2033 CSL SEASON PREDICTION

[rh0xxy]

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. ATLANTA - same core, the Defending Champs
2. NEW YORK - Doncic and the much improved players around him
3. CHICAGO - Arguably, the best all around starting 5 in the league
4. CLEVELAND - 2 future HOF inductee
5. MIAMI - Best tactician in the league
6. BROOKLYN - same old core, proven winners
7. PHILADELPHIA - Retooled but same old mantra
8. MILWAUKEE - Hell of a defensive team
9. DETROIT - much improved but might be still early to contend
10. CHARLOTTE - much improved but unproven
11. BOSTON - a little older but proven if guided
12. ORLANDO - retooled but unproven
13. INDIANA - still rebuilding
14. WASHINGTON - onto rebuild path
15. TORONTO - starts rebuilding

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. PORTLAND - loaded Defending WC Champs
2. SACRAMENTO - ever talented core
3. HOUSTON - regrouped and still deadly
4. MEMPHIS - same old core from last season
5. DALLAS - still have the best player in the CSL
6. UTAH - much improved and expected to come out strong
7. NEW ORLEANS - more balance than last season
8. SAN ANTONIO - talented but unproven
9. MINNESOTA - retooled but might be looking for new Alpha dog
10. DENVER - same old core looking for guidance
11. LA LAKERS - still rebuilding but gaining steam
12. OKC - young talented team, maybe not ready yet
13. LA CLIPPERS - still rebuilding
14. PHOENIX - still rebuilding
15. GOLDEN STATE - starts rebuilding

Here's my regular season ranking prediction, what's yours?

[Jestor]

I feel like Sacramento will be the 1 seed in the West if only because of how weak the Pacific is - especially since Golden State enters the rebuild. That's a lot of free divisional wins. Seeds 2-10 are going to be a bitch fight though. I do agree that Lakers are on the play-in bubble. IMO Clippers will be 15th in the West though.

Atlanta I agree on the 1 seed and New York 2. I think Cleveland's actual depth gets them the 3 seed, with Chicago 4. After that, it turns into a crapshoot. Agreed on Toronto 15th in the East. That's just a team that's got some pieces individually that are decent, but they simply don't play well together, and everyone else in the division is a legitimate playoff team. Too bad about Indiana. What might have been.

[cb4raptorscb4]

I would love to finish last if it means a top draft pick, but I think we would have to be able to trade some of the vets as a guy like Dozier alone can win us games.

Out East I'm not sold on Cleveland just yet. I think they may be closer to the play-in than they would look on paper.

Have to agree with Tim that SAC may take first given the Pacific matchups.

[thecoolestjedi]

Hoping for a Play-In spot this season. Tired of the lottery. Got my pick for this year, but still early signs look good on Cade and Snail.

[WillyJakkz]

Hopefully we can start proving this season or next

[TheTwoWallaces]

Philly and Milwaukee seem to be too low in my opinion. Then again, every team above them is also good, so who knows.

We're really hoping to avoid the play-in at all costs, as it becomes way too easy to lose one game and voila your season is over.

[Flaming Homer]

It is so hard to predict this season, in both conferences.

I would agree with Doug, that BT and his Kings have the best shot at the crown. This division is just so weak around them and should make sure there is always an easy win to get if times get rough.
Portland plays similar strong, but should have an harder path. I also have Houston and Memphis right behind this too, so much talent on both teams, they can easily take the West as well if everything falls in line.

The East will be so tough. We need to come out of it on top to have a chance to repeat. But that is far from a given, NY may have closed the small gap to us with some good vet additions, when we lost a bit on that front. CLE and CHI are scary but have to be seen how fast they will be in the thick of it.

Should be a great season.

[Andrewu91]

I liked when y'all voted me #5 or #6. Now I must over perform this season to gain #2 seed.

I do think Hawks are still the favorite out east and the West will be another dog fight.

[bt]

Nice rh0x, stole your format

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Philadelphia - still think rh0x will get the most out of his players
2. Atlanta - reigning champs, will probably try to find the mix again and cruise to a top seed
3. Miami - don't underestimate them or their fit
4. New York - has Doncic, enough said
5. Cleveland - hard to go past the Porter/Simmons combo
6. Chicago - same old core, proven winners
7. Detroit - rising stud team, might need one more year before arriving
8. Brooklyn - just need a GM but still have one of the best 1-2 punches in the league
9. Orlando - couple of minor trades and could be higher up
10. Milwaukee - good defensive team but might need some more
11. Charlotte - has the best player in the league, just not the right pieces based on evidence so far
12. Boston - needs a GM
13. Toronto - looking to rebuild but could depend on if Young/Patton move on
14. Washington - looks like a rebuild
15. Indiana - needs active GM'ing and doesn't have those talented vets anymore

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Portland - like the Christ addition and Murphy/Terry about to arrive also
2. Memphis - just a really good team and Mobley improving again
3. Sacramento - same core with second year Daniels
4. San Antonio - really nice starting 5 covering offense and defense
5. Houston - talented but have to wait and see how it all comes together
6. Dallas - would be higher if they had a GM but Zion
8. Denver - still talented but need GM to be around
7. Minnesota - with Walker, Bol and Lawson, should be around it but need a point guard
9. New Orleans - could potentially be higher if they can find the right mix
10. Utah - some nice pieces but Ellison is still a rookie
11. Oklahoma City - stockpiling quality assets but might need one more season to take the next step
13. LA Lakers - could be on the up but Sarr a rookie and will probably trade Wagner at some point
12. Golden State - will probably ship out veterans could drop further
14. Phoenix - will be staying the course but likely means losses again
15. LA Clippers - still going through the rebuild process