Reacting To NBA’s Top 10 Offseason Eastern Conference Power Rankings? | Pistons Top 5?!

Reacting To NBA’s Top 10 Offseason Eastern Conference Power Rankings? | Pistons Top 5?!

What is up, guys? Welcome to Pistons Talk podcast. Hope you guys are having a great Saturday night. I did want to bring you guys some weekend podcast, some weekend content. Before we do kind of jump into the podcast, uh we’ll be talking a lot of Eastern Conference, reacting to an NBA.com article, uh ranking the team, just a power ranking list we’ll be reading today. I want to thank people that watch on YouTube. Had a record month in the offseason in July. Uh haven’t had numbers like that since I think last year around this time. So you guys crushed it this off season. Appreciate everyone watching on YouTube, giving us thumbs up, comments, shares, all that great stuff. People that listen on the audio side, you guys broke a record as well. over 5,000 podcast downloads last month. We’ve never done that. We didn’t do that all this season during the playoffs. 5,000. That’s a new record. The audio listeners, whether you’re listening on Apple Podcast, Spotify, where or wherever you get your podcast, over 5,000 is a big accomplishment. One, and two, it’s the off season. There were no games. that that that’s amazing to me that you guys helped us reach over 5,000 podcast downloads. Appreciate you guys. Wherever you listen to us, wherever you support us, just know we love the support. We love interacting with you. Um, and you guys make this so much fun as a genuine Piston fan just like yourself. Um, turned a hobby into a full-time job because of you guys. I wouldn’t be anywhere without you. But in today’s episode, what we’ll be discussing is an NBA.com Eastern Conference offseason power ranking. We’re going to kind of be going over uh this power ranking and where the Detroit Pistons were ranked in this one. Um I was kind of surprised when I read this article this week. I’m sure you guys um if you’ve seen the power ranking, I know there was a lot of discussion uh with where the Pistons were ranked. Some of you thought that it should be a little bit higher, maybe a little bit lower. Um, and that’s what lists are for. We’re going to debate. We’re going to have discussions. So, let’s get into um this list by MBA.com. I am going to be making myself, if you’re watching live on YouTube right now, a little bit smaller. So, don’t freak out if you just see my face kind of get smaller. But, here we go. And I’m completely out of the frame. I am really bad at technical directing. Um, it’s a big reason why I never uh offered to do it when I was at uh Woodward Sports. I just never wanted to do it because I was so bad at it. But, um, here’s the list I was referring to. Says offseason power ranking Cavs Knicks leading the way in the East. Uh, this was written by a reporter of John, uh, Schuman. John, if I butchered your last name, I apologize. says, “I am terrible with last names.” But we’re going to be reading John’s article. He kind of goes over um why he believes that the Eastern Conference is going to have another uh losing record against the West. And I guess 23 out of the 26 seasons, the Western Conference has had a better record. I I think most of us know that the West is just ridiculous. Like some of the teams like when you you look from like top to bottom like 40 50 win teams are like fighting for like eight seeds or playing in tournaments like the West is just so stacked that I I kind of feel bad for Western Conference teams that you know don’t have like a quote unquote contender. But it kind of goes over that kind of goes over how, you know, the East this year without Jason Tatum, Cyrus Hallebertton, and Damen Lillard, um, is, you know, going to be weaker. Obviously, this article was written a couple of, uh, I want to say last week because Dame has been traded since then, or not traded, but he um, got waved and then he signed with Portland. Yeah. When was this actually written? Had to be a couple. Oh, July 30th. Okay, it makes a little bit of sense. Maybe he didn’t edit his article. Anyways, I’m rambling. I do apologize, but we’re gonna kind of be going into his power ranking. So, let’s start with number one. He’s got the Cavs. Apparently, they are up four spots since last week. So, last season, they had a 64-18 record. They were the number one uh seated team in the East under Kenny Atinson. Uh they had the number one offensive rating and they had the number um eight defensive rating and they had a pretty good net rating as well. If you guys don’t really know what that is, I’m not going to get into it too much. Uh key additions this offseason for them, Lonzo Ball and Larry Nance Jr. kind of interested to see what does happen with Lonzo Ball, especially after he was out for it seems like three years, but I know it wasn’t that long. Um he was out with the injury. He did come