Taking stock of the Pacers and the summer
The East’s third tier
This is the tier of mediocrity. Like I said, the East’s first tier are playoff teams no matter the conference. If the second tier was in the West, they’d still be in the mix but it would be tough. The four teams in the third tier would be long shots on the far side of the Mississippi. But they aren’t in the West. In the East there are six spots taken, the remaining two will likely be filled by this quartet.
Miami won 44 games a year ago, and very well could this upcoming year too. The Heat are the definition of “good”. They have one all-star (Goran Dragic) but he’s not awe-inspiring. A coach who usually gets the most out of his team (Erik Spoelstra).
And then they have nine other players who would make almost any other team’s rotation. They should expect to make the playoffs, further than that would be an incredible accomplishment, in their current iteration.
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Detroit added around the edges of a depleted team. The Pistons ended the year with a bare cupboard in the backcourt. Then they signed two (Glenn Robinson III and Jose Calderon), drafted two (Khyri Thomas and Bruce Brown) and get Reggie Jackson back from injuries.
Speaking of injuries (including their injury-prone best player: Blake Griffin), Detroit has been crippled by them. 22 different players wore a Piston uniform last year. Even when they are healthy their roster fits together jaggedly. However, they should have realistic hopes of finishing with a winning record…if everyone is able-bodied.
Charlotte is a tease. Kemba Walker is very good and deserves better. They do have six or seven players 26 and younger that you don’t have to squint hard to see team playing roles on playoff teams. But the $38M committed to Nic Batum and Marvin Williams holds them back. Collectively they don’t have a winning mindset, hard to blame them, 175 loses (43.8 per) over the last four years will do that to you.
That’s why their biggest move might pay dividends. While Tony Parker’s best year’s are behind him, he brings an expectancy of success that might rub off on his teammates who have experienced so little of it.
Oh Cleveland, it was a good run. The Cavs still have an All-Star (Kevin Love) but they’re going to have to scrap and claw to reach .500. And since they lose their draft pick if it’s outside the top ten, clawing for 41 wins might not be their motivation come February.
The East’s fourth tier
We’ll breeze through these ones.
Brooklyn and Chicago should both be very pesky, for different reasons. Kenny Atkinson always has his Nets playing hard. They’ll sneak up on teams. Chicago’s offense, at times, will look brilliant. It better because their defense, most of the time, will be atrocious. The addition of Jabari Parker won’t help the defense, but a frontcourt trio of Parker, Wendell Carter, and Lauri Markkanen will be tough to guard.
Kristaps Porzingis is of uncertain status. His presence means everything for New York. Without him the Knicks will struggle, with him the Knicks will struggle a little less. They’re unfortunately not going to be the joke they have been in recent years. Atlanta, on the other hand, will be awful. There’s no remedy on the horizon. Orlando, well, just about every team has a dynamic point guard. The Magic have D.J. Augustin. It’s going to be another tough year in Disney World.