who's best in league?

[williams22]

Hawks are undefeated and have covered both their games ATS. Now the Cavs have two losses already and the Magic are 1-1 ATS.

We are two games into the season! Neither the Magic or the Cavs have all of their starters right now and both would stillbeat the Hawks.

[XGambler]

LOL I said nothing about me expecting Cleveland to beat orlando. People thought Cleveland is better then Orlando but I knew Orlando was the better team.

And by the way you sais u expected cleveland to beat orlando... lets not forget the last time cleveland played orlando on road in regular season orlando blew them out.

[pavyracer]

We are two games into the season! Neither the Magic or the Cavs have all of their starters right now and both would stillbeat the Hawks.

So you can see the future and know the Hawks will lose?

[hockey216]

you can't seriously believe the hawks are as good as cavs and celtics..

[HustleGetPaid]

Hawks are probably the 5th best team in the East behind (no particular order) Cavs, Celtics, Magic, and Heat. Actually they might be 6th behind the Wizards. We only a week into the season, after a full month we'll see where all these teams stand.

[mihaita666]

boston celtics has a great start. remember their 19 winning streak last year ?

[tripp]

Hawks are probably the 5th best team in the East behind (no particular order) Cavs, Celtics, Magic, and Heat. Actually they might be 6th behind the Wizards. We only a week into the season, after a full month we'll see where all these teams stand.

Raptors are better than both the Heat and Wiz IMO

Hawks are the fourth best team in the conference at this point, but the conference right now looks to be between Boston, Orlando and Cleveland. Would be outright floored if anyone else contended to make the NBA Finals

[TGHMak]

The Hawks killed the heats last year.

[tripp]

The Hawks killed the heats last year.

Yeah, Heat aren't that good. Cupcake schedule to start the year. O'Neal will fall apart eventually and without him it is Dwayne Wade and four fill ins. Beasley isn't even one of the 10 best players from his draft class.

Wade can carry this team to the playoffs, no doubt about that. Wade is phenomenal and LeBron James has shown us how far one player can carry a bunch of scrubs. Wade is no LeBron James though and the Heat will finish around the 6th seed at best IMO and have a first round exit in the playoffs

[XGambler]

Yeah I agree. Wade is no LeBron James, Wade = 1 ring while LeBron = 0

Wade is phenomenal and LeBron James has shown us how far one player can carry a bunch of scrubs. Wade is no LeBron James though and the Heat will finish around the 6th seed at best IMO and have a first round exit in the playoffs

[hockey216]

I put the Hawks pretty much on par with the philli 76ers, tied for 5th best. I Think the two teams match up ok.. maybe slight advantage to hawks because of 76ers subpar defense at this point. But the 76ers can score. Even though its the knicks, 141 points still isn't easy to do in the NBA. Well, then again golden state could score last year but it hasn't gotton them very far haha. Oh well. I think when the 76ers play their game they are a solid team. And im not a philli fan im a boston fan. Maybe slightly ahead, but i feel that philli is a decent team and will prove themself down the stretch of the season.

Think the Hawks/76ers is a decent matchup

[hockey216]

5th best in the EAST that is. Behind cleveland boston orlando and miami. think PHI and ATL are tied after that. Call me crazy, but i have slight confidence in the 76ers as a decent team. No, they aren't going to go anywhere in the playoffs against cleveland boston or orlando... i'm not saying that. but after those big EAST conf. powerhouses and miami i think they're next in line alongside ATL

decent when they're playing their game at least. Andre Iguodala (probably spelled name wrong) is nasty.

[lakerboy]

good thread. some funny points. until the lakers are knocked out they remain # 1. its always like that every season until the defending champ is out.unless of course they end up having huge injuries like boston last year with garnett

[pavyracer]

you can't seriously believe the hawks are as good as cavs and celtics..

They are as good yes. They are the most fearful team in the East. Ask any coach to tell what's the hardest team to face in the East and they will tell you is the Hawks.

[williams22]

They are as good yes. They are the most fearful team in the East. Ask any coach to tell what's the hardest team to face in the East and they will tell you is the Hawks.

I'm pretty sure coaches get a little more nervous when facing Boston, Cleveland, and Orlando. Not only do those teams have better talent, but they are better coached and have much more poise.

[hockey216]

They are as good yes. They are the most fearful team in the East. Ask any coach to tell what's the hardest team to face in the East and they will tell you is the Hawks.

one of problems i've seen with Hawks is teir performance in 2nd half. Often, they compete well with top-notch teams in the first half, have lead changes, etc.

But once second half comes around ATL doesn't come out strong. I'm paticularly reminded of their series with cleveland last year. pretty decent battle in first half... but 2nd half they don't feel like they have to compete.

Also their performance against lakers last night.

[hockey216]

Hey kid no need to show your anger in here and call people fools. We all know you're a Celtics fan. You want to hear logical arguments? Matter fact, I'll just tell you what's unlogical, and that is you making your argument base on the fact that Celtics win tonight while Lakers lost. LOL. Did you see what happen to the Cavs last playoff against Orlando? Many thought they were the best team in the league but guess what happen to them when playing against Orlando? And how can you just claim Boston to be the best team in the league when they haven't even play the Champs (Lakers) yet? You can throw your analysis out the window, it's useless. To be the best, you got to beat the best, and the Celtics will need to prove that. The difference between you me is you only 'think' Celtics is currently the best in the league, but I 'know' Lakers are the best team in the league.

I understand your arguement. It's the age old, "they won last year so it doesn't even matter if their recoord is 5-60, they are best team."

It has a point to it to which i agree to a certain extent, but i also contend that the celtics were champs in 08 and nobody ever beat dethroned them when they had Kevin Garnett. Sure, they are not best without KG. But with KG back, simply stating that you can beat celtics without KG does not mean that you can beat them now when they DO have KG.

not trying to be rude or start a fight or anything.

just making the argument that The celtics lost last year largely due to KG's absence. If the lakers lost last year 2nd round vs. houston b.c. kobe was out for season, and kobe was now back, would you think lakers are not better than houston now just because kobe was out when they were beat?

I a a firm believer that the celtics lost last year largely due to the absence of KG. With KG on the team, they won the championship and no one has beaten them in a playoff series when their team has been complete. Seeing as that i think they are now playing better than the team who won championship in 08, i think my argument at least holds a decent amount of water.

[hockey216]

The Hawks are better than Cavs and Heat and as good as Celtics and Magic on East. They have the best starting 5 in all league as a unit. All other teams have 1 or 2 stars at best.

maybe he's not on crack

[pavyracer]

Atlanta Hawks. Solid at all positions will beat any team on any given night.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/powerranking

Now you can all kiss my ass!