back this season. Looked pretty good, but you could tell there was some rust on there. I think Larry Nance is a a decent ro rotation piece for them. It’s not they’re not going to ask him to start games, but he probably does come off the bench for them. Now, guys, they lost. Ty Jerome, that that was their backup guard. Um they lost him, lost Isaac Aloro as well. Really good defender for them. So, it’ll be interesting to see um how that does work um if you guys do know about Isaac Alcoro and the type of defender he is. So, he goes on to say about the Cavs that their offense scored 7.3 points per 100 possessions. Uh, then the league average, the 10th best differential for any team in 29 seasons for which we have the playbyplay data. He’s he’s kind of just going over, you know, how potent the Cleveland Cavaliers offense uh was this past season. And when you win 64 games, you’re probably going to be the number one seed in the East. I don’t really have any issues with him having the Cavs number one. Personally, you guys, I I don’t I think you could make an argument that the Knicks could definitely be up here as well with the type of season they had. Um, but one of the key questions that he does have, it looks like, is um, can they push the defense into the top five? I personally don’t think they can. That’s just my opinion as a Piston fan. I think Evan Mobley is a hell of a talent, but I mean, when you have guards like a Donovan Mitchell and a Darius Garland, I don’t really know if this is a top five defense. I think they can kind of tread in the top 10. I don’t think it’s a top defensive top five defensive team. That’s just my opinion. Uh you guys may think that the Cavs could possibly be a a top five defensive team. I just don’t see it. but he does have them number one um in his Eastern Conference power rankings. Number two, New York Knicks. So, they were two last week. They had a record last season of 51 and 31. Their offensive rating was fifth best at 117.3 and their defensive rating was 13th um for them. So, key additions, Jordan Clarkson, which I think is actually pretty big. And they’re getting Gershon Yavelli from the Philadelphia 76ers, which I like that for them as just a basketball fan. Taking my piston head off for a second. Trying to not be completely biased uh for this whole podcast today. But I do like the additions. Key departure is done. I I feel like you could put Tom Tibido as a key departure. You kind of fired your coach. um you know, key outstanding free agents. Precious Aua, he’s still UFA. Uh campaign still a UFA as well. And they’re bringing in Mike Brown. Now, here’s my thing as a Piston fan, you guys. I honestly think that the Knicks will probably be kind of the same. I feel like Mike Brown and Tom Tibido, that’s not that big of a difference. speaking like just philosophywise, Mike Brown is a defensive coach, um I think the Knicks will be a top top two, top three team in the East this year. I really do. Um you know, watching them in the playoffs against the Detroit Pistons, I thought it was a really good battle test for the Pistons to see where they actually need to uh get and you got to play one of the better Eastern Conference teams. But he does have them as number two. Um, one of the key questions he does have for the Knicks is will the ball move more? That’s that’s something when you watch the Knicks, it’s a lot of isos. The way they use Cad is weird. I I I thought that they would use him a little bit more in the post more or do more pick and pops, but um, we even saw it in like kind of the the Pistons Nick series like Cat really didn’t pick and pop as much as he probably could have with Jaylen Brunson. I know Mel Bridges has got an extension and you know a majority of their team um is coming back. I mean Precious Achua who didn’t really play that much in campaign which um they do have Tyler Koh. I don’t really know if he’s ready for backup minutes but I still feel the Knicks are going to be a pretty good team um in the East this year. Don’t really know about you guys, but we’re going to go on to number three. And I think this is where the list gets pretty controversial. Okay, I’m going to take a quick water break. and then we’ll get into the Orlando Magic being number three. Okay, so number three is the Magic. They went up seven spots from last week. Last year they had a 41 and 41 record and you kind of have to address why they were 41 and 41. They were so injured it wasn’t funny. Whether it was Paulo Beno, France Wagner, I I believe they both had oblique tears. So, you know, their their season was just such an up and down roller coaster. um of their their lead point guard Jaylen Suggs. He had a tailbone injury. I mean, he they were just so injured. Like, it it it kind of blows my mind that they were still able to stay competitive in the East and, you know, challenge the Celtics pretty damn well if you do ask