His top 7:

  1. Raptors

  2. Heat

  3. Knicks

  4. 76ers

  5. Cavs

  6. Bucks

  7. Celtics

The top of the Eastern Conference also doubles as the top of the NBA, at least until further notice.

It’s a strange thing to say when three of the past four championships were won by the other conference. However, the East had the three best regular-season records and the four best point differentials last season and, on paper, has by far the two best teams heading into the season. Either Boston or Milwaukee has been in the last seven Eastern Conference finals, and they had the two best 2022-23 regular-season records. After both clubs loaded up even further in the offseason, it looks like a two-team race at the top.

Alas, that quality trails off quickly. Miami, winner of the conference in two of the past four seasons (and nearly a third), lost key pieces and whiffed on Damian Lillard, leaving the Heat a step behind their rivals. Philadelphia is in similar straits while it plays out James Harden’s trade demand, which thus far has been a rerun of the Ben Simmons saga that brought Harden to Philly in the first place. Cleveland, and its talented core quartet, merits watching, but must prove it isn’t just a regular-season paper tiger. The Knicks are deep and fun, but lack star power. The Raptors similarly seem at least one player away from being anything threatening.

  • SquimJimBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Some notes:

    • I’m just so much higher on the Hawks. It might be misplaced, but I thought they did a lot of good things in the playoffs and Jalen Johnson is one the rise.
    • I’m sorry, but you can all doubt the Heat again, I’m not falling for it. I was on the Heat train all last year when they sucked and briefly got off when they were still .500 like 80% of the way through the season. Play-ins started and I hoped backed on the train. This year, you aren’t getting me off this train at all. I’m not doing it. 6th is way too low.
    • Bucks vs. C’s is a coinflip imo and there’s no wrong answer between the 2 of them.
  • 20BeersDeepBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    No matter whatever teams the cavs, Knicks, or sixers put out I’ll have the heat in front of them as finals contenders