It was already common knowledge that the NBA’s Western Conference has long been stronger than the Eastern Conference. Critics continue to call for a conference realignment even when the odds of it happening are slim to none.
But now that the game’s best player has moved from the East to the West, the gap has widened even more, leaving many Eastern Conference players, including newly acquired Wizards’ guard Austin Rivers, more confident in their team’s chances to make a run at the NBA Finals, reports Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington.
“This training camp, this season is just gonna be a different type of mindset,” Rivers said. “[Before] you would play and you know you’re going to run into Golden State. Here, in the East, it’s really like everybody can get there. You can go to the Finals or the conference finals if you’re a playoff-caliber team, which this team is.
I think that puts a different confidence, focus and energy on a team. I think that will probably be a focal point in training camp, I’m sure the coaches and everyone will say this is something we need to take advantage of.”
Per Hughes, Rivers did acknowledge that the Celtics are probably the favorites now, having been Eastern Conference runners-up the last two seasons despite missing two of their best players during the 2017/18 playoffs. But, Rivers is excited to see what he and his new teammates are capable of after falling short in the playoffs in four of the last five seasons.
There’s more out of the D.C. area tonight:
- Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated takes a look at the Wizards’ reported free agent signings of veterans Jeff Green and Dwight Howard. Woo gives both signings a “B” grade, calling both moves thrifty and low-risk due in large part to the one-year length of both deals.
- In another piece for NBC Sports Washington, Hughes gives his own analysis of the Howard signing, agreeing that the move is low-risk, high-reward. Hughes writes that Howard gives Washington an upgrade from last season at center and that he should be at his best surrounded by three-point shooters like Otto Porter and Bradley Beal.
- In another, albeit more under-the-radar move we relayed earlier this week, the Wizards claimed promising young big man Thomas Bryant off waivers from the Lakers after he was cut to increase L.A.’s cap room.
Rivers is right, Washington could make the Finals in the East. They h
Every team has a “chance” to get to the Finals out of the East, but that doesn’t mean they stand a good chance…
The Wizards, on the other hand, do have a good chance; however, the East is EASILY Boston’s to lose.
After Boston, I think you have a close grouping of three pretty solid teams: Philly, Toronto, and Washington.
Then, I’d say you have the Bucks, the Pacers, and a couple wild cards in the Heat, Detroit, and my suprising pick, the Orlando Magic..
To me, those are your playoff teams in the East, obviously with one team not making the cut..Which, in my opinion, will likely be the Pistons..
Anyways, I have Boston winning the East fairly easily..Although, even with that being said, I think Washington, the Bucks, and Orlando will all three make major improvements upon their 2017-2018 seasons.
Speaking of Orlando, ANY and all their success this season starts and end with their cavernous hole at PG. DJ Augustin is currently nothing more than a playoff contending team’s 3rd PG..His only significant minutes should come if your starting PG gets injured, and when your back-up needs a breather or gets in serious foul trouble..
Ideally, you’d like to fill the void at PG, from a current strength of Orlando’s.. their logjam of bigs..However, I am sure Orlando has already tried to trade one of Vucevic or Biyombo with zero success..
Truthfully, Orlando is thin at bith guard spots. Well, to say they are thin at the guard position is quite the understatement. So, who can they get, and ideally, who is available??
For me, there are 3 realistic players I’m targeting, if I’m Orlando..
#1. I have to lock down the PG position this season, AND possibly even target someome who can hold down the fort for the future if I can…With that being said, I’m taking a gamble, and I am going right after Shabazz Napier. He did solid work backing up Dame last year in Portland, and for one season Orlando could use him as their solid back-up…Wait, what, yes, I said back-up, and he would back-up my #2 signing. If Napier has another solid season, then I would feel comfortable handing him the reigns, while they draft and groom another PG next year…Napier is a perfect fit, for what Orlando needs..
#2. Soeaking or Orlando’s needs, they desperately need a scoring PG and a spark plug, but they need a little value here as well…That’s where IT comes in..One year deal for IT, and he can regain his value to finally back-up the Brinks truck in 2019..lol
#3. Speaking of getting overpaid, Marcus Smart could be made available by Boston. However, in order to get Smart, Orlando would have to scare Boston away, which would most likely require overpaying for Smart. Now, Smart could definitely help vault this team into one of the better defensive teams in the East, and we already know he and IT make an excellent combination together, BUT, again, he is likely to be too expensive..Plus, I think the Magic need more reliable 3-point shooting..Enter my REAL #3, one of the most reliable 3-point shooters last season in…Wayne Ellington…He can be my 3-man off the bench, and help spell Fournier and/or Simmons.
Having Ellington to provide more floor spacing, to open up driving lanes, and especially to unclog the paint for Gordon, Simmons/Fournier/Ross, Bamba, Isaac, and Vucevic to do their best work should help this team tremendously!!