me. Offensive rating, they were the one of the worst offensive teams um in the NBA, you guys. The 27th ranked offensive rating. I think that’s a big reason why they decided to trade for Desmond Bane. Uh defensive rating, they were number two in the entire NBA last year. So, they have an elite defense. They just can’t score the basketball to save their lives. And I think the reason why they traded so many picks for Desmond Bane is they’re hoping that he can kind of, you know, be maybe a second option, third option for them. Um they have some intriguing players on the roster. So, key additions obviously Desmond Bane, Tus Jones, good backup point guard. Uh, key departures, Katavius Caldwell, Pulp, Cole Anthony, and Gary Harris. I thought Gary Harris was going to be a Orlando Magic player for life, but obviously, uh, they had to move on there. I think you can debate whether or not Orlando’s going to be, you know, top three in the East. I see a lot of people kind of crown them as the third best team in the East right now. And I think a key factor for that is Desmond Bane one, but I also think that people forget when the Magic were relatively healthy this season before they had all the injuries. um they were I think the third or the fourth seed very very early on um in the season, but then Paulo got injured and then they kind of, you know, went from like being a a top three, top four team in the East to not even kind of being in the playoff picture because of the injuries. And I think that’s why so many people, including people at NBA.com, have them as high as three on this list. To me, I have to see how Desmond Bane kind of flows with Apollo Vancero, flows with the France Wagner, Jaylen Suggs, and all those guys down there. I think they will be at least bare minimum top four team in the Eastern Conference this year. Defensively, I think you know what you’re getting. offensively I I think is where a lot of people have their questions because uh there will be nights where they just can’t score the basketball. They can’t hit a three to save their lives. I think they’re really hoping Desmond Bank can really help them maybe be like around, you know, 15 to 20 in terms of offensive rating, but they have the Magic number three. Uh he questions, can Fr Wagner fix a shot? I’m not sure about that. If he can, that that would be really dangerous for the Magic. If he can actually hit a three-point shot, that would be really dangerous. But even if he doesn’t ever develop a league average three-point shot, he’s still a pretty good basketball player in my opinion. Um, I think there’s debate who’s better right now between Fran Wagner and Paulo Van Carol, but it’s off seasonason, so the timeline is like really weird right now. And I don’t even know how it’s popping up in my timeline. I’m a Piston fan, but I see a lot of Magic fans actually talking about this right now, which I was like, “Oh, that’s interesting. Guy that you drafted first overall, you don’t think he’s better than a guy that you drafted in the lottery?” That’s that’s interesting. But let’s go to number four. Number four, the Detroit Pistons. So, Pistons actually moved up five spots from last week. Uh, this year they were 44 and 38. They had the 14th best offensive rating and they had the 10th best defensive rating. Now, this warms my heart. We kind of had a league average offense. We had a top 10 defense, you guys. I honestly think if we had a just a full year of Assar Thompson healthy right off the gate, I think this could be a top seven, top eight defense. I I really do. Key additions this year for us, Caris, Duncan Robinson, key departures, uh Dennis Schroeder, Tim Hardway Jr., um key outstanding free agents Malik Beasley and one of the things that they want to know about the Pistons, key question, can they reduce the turnovers in fouls? That is a very good question. Can the Pistons take care of the basketball? God, I hope so. I really hope so, you guys. Uh I I feel like this season there were so many games you guys listen to these postgame podcasts that we do during the season. I felt like we’d be looking at these box scores and it’s 15 20 turnovers. We’re like, “Oh, that’s why we lost tonight.” Or if we did win a game, it’d be like 27, 28 turnovers and we win maybe by like two to five points. We’re like, man, if we can take care of the basketball, we wouldn’t have to be in these pressure situations in the fourth quarter. I really hope we can take care of the basketball. I hope Cade can take better care of the basketball, which I I think he will. I think all these guys right now are working on their game. I’m sure Kate’s working on handles, jump shots, all that good stuff. Um, in the fouling, that that’s another thing, man. I mean, how many games did we come up here and talk about the early fouls with the bigs, the early fouls with Assar or with Cade? like if if they can, you know, manage