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.

  • Rohkha@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    11 months ago

    Ngl, kinda baffled. Watching how the Cavs biffed it in the postseason, and how Miami clapped the Knicks with a hobbled team, and the shitstorm that Phili is going through, seeing all these teams ahead of the Heat is just a mystery to me.

    But this is r/nba, I’m ready to get flooded by replies telling me how the Heat did nothing to get better, and biffing Lillard makes them from top2 in the league to barely a play in somehow.

      • lolvalue@alien.topBEnglish
        1·
        11 months ago

        They also were the 3rd or 4th most injured team. I think every year every team really just comes down to injuries and who doesn’t have them. Same with Football.

        • esridiculo@alien.topBEnglish
          1·
          11 months ago

          If you saw Strus in the playoffs, then not really.

          Gabe Vincent was fine for the Heat, but most of our fan base agree he’s been meh to serviceable his whole career.

          They got rid of Dedmon and Zeller and they got some Thomas Bryant, which was a massive upgrade.

          They always have some up and coming new players they keep bringing in and then give official contracts like Haywood Highsmith and Jamal Cain and the fan base is pumped for them.

          But the biggest win is getting back JRich, who some fans actually thought was too useful to trade Jimmy for, way back when. He knows the system and is now a seasoned vet.

    • wjbc@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      The other way of looking at it is that the Heat know they don’t have to be a top four seed, while the Cavs aren’t so sure they have a chance without home court advantage. So the Cavs have more incentive to go for a top four seed.