So, overall, I’m going with a PG rotation of IT, Napier, and Augustin..Fournier, Simmons, Ellington, Ross, and Jackson as my wings..Then, Gordon, Bamba, Isaac, Vucevic, and Biyombo as my bigs…
With these additions, with continued growth and development from Fournier, Simmons, Gordon, Ross, and hopefully, especially Isaac, with better outside shooting, and with more lanes upening up for their athletic guys to slash to the basket we could see Orlando making an Aaron Gordon-sized huge jump in the East this season, landing right in the playoffs..
Like I said before, health provided and barring any crazy, major franchise altering trades, I think the last spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race is going to come down to Detroit and Orlando. Again, if the Magic can at least just add Napier and Ellington, or players similar, I’m giving Orlando the final edge over Detroit..
So, I ask, with these additions, and with some internal growth, do you feel the same way as I do, that Orlando could then be the suprising team to make the playoffs this year?? If not, why not??
Nah dude, they should just sign Thomas that would be enough. Roll out a lineup of:
Thomas-Fournier-Simmons-Gordon-Bamba
Lol this is a group of malcontents problems with Wall and the whole team. Problems with Rivers and his whole team. Problem with Howard and every team he’s been on. Problems with Morris in Phoenix. None of them have ever won anything for a reason and now they are better then Bos Phi Tor and Indy. Coach will be fired by all star game
Stop being so negative.
Well, maybe they are now the perfect fit of misfits that can collectively come together, and overcome the odds..
I highly doubt it, but regardless how I feel, this team has alot of talent. Wall is immensely talented, Beal is extremely talented, Porter is extremely versatile and very talented in his own right, and Austin Rivers is a talented and solid back-up PG.
Which some people might say, ohh wow they added a back-up PG, what is the big deal??..Well, that back-up PG is something the Wizards have been severely lacking in the past, and not having a reliable #2 PG has really hurt the Wizards. Rivers fills what was one of the Wizards biggest weaknesses moving forward, and his presence alone will positively impact this team…
But, back to their depth, even their role players are talented and solid players..They have Morris, Jeff Green, and Howard, they are all still very talented and effective role players..Morris and Green can add a little scoring boost here and there to help out Wall, Beal, Porter, and Rivers. Also, they are both good rebounders, and both are adequate defenders.
Plus, Washington is not just Wall, Beal, Porter, Rivers, and then a group of aging veteran role players. The Wizards are developing guys like Kelly Oubre and Tomas Satoransky..Both took significant steps forward in their development last season, and both have the ability to continue making strides moving forward. Plus, Washington added two more young talents in Thomas Bryant and the #15 pick in Oregon’s Troy Brown.
The former Laker, Thomas Bryant is a 21 year old, 6’11” big, who is working on developing his outside shot, rebounds and defends well, and he put up some very solid stats last year developing in the G-League. Brown can continue to grow under Howard and Mahinmi, and he was definitely worth the low risk they took to sign him. He could be a suprise contributor this season and beyond.
Troy Brown, was a one and done player in college, so he is still very young, at only 18 years old. Brown is 6’6″, and with his length, size, and defensive versatility, he could have an immediate impact for the Wizards. His offensive game still needs to improve, especially his outside shot and range, but he’s good with the ball in his hands, and he has a very high basketball IQ for such a young kid. Brown may never be more than a solid role player for the Wizards, but he’s still worth keeping an eye on. I see him eventually as Washington’s version of a little bigger Marcus Smart-lite..Basically, he could be an impact player, that helps his team in a myriad of ways, but only really stands out and above his peers defensively. He might not stuff the Stat sheet, but his energy, defensive presence, his passing, and his unselfish style of play will make those around him better..
Yeah, Washington has a few cast-offs, malcontents, and players with bad reputations, but they also have talent..Only time will tell whether their chemistry hinders their overall production, but I’m betting, with good health, they will still be a top 4 team in the East, still behind Boston and Philly, but right alongside, if not better than Toronto and Milwaukee..
Washington has significantly improved their depth and athleticism this offseason, which was a necessity, and I believe they have improved defensively as well, which was also important. They also got the athletic big they needed. Dwight is a good fit, and he can help them with scoring in the half court on occasion.
All of that being said, their coach is Scott Brooks, so…..that pretty much puts them at a big disadvantage
Who really believes John Wall is a leader? They were better without him if his salary was on someone other than him like Leonard they would be better.
Washington is looking good for next year, will see how once they start balling, but they should be looking to get top 4 seed again.
Doc & his kid ruin the clippers, everyone’s gone and he ships him off to the east where he has a chance for the playoffs. Typical. Thanks daddy!