I think a healthy Toronto is still better than Boston, and a revamped Indiana might be, too. Boston has a clear coaching advantage but that's about it.
Assume you have ideal personnel--what are your philosophies in regard to getting the most out of your team?
Offensively, I like changing formations between possessions, throwing new things at defenses. Primarily I'm a fan of under center, single back, with play action. If I'm going to use a FB...
You know who is or isn't interested in winning a championship every FA season. Looks like Deng just wants that money so he can bounce with something in his pockets.
I have yet to be to Target Field, but all I ever hear is that it is incredible. It hasn't seen a playoff series in years, though. It's hard to understand why this team is so terrible over this past half decade-ish, but it happened, and there doesn't appear to be an end in sight.
What we're arguing about is perhaps the worst part of basketball--it's so hard to overcome the greatest players. I mean, it should be difficult, but we see is so rarely in basketball when you compare it to other sports. While seeing LeBron's run of Finals appearances and knowing it may not end...
Dwayne Wade is one bad landing on his knee(s) away from never even approaching the same level. He has to accept that, as well as the fact that he's going to be 35 in January. He is not a max player at this point in his career.
Toronto has built such a good roster. They have as good of a chance as any non-Cleveland team in the East. That might be a small chance but both Kyrie and Love have injury histories. Toronto making a Finals at some point isn't completely absurd. Is it unlikely? Yes.