their turnovers. Not saying like you’re going to go from like almost leading the league in turnovers to like being the best, but if you can manage them, like I could live with, you know, 10 to 12 a night. Like I could live with that. Once you kind of get in the 20s, it’s like that’s pretty hard to win a basketball game. And the following that that’s something that I’m sure JB Bicker staff and the Detroit Pistons assistant coaches will be working with them exclusively during camp during preeason. Um the the following man that’s that’s a thing where I I I was concerned last year because they were getting into a lot of foul trouble especially guys like Duran that would get two fouls in like five minutes of playing time. Hopefully JD can um not react as quickly and be more disciplined in terms of defending and not getting in foul trouble. But I love seeing the Detroit Pistons are number four on this Eastern Conference offseason power ranking list. So let’s go to number five. Number five, the Atlanta Hawks. Okay, so they’re up eight spots from last week. They had a record of 40 and 42. They had an offensive rating of 113.7. That was 17th best this year in the NBA. And they had a defensive rating of 114.8th best in the NBA. And I feel a big reason why they had a at least an average defense. Wasn’t because of Trey Young. Was because of Dyson Daniels. Dyson Daniels to me is that team’s whole defense. I think they got better. I think the Kila Alexander Walker is really going to help them. They had a pretty good off season and we’ll look at it right now. The key additions Alexander Walker, Luke Canard, Kristoffs Borzingis. I think this is going to be a much improved team. But the thing with Atlanta, Atlanta reminds me of a cousin in a family reunion or a cookout that if they just got their together, you know, the rest of the family would talk about them positively, but they could they just never get their together. Uh, key departures, Click Capella, Caris Levert, Trey Man, Larry N Jr., and George Niang, but they have them ranked at number five. I guess a key question they do want to know, how could can they be defensively? Yeah, I’m I’m interested with that, too. I’m interested to see, you know, is K KP Christophorz actually 100% healthy? I don’t know what the hell was going on during the playoffs, but the guy couldn’t even breathe um and the Celtics were trying to play him. I think Lucard is a good bench piece for three-point shooting. Hopefully, you know, Nquila Alexander Walker can help them out defensively, but I I think this is kind of going to be a middle of the pack defensive team, but they do have Trey Young to kind of retool a little bit. Um, you know, trading for KP, Kristoff Porzingis, Male Alexander Walker, get Jaylen Johnson back next year. This should be a very interesting team. I think they can kind of float in between a top six team um if everything goes correctly with them, but I could definitely see this being like an eight seed. I definitely could. It’s just the the Hawks to me, they have to prove it to me. Um and they just really haven’t been a solid basketball team since that Eastern Conference run from a few seasons ago. They’ve just kind of, you know, been been in that play in tournament uh situation it seems like every year. Number six, Milwaukee Bucks. So last year, 48 and 34. They had the 10th best offensive rating and the 12th best defensive rating. Key additions, Miles Turner. Man, that that one is going to be hard to get used to. Obviously, Miles Turner is still going to be in the Detroit Pistons division, but Miles Turner in a Bucks uniform, it’s going to take some getting used to. after seeing him in a Pacers uniform for so many years. Cole Anthony, public enemy number one if I’m being honest. If you’re a Piston fan, if you know, you know. And Gary Harris, Gary Harris is going to be in the Central Division. So Gary Harris is a little closer to home. He’ll be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He departures. Damen Lillard, the bio of Damen Lillard’s contract to me is still puzzling. Brook Lopez, he’s going out west. and Pat Coneton, uh, who’s a pretty solid rotational piece. I don’t know if you guys remember. I’m I’m rambling like crazy right now, but Pat Coneton just went eight during the last game of the season. I don’t know if you guys remember, he had like I believe 40 points. Um, but it was just like a bunch of G-League guys out there. But they got the Bucks number six, which I think is kind of generous given the departure of Damen Lillard. But the key question, how much was Lillard limiting them defensively? I think replacing Brook Lopez with Miles Turner, I think Giannis will be able to, you know, play with him in a similar way. Uh, I feel like Miles is a little bit more mobile than Brook Lopez is at this stage of his career. So, that’ll be interesting to see. Uh I think the biggest issue