IgraineShedra wrote:Xao, Cleveland has yet to make the playoffs even with LeBron and yet they've qualified for the middle tier? Yes, I think they can and should be better next year, but that was true heading into this year, too, according to most people.
Adding Hughes was a big step in the right direction. I'd say that places them squarely ahead of the teams I listed in the bottom tier of the Eastern playoffs.
Honestly, I'm not sold on Chicago either, much as I'd like to be. This was the first time they've made the playoffs after several years of nearly dropping out of the league. I'm not totally convinced they have a winning mentality yet, and I'm not entirely sure who they have that can carry them through rough stretches in games and on the schedule.
Winning mentality? Meh, give me a tough defensive mentality any time, which is exactly what Chicago displayed last year. When you play strong team defense, you don't need a superstar to get you through the rough patches.