Diesel Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 I think with Shaq Cleveland is now the top team. Boston still has too many question marks regarding who will be there next year and whether or not the aging stars will be healthy. Even last year though Boston struggled with LeBron. Orlando I think got worse no question with losing Hedo(most likely), Alston, and Courtney Lee by replacing them with Vince Carter. I'd much rather have the former 3 guys. Orlando wont be able to exploit those weird mismatches with having two 6'10 guys that shoot threes anymore. Dwight won't have as much of a field day anymore exploiting Varejao and blowing by Illgauskas. Shaq will be able to do a good job defending him. Shaq doesn't have to worry about Dwight hitting any outside jumpshots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lkr Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 (edited) I think Boston is still better depending on how many MPG that Cleveland can get out of Shaq. They are a heavy favorite, but I don't know if they are flat out worse. And Orlando is worse with Vince Carter replacement as well as not being able to dominate the paint now. Dwight Howard isn't too hard to stop either. Pau Ga"Soft", Andrew Bynum, and the free throw line stop him. Edited June 28, 2009 by Lkr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHutch Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 We won 66 games last year, and traded basically nothing for Shaq. Boston, with a healthy Garnett, will be up there, as long as Orlando, but I still think Cleveland is the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren2ThaG Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 3rd best behind Boston and Orlando. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sun Tzu Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 I'm going with a yes, not sure what Boston is going to do this offseason but I think the Cavs will come into the season very strong, I reckon they are a better team than the Celtics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Make It Naaaashty Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 Id say Cleveland is the 2nd best team in the East after the Magic. I think the Cavs can match up with the Celtics fairly easy, but against the Magic they will have problems like they did in the playoffs this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHutch Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 Id say Cleveland is the 2nd best team in the East after the Magic. I think the Cavs can match up with the Celtics fairly easy, but against the Magic they will have problems like they did in the playoffs this year.Yeah, we match up real well with Boston. And we will match up better with Orlando next year IF they don't resign Hedo, who was a HUGE match up problem for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Regime Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 3rd best behind Boston and Orlando. This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bravenewworld Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 Of course they are not. This just makes it so they have some kind of low post answer to D Howard and KG. Although with Mike James and his horrifying coaching ability they will be lucky if this works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beaubois Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 IDK about the Top but they are definitely up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHutch Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 Of course they are not. This just makes it so they have some kind of low post answer to D Howard and KG. Although with Mike James and his horrifying coaching ability they will be lucky if this works. Brown* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viral Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 Orlando is the top team, in my opinion. Cleveland is second. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheriff Shaq Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 Considering the Cavs had the best record in the East last year, and they're getting better without losing much, I'd say they're still the favorite to have the best record. As far as who's the better team, I'd like to give us the edge over the Magic, it might be biased. Losing Turkey-glue allows the Cavs to matchup against the Magic more easily. If they could have finished games in the series last season, they would have had it won even with the mismatches, so I think we've got the edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldChili Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 Don't forget Orlando also got Ryan Anderson in the trade; he's 6-10 and can knock down threes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheriff Shaq Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 (edited) Don't forget Orlando also got Ryan Anderson in the trade; he's 6-10 and can knock down threes. It wasn't exactly that the problem was a big guy that could shoot threes. It was that the two big guys were Turkey-glue and Lewis. Add those two guys with the rest of the team we were spread thin defensively and couldn't matchup. Haven't really seen Anderson play much yet, so I can't really comment on it, all I can say is that if he's a Turkey-glue, than we have problems, but if he's just a guy that can hit a three (although it will cause problems) it won't be as big an issue. Edited June 28, 2009 by Sheriff Shaq Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nissan Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 Orlando and Boston are still better than Cleveland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dash Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 Orlando is the top team especially now with the VC trade and everyone is forgetting what a force Boston is when healthy. Cleveland is the 3rd best team in the East IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Hawk Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 It will not make them the best team in the East.To be honest I am really not feeling this Shaq Trade.Cavs fan better hope this works out, because if it doesnt LeBron is leaving for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jet Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 I still the Orlando is at the top. Cleveland is probably second right behind Orlando. Both teams have acquired star players (well, former star) who still contribute every night, but Dwight Howard is the Defensive Player of the Year and with Shaq old and slower than normal, I don't really think he poses much of a threat against Howard. As of now, the Eastern Conference Champs remain on top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleveland's Finest Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 Well....we were the top team without Shaq. And we virtually lost guys who barely played/were ineffective in the trade for him. Sure, we could use more. But as Shaq said himself we were a damn good team without him. We still need an athletic forward that is only if Danny Green or Christian Eyenga don't play in the rotation. We have two of the most dominant players in the league. We have 3 all-stars from last year in our starting lineup. Not to mention Daniel Gibson will be healthier next year and Verajao has only shown signs of improving. (We should be able to resign him) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted June 28, 2009 Owner Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 Without Turkoglu, Orlando and Cleveland are probably on the same level of play. At full health, Boston is the top team. We can sit here all day and talk about how healthy Garnett will be next season, but without Phoenix's training staff, we can also do that with Shaq. We saw what they did with him and Grant Hill. It's hard for me not to say they have the best trainers in the league. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YugoRocketsFan Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 Yes, they are easily the best team in the East Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Hawk Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 Without Turkoglu, Orlando and Cleveland are probably on the same level of play. At full health, Boston is the top team. We can sit here all day and talk about how healthy Garnett will be next season, but without Phoenix's training staff, we can also do that with Shaq. We saw what they did with him and Grant Hill. It's hard for me not to say they have the best trainers in the league.Agreed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smoke Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 Shaq is still a dominant force down low. He played great last year for the Suns and all he needs to do is keep it up and find chemistry with LeBron. The Cavs should be right back at number 1 for the East next season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DWhiTex34 Posted June 28, 2009 Report Share Posted June 28, 2009 Celtics are still better when healthy. CelticsCavaliersMagic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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