and the key questions like he’s talking about Damen Lillard living at defense. My question is how confident are they in that point guard room because that point guard room is pretty thin. Um I mean Cole Anthony isn’t like a starting quality point guard. He’s more of a backup or reserve. Like they don’t really have a legitimate like starting point guard where you kind of feel comfortable. But I guess when you have Giannis and he’s a point forward and he initiates like 99.9% of your offense, you’re probably not too worried there. But I do see the Bucks kind of taking a step back. I still think they’ll be a top six team um in the East personally. Um, but losing Dame and kind of having the retool, losing Brooke, um, and Pat Coneton, it’ll be interesting to see how the Bucks do, especially since Doc Rivers is still coaching them. Um, that should be another key question. Does Doc Rivers get fired this year? Uh, man, I don’t know how that guy keeps getting jobs. I really don’t, you guys. I really don’t. So, let’s go to number seven. Number seven, which I feel is very generous, Philadelphia 76ers. So, they’re up 13 spots from last week. They have a record of 24 and 58. Uh, going back to the process Sixers, they had an offensive rating 23 last year, defensive rating 26 last year. They were just one of the worst teams in basketball last year. Um, and they had guys like a Paul George, like a Dwell. They just didn’t play basketball games. So, key additions, VJ Edgecomb, number three overall pick. I think VJ Edgecom was the right pick for the Sixers. He’s going to be a really good player. Uh, Trenton Watford, kind of an under the radar signing by them. Played for the Brooklyn Nets last year. I don’t really know if uh too many of you guys actually know who that is, but that’s okay. um key departures, Gershon Yaveelli, they just didn’t even remotely offer him, I guess, anything significant. That’s why he left. And they saw a RFA situation with one time Piston Quinton Grimes. Um be interested to see, you know, what kind of number he does get there. But they got the 76 or number seven. Interested to see what the key question is here. Uh what does George have left? Oh man, that’s funny. Um what does beat have left. Why are we picking on podcast P over here? I think the 76ers whole season is health dependent and I mean I think they brought back Kyle Lowry. He’s got to be in his 40s by now, man. Like 76ers are such a weird team. Like I guess if they do make the playoffs, maybe they’re a fun first round matchup, but like are there any teams in the East at the top like the Knicks or the Cavs? Like are even the Magic or the Pistons? Like are they really that worried about the 76ers? Because there’s no way Joel Embiid is playing 70 plus games. If they get like 50 or 40 games out of him, they’d probably be happy. Uh Paul George, I think he already got hurt. I read that he he’s gonna be re-evaluated in 8 to 12 weeks. He hurt himself working out. Like that’s bad if if you’re a 76ers fan, man. Like I I would probably just be asking for a rebuild at this point. Like you got VJ Edgecom. Tyrese Maxi is a fun player. Just build around Tyrese Maxi and BJ Edgecom as your back back court feature. see what he can get for Embiid or something. Um, number seven, I think, is extremely generous by NBA.com. Let’s go to number eight. Uh, the Miami Heat. So, they’re up 10 spots uh since last week. Uh, they had a record of 37 and 45. They had the 21st offensive rating, had the number nine defensive rating. So, top 10 defense, kind of bottom of the league in terms of offensive rating. Key additions Norman Powell key departures Robinson and Kyle Anderson. I do like the Norman Powell move for them. They got involved in that John Collins trade. I think Norman Pal will be a really big addition for them. Obviously, they did trade Duncan Robinson to the Detroit Pistons. It’s funny they put key additions and Simony Fontio’s name is nowhere to be found. The disrespect. That’s kind of funny. disrespect on tech. I’m just having too much fun on this podcast today. Obviously, they lost Kyle Anderson. Um, what is the key question? Can they get more inside? I mean, you got Kilawware, you got Bam, so you’re probably still doing that two big lineup, which I think it works with a Kiloware and a Bamabio. I think Norman Powell uh will help you, you know, get buckets. Uh, but with the Heat, I think they’re one of those just teams in the East that you can never truly count out. Um, losing Jimmy Butler and they kind of retoled with Andrew Wiggins and all those guys down there. I I think the Heat will at least be a entertaining, you know, top eight team in the East. I think it’s health dependent, but I’m kind of waiting for them just to pull the band-aid and try to maybe rebuild. I don’t think Pat Riley ever will as long as he’s in charge down there. But they got the Heat number eight. Number