We are a little under a month away from the NBA season tipping off, so it’s time to preview some basketball!
Gone are the days where the Western Conference dominated the East.
Boston, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Miami headline a strong Eastern Conference and there’s been drama in the offseason surrounding a few those teams.
Brooklyn come into this season again with high hopes behind the roster they have, there’s no guaranteeing they’ll stay together when it’s all said and done.
Kevin Durant demanded a trade along with Kyrie Irving, causing a huge stir around the league.
For now, these two superstars remain in Brooklyn, and line up alongside Ben Simmons, who comes in after missing the entire 2021-22 season, Seth Curry as well as sharp shooter Joe Harris.
Brooklyn could be anything, and with so much uncertainty surrounding this team, it’s hard to pencil them in for a visit to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Boston come into this season as the NBA Favourites, and after a trip to the NBA Finals on their resume last season. Recent drama has surfaced which makes Coach Ime Udoka’s future with the team uncertain.
The addition of Malcolm Brogdon is a big one, and gives them another scoring PG when times get tough for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
The health of Rob Williams will be an important one for this team, as front court depth is still an issue for them if Williams goes down.
At full health and front office controversy withstanding, Boston look to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Milwaukee fell to Boston in the playoffs last season but were missing a key piece. Khris Middleton was missing for the Bucks, who still managed to take the eventual Eastern Conference Champions to 7 games without him.
Adding Middleton back into the rotation this year with Giannis and Jrue Holiday is a big one for this team and make them a huge threat to the Celtics.
Unless another injury occurs to this team, they’re well played to join the Celts in the East Finals.
Philadelphia and Miami are on level pegging in this conference, but neither made any big splashes in the off season.
Philly did manage to pick up some key rotational pieces, with the addition of PJ Tucker and DeAnthony Melton from Memphis.
James Harden will be the big question mark for this team this season, as now with a full off season under his belt with Joel Embiid, there’s no more excuses for this duo.
Until they can prove something in the playoffs though, it’s hard to trust them getting any further than the 2nd round.
Miami are in a very similar spot, missing out on the Donovan Mitchell sweepstakes to the Cavaliers, Miami didn’t add anyone to a team who finished 1st overall in the East last season.
It’s hard to think the Heat are done making any moves, as if they don’t, they don’t have enough to get back to the Conference Finals in a very good conference.
Donovan Mitchell makes his first appearance in the Eastern Conference this season with a Cleveland team looking to build on an impressive 2021-22 season.
Mitchell joins the likes of Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley and they’ll have high hopes that they can put Cleveland basketball back into the playoffs.
They’ll be in heavy competition with the likes of the Raptors, Bulls and Hawks for a bottom 4 playoff spot, but just like the Pelicans out West, you wouldn’t want to play this team as a 7-8 seed in the 1st round.
Eastern Conference Finals Prediction:
Boston v Milwaukee (Boston Wins 4-3)
Boston goes back to the NBA Finals after a gruelling 7 game series against the Bucks.
Giannis will make sure the Celts have to work for it, but in the end, Rob Williams does a good enough job slowing Giannis down at the rim to get the Celts back to the Promised Land.