Way-too-early playoff predictions for the Eastern Conference
The NBA preseason is underway, which means it’s time for NBA fanatics, like myself, to predict how the drama we call the NBA season will play out. With the departure of LeBron James from the Cleveland Cavaliers, the landscape of the Eastern Conference suddenly seems wide open for many playoff contenders. Below are my top four way-too-early playoff seeding predictions.
1. Boston Celtics
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics took Lebron and the Cavs to seven hard- fought games, all without their star point guard Kyrie Irving and swingman Gordon Hayward. With their stars back, the Celtics ability to win on the road will improve drastically and their bench should be even more potent than it was last year, which will help them during the long regular season. If Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the rest of the young pieces on the team can play as aggressively and efficiently as they did last postseason, this team will not only win the Eastern Conference, they will also have a legitimate shot at dethroning the Golden State Warriors in the Finals.
2. Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers have shown the merits of the strategy of tanking in the NBA. Even though their fans have suffered through years of results ranging from disappointing to embarrassing, the franchise has finally turned itself around and is on the right track. With a healthy and confident Markelle Fultz, a healthy and dominant Joel Embiid, a point forward with a ton of potential like Ben Simmons and a solid supporting cast full of shooters and long defenders, the 76ers should be a dangerous team coming out of the East. However, to take them to the next level, head coach Brett Brown will have to figure out how to get the ball-dominant Fultz and Simmons to coexist on offense.
3. Toronto Raptors
Many people are doubting the Raptors and for good reason. First, the Raptors fired their head coach Dwane Casey, who won Coach of the Year for the 2017-18 season. After this blunder, the Raptors doubled down and traded their franchise cornerstone guard Demar Derozan and young prospect Jakob Poeltl to the San Antonio Spurs for a disgruntled Kawhi Leonard on an expiring contract and Danny Green. If the Raptors get Leonard to buy into their franchise and mesh with star point guard Kyle Lowry, they could make some serious noise in Eastern Conference. However, with a brand-new coach, it may take some time for the Raptors players to adjust completely.
4. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are a team that finally has a chance to break into the Finals. Led by arguably the best player in the Conference, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and a supporting cast that includes point guard Eric Bledsoe, shooting guard Khris Middleton and Malcolm Brogdon off the bench, the Bucks could make some noise this year. Plus, the Bucks have hired new coach Mike Budenholzer, a student of legendary Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who had a successful tenure as the coach of the Atlanta Hawks. Overall, this team could easily be ranked higher, but their past problems with underachieving made me reconsider placing them too high.
Note to readers: Here’s what David had to say, but next week, we want to know what you have to say. Submit your answers to “Who do you think will win the NBA finals?” to elisabethsewell@southern.edu or drunnels@southern.edu to be in next week’s issue!