nine, Indiana Pacers. Didn’t really uh surprise me whatsoever. Obviously losing Tyrese Hallebertton. They’re down one spot from last week. Uh last year they had a 50 and 32 record, had the ninth best offense, had the 14th best defense. Uh key additions, Jay Huff, Grand Rapids gold legend. So, after lowballing Miles Turner, they decide they’re going to sign a former GLeague um center, he got called up, got signed with the Grizzlies. So, Jay Huff is going to be the Pacers starting center probably. Miles Turner, key departure, really big key departure. Um and a key outstanding free agent, Thomas Bryant. Pretty sure I saw that he got a deal overseas. just don’t know if he’s going to take it or not. But biggest question for them, um, how well can the system run without Hallebertton? I think that’s what everyone’s thinking. Like I still feel Indiana is going to be somewhat competitive in the East. I don’t think they’re going to be the 15th seated uh team in the the Eastern Conference. I don’t especially with, you know, guys still on that roster like you still have Pascal Seakum. Um, you still have TJ McConnell, Andrew Nebart, who I think is going to get a lot of usage without Hallebertton out there. Um, I I I still see the Pacers being a top a top eight team in the East if I if I did have to just fire off something right off the top of my head right now. But, you know, maybe they can get hot, catch lightning in a bottle again. I feel like they’re one of those teams that kind of just coast during the regular season and then when it gets like around April they can just kind of turn on the Jets and just shock everybody. But hopefully they can stay healthy this year. I think that was the biggest reason um why they were the four seed because they they just weren’t healthy. Like in December they weren’t even in the playoff picture. They were like out of the playing tournament. Um they didn’t really get healthy until after Christmas and they kind of just were just winning like crazy. Let’s go to number 10. Number 10. the Toronto Raptors. So, they’re up 11 spots from last week. Key additions, Colin Murray Boils, number nine pick this year’s draft. Key departures, none. Uh, key outstanding free agents, Chris Buchche. So, the Raptors are a very interesting team. And the reason why I say they’re interesting because I don’t know what the hell they’re doing. Um, they have some guys on the roster that I like. Scotty Barnes obviously still there. RJ Barrett, Emanuel Quickley. Um I think Colin Murray Boils will be a fun player for them. They decided to trade for Brandon Ingram and I felt like that was their splash this year. Um they’ve lost so many players in free agency. Um I think they’re like, you know what, we’re going to trade for Brandon Ingram and extend him and that that’ll just be our free agency. Um I don’t really know what to make of the Raptors. They could either be really good or really bad. I I I it’s it’s just a team where like there’s a lot of collective talent. I’m just not really sure how they’re all going to gel well together because there’s one basketball and you have a lot of guys on this roster um that need a lot of touches and it’s a lot of isolation. But it’ll be interesting to see kind of where uh the Raptors may be. Could they be a playing team? Could they be a sneaky team in the East? Maybe. I’m not really sure. Key question, does Brandon Ingram fit? Yeah, exactly. Like I don’t really know how you have an RJ Barrett, a Brandon Ingram, and a Scotty Barnes, Emanuel Click. Like there there there’s so many guys on this roster that are very talented, but I just don’t really know if they’re all going to gel together. But they got the Raptors number 10. Maybe they can make the playoffs. Maybe they can be a surprise team. Be better than they were last year. Number 11, Chicago Bulls. down nine spots from last week. They had a record of 39 and 43. They had the 20th best um offensive rating last year and they have the 19th best defensive rating. Now, key additions, Isaac Ouro, which I I think right away their defense is going to get better. Uh key additions, their draft pick number 12. I’m probably going to butcher this one. Looks like Noah Essugene um was their number 12 overall pick. Key departures, Lonzo Ball, key outstanding free agents still. Josh Giddy. Uh man, these RFAS are just getting screwed over. I mean, Josh Giddy, Quinnon Grimes, Jonathan Kaminga. I mean, the list goes on. I kind of feel bad for these RFAS, you guys. I really do. Um, the Bulls are always one of those teams where it’s like maybe they make the playin, maybe they make some noise, but I’m not like not really too like worried about them in the East. I know they kind of um got better after All-Star break and Josh Giddy was a big reason for that. Uh key questions, how good could Matas Bazllis be? Yeah, it’s year two of Matas Bazellis. I mean, can can he take a step? Can