 48 - 34 | 50 - 32 | full analysis in upcoming post |
| ChicagoBulls | 48 - 34 | 49 - 33 | This bunch is a bit long in the tooth (Pau Gasol, Kirk Hinrich, Mike Dunleavy) & heavily dependent on a triumphant return from injury by Derrick Rose. But if it all works, the Bulls will be big trouble. Energizer Bunny Joachim Noah is back, as are solid pros Jimmy Butler & Taj Gibson. Coach Tom Thibodeau can grind out the wins. |
| Charlotte Bobcats | 43 - 39 | 45 - 37 | A long rebuild is finally over. This team goes 9 deep. Kemba Walker & Al Jefferson are terrific, as is the flaky Lance Stephenson. They need underachievers Bismack Biyombo & Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to make the leap from projects to players. What does Marvin Williams do, exactly? Watch for Jeff Taylor to step up. |
| Washington Wizards | 44 - 38 | 44 - 38 | There's lots to like here. John Wall is rounding into a top rank point guard, Bradley Beal can shoot, & Marcin Gortat is a load in the paint. The bench boasts battle-scarred vets like Paul Pierce & Kris Humphries. I question whether there's enough shooting, however. Why didn't they lock down Trevor Ariza? |
| Miami HEAT | 54 - 28 | 43 - 39 | The Big 3 days are over, & I don't believe they even have a Big 2 anymore. Dwayne Wade isn't going to get magically healthier or younger, & Chris Bosh hasn't been a major scoring threat in several years. Luol Deng & Josh McRoberts are solid "gets", but they will struggle for a playoff berth. |
| Brooklyn Nets | 44 - 38 | 43 - 39 | An interesting mix of players which I expect to mesh in time to grab a playoff berth. They are certainly big enough, & if Deron Williams regains his form, should have sufficient shooting. It's not easy to see where they are going, however. Where are the kids? Being a middling team forever is not fun. |
| Detroit Pistons | 29 - 53 | 42 - 40 | This team is a jump-ball in my mind. Stan Van Gundy's arrival as coach should help, but they still seem unbalanced to me. The Twin Towers offense of Greg Monroe & Andre Drummond hasn't proven itself, & neither has Brandon Jennings on the point. Josh Smith has never been comfortable in MoTown, & their bench has been thrown together from spare parts. Good luck, SVG. |
| New York Knicks | 37 - 45 | 42 - 40 | I've got them in the 40s for wins, but without much conviction. How is this bunch going to stop anyone? Jose Calderon, God bless 'im, will be the victim of constant blow-bys & won't get any help from Bargs or Amar'e. Carmelo is a scorer. I don't think Samuel Dalembert is much of a rim protector anymore. We'll see how long the triangle offense lasts. |
| Atlanta Hawks | 38 - 44 | 41 - 41 | This is exactly the record I called for them last season, & I only missed by 3. They still depend on Kyle Korver's quick release 3-balls, Al Horford's interior scoring, & Paul Millsap everywhere. I like Jeff Teague; if he finds the next level, this squad will win more than they lose. |
| Indiana Pacers | 56 - 26 | 38 - 44 | You've got to feel for Pacers fans. The loss of Paul George to injury, & Lance Stephenson to free agency, is most cruel. Their remaining players can't make up those losses. Roy Hibbert was dreadful in last year's second half, George Hill is a facilitator, not a scorer, & there's only so much David West can do. They need someone to be a pleasant surprise - but who? |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 15 - 67 | 33 - 49 | They won't be a disaster, but nobody's going to Fear the Deer either. Jason Kidd, their new coach, is trying to make Giannis Alphabet a point guard. Shades of Magic Johnson, but the Greek Freak won't be passing to luminaries like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The interior scoring is supposed to come from the likes of John Henson (whom I like), & rookie Jabari Parker. Patience, Bucks fans. |
| Boston Celtics | 25 - 57 | 31 - 51 | Will Rajon Rondo stay quiet through the rebuild, or force a trade? Is he even healthy? Cheer for your kids, Bostonians. You're not that far away from a playoff contender - honest. |
| OrlandoMagic | 23 - 59 | 30 - 52 | Victor Oladipo starts the season injured, which stings. They looked scoring-challenged with him, and will really struggle without. There's talent here; Nick Vucevic is fine up front, & Channing Frye should stretch the floor. But they are counting on rookies (Elfrid Payton, Aaron Gordon) & on the bubble guys like Andrew Nicholson. It won't be enough. |
| Philadelphia76ers | 19 - 63 | 15 - 67 | This team looks more like an NCAA contender than a pro one. Philly fans must be remarkably patient. I suppose it's fun to watch Nerlens Noel commence his career, or hope Joel Embiid's foot heals. If they went any further into the tank, they'd drown. |