NBA’s official site has published a version of theirs on how the Eastern Conference will look like.
Steve Aschburner’s Take:
In a world where change is often the name of the game, sometimes sticking with what works can be just as effective. That’s exactly the case for the Boston Celtics. Their roster is already strong, versatile, and packed with depth, so no major adjustments were necessary. The stars are still in their prime, so why mess with success?
The New York Knicks look like they have the right blend of star power, solid support, and toughness to climb into the top tier of the East. Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers are a classic case of teamwork making the dream work – they’re greater than the sum of their parts. The Philadelphia 76ers, however, can’t rely too heavily on Joel Embiid, and the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic are like younger siblings eager to prove themselves. Miami? They’re not too concerned with the regular season grind.
As for Milwaukee, I think they’re set for a bit of a slide. Their bench isn’t as strong, Damian Lillard might be slowing down, and I believe their championship window is closing.
Boston Celtics
New York Knicks
Indiana Pacers
Philadelphia 76ers
Cleveland Cavaliers
Orlando Magic
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
Atlanta Hawks
Chicago Bulls
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Brian Martin’s Outlook:
Boston is still the top dog in the East, even if Kristaps Porzingis is starting the season on the sidelines.
Both New York (with Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges) and Philly (featuring Paul George) need to get their new stars settled into their lineups quickly. Meanwhile, teams like Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Philly will need to keep key players healthy – remember what happened to the Sixers when Joel Embiid went down last season.
If any of the top teams falter, don’t count out Orlando, Indiana, and Miami – they’ll be ready to jump in and avoid last year’s battle for a spot in the Play-In Tournament.
Atlanta and Toronto round out my Play-In picks. The Hawks brought in No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher after parting ways with Dejounte Murray, and the Raptors are looking forward to a full season with their young core, led by All-Star Scottie Barnes.
Boston Celtics
New York Knicks
Cleveland Cavaliers
Philadelphia 76ers
Milwaukee Bucks
Orlando Magic
Indiana Pacers
Miami Heat
Atlanta Hawks
Toronto Raptors
Shaun Powell’s Thoughts:
The Celtics should claim the top seed, but it won’t be a walk in the park – the Knicks are built to challenge them. The 76ers could finish higher, but if they’re focused on keeping Joel Embiid and Paul George fresh for the playoffs, it could affect their regular-season standing.
The young Magic could even grab home-court advantage in the first round if Philly isn’t careful. And keep an eye on Milwaukee – this might be their last shot at making a deep run.
Boston Celtics
New York Knicks
Cleveland Cavaliers
Philadelphia 76ers
Orlando Magic
Milwaukee Bucks
Indiana Pacers
Miami Heat
Toronto Raptors
Atlanta Hawks
John Schuhmann’s Perspective:
The Celtics might be able to take it easy this season, but it’s tough to imagine coach Joe Mazzulla taking his foot off the gas. The same goes for Tom Thibodeau with the Knicks. After that, you could shuffle the next few teams around, but I’d say the Cavs and Pacers are in the best position to grab top-four seeds. Cleveland has a talented squad that’s still improving, and Indiana’s offense will be tough to handle night after night.
The 76ers, at full strength, could compete with the Knicks, but keeping Joel Embiid fresh might mean sacrificing some regular-season wins. At the bottom, the Pistons have revamped their lineup and should be hungry for a Play-In spot, more so than teams like Chicago and Toronto.
Boston Celtics
New York Knicks
Cleveland Cavaliers
Indiana Pacers
Milwaukee Bucks
Philadelphia 76ers
Orlando Magic
Miami Heat
Atlanta Hawks
Detroit Pistons
