Eastern conference preview

[Rush]

The Eastern conference is on the rise. The Bulls and Heat look like elite teams for the foreseeable future. The Magic will join them if they can keep Dwight Howard, and the Knicks now have a couple superstars that...

Go to Source For Full Article: Bulls Confidential...

By: Doug Thonus

 

[Scoot26]

I, for one, am under the impression that Boston is not done and just have been sandbagging it lately. However, I know that they will dearly miss Kendrick Perkins in the playoffs. That being said, I just think they can beat Miami (barely) in the end to advance to the ECF.

 

[Uman85]

I'm interested in the New York-Boston match-up. It'll be intriguing to see if Amar'e and Melo can knock off Boston. I don't see it happening, but they may push them to the limit.

 

[Anytime23]

First off, why is he breaking down 2nd round matchups? Let the Playoffs start eh?

Also I don't really see the East being the new West. Sure a lot of stars have switched conferences but the East now just really top heavy. Let's not mention the Nets, we have no clue what their future holds. Oh that's right, it's the soon to be Brooklyn Nets, everyone wants in on that dynasty in the making..... You could also say the wolves are a elite talent away from being a good team.

 

[Scoot26]

First off, why is he breaking down 2nd round matchups? Let the Playoffs start eh?

Also I don't really see the East being the new West. Sure a lot of stars have switched conferences but the East now just really top heavy. Let's not mention the Nets, we have no clue what their future holds. Oh that's right, it's the soon to be Brooklyn Nets, everyone wants in on that dynasty in the making..... You could also say the wolves are a elite talent away from being a good team.

Stern will make sure a team like the T'Wolves never go far though.

 

[Uman85]

Stern will make sure a team like the T'Wolves never go far though.

You're spot on. A small to mid-market team will never succeed in Stern's NBA. It's pretty sad.

 

[Anytime23]

I'm honestly surprised he let the Heat get the big3. I thought he would have wanted them in NY or CHI. A bunch of guys taking less to play together just kind of lessens the competition around the league.

 

[Uman85]

The way Stern runs things, you might as well get rid of every team except the Lakers, Spurs, Mavs, Bulls, Knicks, Celtics, Pistons, Heat, Nets and Magic. No other teams will be able to contend if these "super teams" keep forming.

 

[Scoot26]

I'm honestly surprised he let the Heat get the big3. I thought he would have wanted them in NY or CHI. A bunch of guys taking less to play together just kind of lessens the competition around the league.

Miami still has a big enough draw for Stern to be okay with it. I'm sure he would have preferred they go to NY or Chicago though. But a team like Minnesota, Memphis, Indiana will never go far unless we have a weakened NBA season like 2007 where LeBron led Cleveland to the Finals. I mean I always figured there were reasons why the Sacramento Kings and Milwaukee Bucks never got favorable calls in those conference finals in 2001 and 2002. Even Minnesota in 2004 against the Lakers, alot seemed to go against Minnesota.

 

[Uman85]

Miami still has a big enough draw for Stern to be okay with it. I'm sure he would have preferred they go to NY or Chicago though. But a team like Minnesota, Memphis, Indiana will never go far unless we have a weakened NBA season like 2007 where LeBron led Cleveland to the Finals. I mean I always figured there were reasons why the Sacramento Kings and Milwaukee Bucks never got favorable calls in those conference finals in 2001 and 2002. Even Minnesota in 2004 against the Lakers, alot seemed to go against Minnesota.

It's all about the money for Stern. Screw the fans, as long as Stern's pockets are full.

 

[Crystallas]

Stern is a fool!

It's common sense to me, if a small market team can win a title, that HELPS the NBA. Big markets will sell tickets no matter what. Markets that are heavily in love with the sport of basketball will sell a good chunk of tickets too, so what all is left? Yep, the small markets. How do you fill those stands? Win. It ain't f-ing rocket science.

 

[houheffna]

Since when did the Spurs become a big market team??? Aren't there more people in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area than in San Antonio? And the fanbase in Miami SUCKS!

The stars have a preference for big city teams...

 

[Uman85]

Stern is a fool!

It's common sense to me, if a small market team can win a title, that HELPS the NBA. Big markets will sell tickets no matter what. Markets that are heavily in love with the sport of basketball will sell a good chunk of tickets too, so what all is left? Yep, the small markets. How do you fill those stands? Win. It ain't f-ing rocket science.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[Crystallas]

Since when did the Spurs become a big market team??? Aren't there more people in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area than in San Antonio? And the fanbase in Miami SUCKS!

The stars have a preference for big city teams...

San Antonio isn't a small market team.

Market size is determined on a scale, not population. Even if San Antonio is the 7th largest city in the US by population, it's market size is a coefficient reaches to demographics, historical interest, and TV ratings. Minny plain and simple is not a big NBA market because the interest is not there. But it's a chicken/egg fight to build it's market. Minnesota simply never built its market by #winning , the Spurs did.

 

[Anytime23]

Miami still has a big enough draw for Stern to be okay with it. I'm sure he would have preferred they go to NY or Chicago though. But a team like Minnesota, Memphis, Indiana will never go far unless we have a weakened NBA season like 2007 where LeBron led Cleveland to the Finals. I mean I always figured there were reasons why the Sacramento Kings and Milwaukee Bucks never got favorable calls in those conference finals in 2001 and 2002. Even Minnesota in 2004 against the Lakers, alot seemed to go against Minnesota.

It wasn't just the market but like I said, competitively you take 3 guys that all kept their franhises alive, throw them on 1 team and you kill two smaller markets and you make the league less competitive. Say what you want about Miami now but with a healthy Haslem, Miller and maybe 1-2 pieces in the off-season, this team has the star power to plow through every single team in the NBA. Their bench is historically awful and they have the 2nd point differential in the league. Also an upgrade at coach would go a long way.

 

[Anytime23]

And the fanbase in Miami SUCKS!

I've said it time and time again, there is no worse fanbase than the one in Miami. NY is bad but that's because NYers are just obnoxious ppl naturally.

I used to go to a lot of heat games pre-Shaq trade. It was great, you get to see The Heat dirt cheap for great seats. Then Shq comes along and tickets double, triple. Kids I've known for roughtly a dozen years who never mentioned the Heat are all of a sudden die hards. The worst was when the heat were a lower seeded playoff team with Wade, one of the leagues most exciting players and arguably the best SG in the game and they still couldn't sell out games. And the ppl that do go don't even pay attention. I have trouble figuring out how mid-westcities with snow storms fill up faster than a stadium on Bayside.

 

[houheffna]

San Antonio isn't a small market team.

Market size is determined on a scale, not population. Even if San Antonio is the 7th largest city in the US by population, it's market size is a coefficient reaches to demographics, historical interest, and TV ratings. Minny plain and simple is not a big NBA market because the interest is not there. But it's a chicken/egg fight to build it's market. Minnesota simply never built its market by #winning , the Spurs did.

If split between big and small market...San Antonio is definitely small market...if refined a bit more, mid market at best is what you would call that franchise...