he be a bigger uh intrical piece with the Bulls? I’m not really sure. Um, and they extended Billy Donovan. Like I I I really don’t know what the Chicago Bulls are doing. I don’t think the Bulls know what they’re doing. But let’s go on to number 12. Uh, the Boston Celtics. They’re down three spots from last week. They’re coming in at number 12. They had a 61 and 21 record last season at the second best offensive rating and the fourth best fourth best defensive rating, excuse me. Key additions, Anthony Simons and George Niang. uh key departures Drew Holidayiday Christophs Porzingis and Luke Cornet and he outstanding free agent in Horford. So let’s kind of get into the Celtics. So Jason Tatum towards Achilles. I think everyone knows that I feel that there’s going to be a lot of people under the same opinion as me. The Celtics will be significantly worse this season because they lost their star player in Jason Tatum. They still have Jaylen Brown. They they still have Derek White. Anthony Simons if they decide to keep him because there’s been reports that they’re trying to flip him, which maybe, you know, the Celtics just kind of have a a retool year. Maybe they can get a high draft pick. I don’t know. Watch them get the first overall pick. Kind of be like a Dallas Mavericks type You know, like you kind of trade your best player or you know, your one player gets hurt and then you get rewarded with the a first overall pick. as the last thing Boston needs is another top pick. I could so see that happening though. If it does, I won’t be surprised. Uh George Nyang, you know, good just role player. Um can step up if you need him to. You know, losing Drew Holiday, Kristoffs Porzingis. Um that new CBA is just making teams make trades that they probably didn’t want to make in the first place. So Drew Holidayiday is in Portland. Chris Tops is in Atlanta. Luke Corette is in San Antonio. I think the L Cornet uh loss is actually pretty huge. He played really big minutes for them as a backup reserve center. Um now he’s going to be backing up Victor WByama um in San Antonio. And then Al Horford, I don’t really know if he’s going to sign with the Warriors. Everything’s pointing for him to sign with Golden State, but there’s also talk of him possibly retiring. He is getting up there in age. I think he’s 39 or 40 or 38. Who knows? I don’t have his age pulled up in front of me, but I know he’s kind of getting up there in age. I think the key question, uh, what do they have inside? I I really don’t know. I mean, you kind of look at their front court depth, uh, it’s pretty bleak. Um, it it’ll be interesting to see without Jason Tatum. How much can Jaylen Brown step up? I think that would be my key question. How much can Jaylen Brown step up in Jason Tatum’s absence? I’m not entirely sure. Um, could I see the Celtics being a playing team? Yes. Could I see them missing the playoffs? Yes. It kind of depends like how they gel well. You know, can Derek White take more offensive abilities? Uh offensive responsibilities? I didn’t even say responsibilities, I said abilities. I’m just getting tired of this podcast. I apologize, you guys. Um can Derek White step up? Um could Jayla Brown step up? Uh do they keep Anthony Simons? Could he be a a nice number two option for them? So be interesting to kind of see what the Celtics do. And I think it’s all dependent if they keep uh Anthony Simons or not. If they don’t, then I could see them possibly missing the playoffs just because that that’s a lot to ask out of Jaylen Brown and Derek White. And they got a lot weaker um on the inside, especially at the center position. And that could see a lot of teams just attacking their centers uh because, you know, you don’t have that seven foot shot blocker like a Luke Corette. So, they could definitely take a step back this year. But wouldn’t surprise me if they, you know, kind of flirted with that play in to like eight seed. Number 13, the Charlotte Hornets. So Charlotte last year 19 and 63 had one of the worst offenses last year. They were the 29th ranked offense and they had the 24th ranked defense. Key additions, Kyle Canipple, number four overall pick, Colin Ston, Pat Coneton, Spencer Dwey, and Mason Plumbley. So, you know, the Hornets actually had a pretty solid off season. If you do ask me, you’re getting some bets in Colin Ston, Mason Plumbley, and the one-time Pistons, Spencer Denwitty, Pat Coneton, who I think is be a really fun player off the bench for them. You know, key departures, Mark Williams, and Yousef Nerkage. So, I think the Hornets will be better than 19 wins. I think it all really depends on health. And the key question is how good can the back court of ball and Brandon Miller be? I’m really intrigued with the Hornets. I told you guys that Charlotte and Washington were my two teams that I I I could see, you know, pushing for playoff seating, like pushing for, you