Eastern Conference Power Rankings
Earlier this week, I made a post that sais what my projected playoffs would be. This was pre Giannis trade and still the rankings were genuinely horrible. Here is my revamped seed rankings for next season. Again I have like two months of experience watching the NBA so these are very unknowledgeable predictions, but I hope you guys can provide feedback
Celtics. This might be a hot take over the Knicks or Pistons, but here’s my opinion. The Knicks are an incredibly clutch team and obviously the best competition team, but I don’t really see them as a regular season team. It’s just imo Brown doesn’t prioritize and as the 3rd seed they became the first team to win the NBA cup and the finals (I know the cup has only been for 3 years but still). If they can keep Tatum and Brown fully healthy I don’t see how they don’t get at least the second seed. In the regular season, they outrebounded all teams in the east as well as having the fewest turnovers while holding opponents to the fewest points in the east. And JB is still in his prime and Tatum is still getting there.
Knicks. I think the reigning champions will be the second seed in the east over the pistons, though I think it will be close. Again, amazing competition team but I think second seed feels right for them. When you look at reg season stats last year, they finish roughly slightly above average in everything (like 4-6th in east), and I think that’s their strength. They’re an all around team with two all stars
Pistons. Right now, I see them as a very capable team who wants a rematch in the playoffs, but putting them over the Celtics and the Knicks just feels unrealistic in total wins. The reason they got such a good record last season is they were a lockdown defense team who got a crazy amount of steals and blocks per game and shot really efficiently from the floor, but the other two teams just look so dominant compared to them.
Cavaliers. I don’t see them changing this much this offseason. with their first rounder basically being a second round pick along with having no additional picks, no major contracts expiring (other than harden but I don’t see Cleveland not renewing his contract even with his arrest) and no real trade rumors, I see this team staying basically where they were last year.
Hawks. I see a small bump from last year, primarily due to a young core aging another year as well as having the 8th pick in tonight’s draft. Them getting Wiggins is a plus too, but I don’t see anything absolutely crazy happening with this team, I see them continuing their trend of playing really well offensively and with good ball movement, but still having a relatively mediocre defense
Magic. With (hopefully) Wagner being healthy all season and their young players like Banchero getting another year of experience, I don’t see them getting the 6 seed as totally crazy. I still think them firing Mosley was an overreaction considering how far the team got, but hopefully Sweeney can contribute as much to the magic as he did to the spurs (associate coach but whatever)
Raptors. Honestly, you could switch this with the magic and I wouldn’t say you’re wrong. Both are young teams that held veteran teams to a 7 game series in the playoffs, and if they do get turner like they want I could see this team going to another 7 game series or even a crazy upset.
Hornets. Again, I might sound like a broken record but this is a team with incredible talent that’s just young and has like no playoff experience. With them finally hitting 0.500 after 4 seasons and an absolutely loaded backcourt (including the first rookie to ever lead the league in 3’s), their Tre ball excessive offense clearly has worked to some degree (except for the play in game lol). Assuming they draft a big today (hopefully Mara), I could see them developing their game and finally being a team that isn’t a highlight machine with nothing to show for it
76er’s. The 76er’s are in a really unique spot considering their star player is in injury trouble, although I’m sure the rest of the team is capable of stepping up. I hope Maxey and VJ will have a great season this year because the east is only getting better.
Pacers. I don’t know why everyone thinks that this team suddenly becomes an instant lock to the playoffs when their star player returns from injuries, when he looks out of shape and hasn’t played in a professional game in about a year, I think this team finishes better than last year but not by much. And yes I understand they were injury riddled but every star player in the east at least got one game in the last season
Heat. I don’t care what you say, Giannis on this team doesn’t change much in my opinion. They traded away 4 players (including their best player still yet to reach his prime at 26) and their first rounder this year for a 30 year old pf who just got off an injury riddled season. Sure you have Bam and Giannis on the same team but Giannis‘s defense has slowly climbed towards the league average (pretty sure worse now) and he’s only getting older. They need to get to signing this offseason because a roster who’s only semi-good backcourt player is Wiggins. Oh wait, he’s gone because they don’t have enough salary. Honestly have absolutely no clue why Riley thought this was a good idea. Stretch what I said about free agency. This team has to get a miracle to save them because they don’t even have a lot of draft picks.
Wizards. Again, overhyped comeback team. The first overall pick doesn’t suddenly turn the worst team in the conference to a playoff loc, and while everyone aging a year is good for everyone, this is a comeback in the making, not a sudden jump from a .207 to 0.500. Do I think they will do a lot better? Yes . Do I think they become the team everyone thinks they will? No.
Bulls. I don’t really know much about them except for the fact that their offense is decent and their defense is ass. I do realize they have the 3rd best pick this draft but honestly I don’t know what will happen with this team. This is all just speculative, but I don’t see them climbing any higher even though their team is young
Bucks. The team that traded their franchise hero away for half the heat roster and like 5 picks. I think right now the bucks are aiming for that sweet spot of 4-6th worst in the league, and with them looking to trade Herro yet again I don’t see anything other than their wish coming true
Nets. Everyone knows it. They do have two first rounders and Randle now, but I just don’t see this team escaping the last spot when you look at the rest of the East