Sports Illustrated upcoming season power rankings

Eastern Conference:

http://www.si.com/nba/2014/08/25/eastern-conference-power-rankings-preseason-cavaliers-bulls

Western Conference:

www.si.com/nba/2014/08/27/western-conference-power-rankings-preseason-spurs-thunder

They have the Knicks making the playoffs at #8 and the Pacers out of it at #10.  I'm not sold on the Knicks as a playoff team.  They also have the Nets missing the post-season and finishing 9th.  Hope that's the start of a several season decline by the Nets as we still own their first round picks in 2016 and 2018 and have the option of swapping first round picks with them in 2017.  The Pierce and Garnett trade might eventually go down as one of the most lopsided in NBA history when all is said and done.

my guess for the East today:

1. Cleveland
2. Washington
3. Chicago
4. Charlotte
5. Miami
6. Toronto
7. Atlanta
8. Detroit

See me in April.

Sam