know, playing tournament seating if they’re healthy. I think it’s all health dependent. Um I’d probably have Washington right here at 13. That’s just me, though. but they come in at 13 by NBA.com. Number 14, Washington Wizards. Team we were just talking about. So, they have an 18 and 64 record last year. They have the worst offense in the NBA, uh, 30th, and they have one of the worst defenses, 28. Uh, key additions, CJ McCollum, which I think will really help the offense this year and ball handling. That way, you don’t have to have, you know, young guys handle the rock. Trey Johnson, the number six pick, who I think is going to be a really good player. Cam Whitmore, who they got for dirt cheap, by the way. Interested to see like how much Cam Whitmore um can provide given more opportunity. I felt like in Houston, he got some opportunity, but you can kind of read like some articles that Udoka and Whitmore kind of buted heads at times. But it’ll be I’m really curious just to see like what he can do with just more opportunity. Uh key departures Jordan Pool, which I honestly think it’s a a good move to lose Koosma and Jordan Pool. I think it’ll benefit Alex Sar more because you’re going to have a little bit more grown-ups in there that can, you know, help Alexar um mature. Um I honestly think Washington could be a sneaky team. I think they could be like the Pistons of last year because they have vets on that team. They still have Chris Middleton. You’re adding CJ McCollum. Um I think this could be a fun team, just a a fun team with, you know, low expectations. So key questions. Will one of the young players make a leap? Yeah, I think Alexar is going to take a leap personally. I I think we saw the shot making the rim protection. I’m really bit just really high on him as a prospect. I think he’s going to take that next leap. I mean, Cole Bali could take a leap as well. I mean, Bob Carrington, who I I personally like, I I I think he could take a leap as well. Uh there there’s just a lot to like um with the Washington Wizards this year. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’m a little bit higher on them than the most, but wouldn’t surprise me to see them kind of fighting for a play in tournament uh seating. 15th, the Brooklyn Nets. No surprise they’re rebuilding. They were 26 and 56 last year. They had a 28th offensive rating and they had the 23rd best defensive rating in the NBA. So, they were kind of bottom of the barrel as well. Key additions, Michael Porter Jr., Terrence Man, uh Igor Deon, their number uh eight pick, Peter Partchers, Cam Johnson, DLO, and Trended Water. They still have the RFA stuff with Cam Thomas, which is weird. I know Cam Thomas wants to get paid, but he’s probably not going to. Brooklyn, I could definitely see being one of the worst teams in basketball. Um, a lot of people thought that they were going to trade their picks, but they selected every first round pick this year. I think they had like four or five first in the first round, and they kept them all. They they drafted guys like Danny Wol and I don’t know. I I really thought they could have packaged a couple of first to get something significant. I think Michael Porter Jr. is going to be a you play fantasy basketball, he’s just going to be a fantasy guy. He’s probably going to get 30 shots a night. Like Brooklyn’s going to be really bad this year, you guys. Um, but honestly, I’m not really too surprised that NBA.com had them as the worst team um in their power ranking in the Eastern Conference. But I mean, this list was actually kind of fun. I don’t think I’ve done a 40minute podcast with you guys in quite some time. But let me know what you guys think of this NBA.com power ranking by them. Pistons were number four in this. Let me know what you guys think of the Detroit Pistons being number four in this power ranking. Do you agree with them being number four? Um, what do you think of the Orlando Magic being top three already, kind of being crowned as a third best team in the Eastern Conference? There was a team in the East that you think should be higher in this. Definitely comment down below in the comment section. Like always, hope you guys are staying safe. Take care. I’ll catch you guys tomorrow. bring you guys another short little podcast. But until next time, go Pistons. Peace.

oday on Pistons Talk Podcast, we dived into some fresh NBA analysis, reacting to a recent article discussing the Eastern Conference teams. We shared our thoughts on the power rankings and the potential playoff race. Thanks for tuning in to our NBA reaction!

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Today on Pistons Talk Podcast, we dived into some fresh NBA analysis, reacting to a recent article discussing the Eastern Conference teams. We shared our thoughts on the power rankings and the potential playoff race. Thanks for tuning in to our NBA reaction!