Re: HoopsHype Team Rankings - 8/30

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jessen,
Milicic is 18 not 17, played against better competition than Banks and James,
and said by L Brown to be a bigger/quicker version of Danny Manning.
While he's not likely to dominate his first season, he should have an impact.

Yes, the Celtics will be better, and both Banks and apparently Baker
will contribute to that function, but thre's been an upscaling in
the majority of EC teams, so the Celtics competition will be much
more difficult this season.

For instance, Detroit not only has Milicic, but Mehmet Okur, which a fair
number of people are predicting stardom for and a calling him the breakout player
of the year.

And if the Knicks should get Van Exel and a healthy McDyess, they are playoff
bound.

The Sixers could be better with an emerging John Salmons, who was clearly the best

PG in all of the Summer Leagues and dusted your guy Banks.

N Jersey may be set to make a big trading splash for Wallace and possibly Davis,
even without them, they're stll better than the Celtics.

Indiana is certainly improved. Orlando the same, Hornets depend on the health of
Davis and Mashburn, Chicago is dangerous. Cleveland is better.
Even Washington should be improved. Toronto perhaps. There should
definitely be more EC teams contending for the playoffs this season.

One thing to keep in mind about the Celtics. Injuries to Pierce and Walker.
They've
been lucky and healthy so far, but it won't last. Eventually one, if not both,
will
miss a long stretch of games.
Ray

Celtic4Hire@xxxxxxx wrote:

> The reason people will be so wrong in evaluting the Cs is that they don't
> give credit for adding a four year senior in Banks to a team that desperately
> needed a point guard and team depth. Yet, they assume that Detroit will has
> improved THIS season with the addition of their 17 year old rookie, who likely
> won't contribute much this year....
>
> DJessen33
>
> <
>  14. Boston Celtics Another lost summer for the Celtics. They will once
>  again be a two-man show next season.
>  13. Orlando Magic Orlando is still thin at the point guard and center
>  spots, but there is enough talent in the team to be optimistic about
>  this season.
>  12. Indiana Pacers Rick Carlisle took a team with less talent than this
>  one to the Eastern Conference Finals last season.
>  11. Philadelphia 76ers Glenn Robinson is the latest of many candidates
>  to take offensive burden off Iverson. The best of them all, by the way.
>  10. Houston Rockets With Jeff Van Gundy in Houston, Yao Ming will get
>  more touches. And that's good news for the Rockets.
>  9. Detroit Pistons Joe Dumars continues to stockpile talent in Detroit.
>  The Pistons should really give the Nets a fight in the East.>