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.

    • Blumpkin_Party@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      They are built to win a lot of RS games with their defense. But I’m with you that I will need to wait until the playoffs to buy into anything they are doing. They were just awful in the playoffs last year.

      • Lonnywalkman@alien.topBEnglish
        1·
        11 months ago

        I mean are we really putting THAT much stock into a teams first playoff appearance that was a horrible matchup for them?

        The teams third best player was in his second season and the team had no spacing.

        Assuming you tweak the offense by adding spacing, which they did, and that Mobley takes a minor stride in offense that’s at least a seven game series with the Knicks.

        The Knicks beat them in 5 but by no mean we’re these games not close.

        • Blumpkin_Party@alien.topBEnglish
          1·
          11 months ago

          They legit couldn’t generate half court offense. Not like they were playing some juggernaut either in the Knicks. It’s one thing being young and another being a complete deer in the headlights.

          • Lonnywalkman@alien.topBEnglish
            1·
            11 months ago

            It wasn’t a deer in the headlights the team had no spacing they worked to address this in the off-season.

            Assuming the teams offense gets slightly better they win the series. You’re not running back a one for one.

            Cleveland seems to be just like star young players. Trae young is a great example. People like the new fun player with a bunch of potential then one thing goes wrong and people tend to hate and undervalue them.

            Determining a young teams standing based on 5 games last year seems pretty illogical

    • ncr39@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      They won 54 games last year, had the 2nd best net rating, and got better. Just because the Knicks cleaned their clocks in the playoffs doesn’t mean the Cavs won’t be a better regular season team, again.