Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls – 2012 NBA Eastern Conference playoff seeds fantasy prediction (Part-1)
The lockout has brought the league at a standstill and there is a fair chance that it may also affect a fair potion of next season’s schedule. At the same time though, it has provided teams and their think tanks with more time
to plan out their strategies and evaluate their options in the free agency, which will take place right after the league gets back to business.
In the last season, although the Dallas Mavericks won the championship, the balance of power definitely tilted towards the Eastern Conference. In fact, many analysts still consider the Mavs’ triumph over the Miami Heat as an upset
of sorts. With players like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, Paul Pierce, and Dwight Howard all on the Eastern front, this will be the conference that will remain in the limelight next season, whenever it starts.
Last season, Chicago Bulls emerged from nowhere to beat the likes of Miami Heat and Boston Celtics to lead the top heavy Eastern Conference; however, this time around the scenario can be completely different. Let us predict of
the top 8 teams in the next year’s Eastern Conference play-offs.
Number 1 seed: Miami Heat
It was not luck that marshalled the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals during the play-offs; in fact it was the sheer talent and strength on Heat’s roster that propelled the team to finish second best in the championship race.
With three of the best players of the league - LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh – finally showing some chemistry late in the 2010-11 postseason, the Heat will definitely be a force to reckon with next season and are the
clear cut favourites to rule not only the East, but the whole NBA next season.
One of the major shortfalls that became apparent in the post-season for Miami Heat was the lack of support from the fringe and the bench players. Pat Riley, Miami Heat’s president, had that in focus, days after the Finals heartbreak
and on the draft night, Miami traded their pick with the Minnesota Timberwolves to land Norris Cole.
Cole is a good perimeter shooter and is a reliable option on the offence. With the addition of Cole, the Heat will receive a major boost and they can improve further by trading a solid player in the free agency when the league
gets back to business. Eddy Curry, the ex-New York Knick centre and most recently Shane Battier of the Memphis Grizzlies have been the options that Heat have shown interest in.
Miami is looking to alleviate some pressure from their Big Three and that is the face-lift Miami Heat need to be on the top next season.
Number two seed: Chicago Bulls
With the youngest player ever to nab the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, Derrick Rose on the roster, Chicago Bulls are not going anywhere anytime soon. The Bulls have finally found the man, who can revive the championship era
of the Hall of Famer Michael Jordan.
However, all of that it will require some time.
Rose stood confident against the big boys of the league last season and guided Chicago to the number one seed in the Eastern Conference singlehandedly. Things were going in the right direction for the Bulls until they came face
to face against Miami Heat in the Conference Finals. The Bulls could not handle Miami’s big three and one thing that stood out in that series was the lack of offensive support for Rose. The Bulls seriously need to revamp their roster if they want to go one
step further next season.
Miami Heat will remain their biggest threat and they will come back with more desperation. The Bulls will have to play out of their skins, if they are to have any chance of beating the Heat at the number one spot.
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