Winning a division isn’t as crucial in the NBA as it is in many other major professional sports leagues in North America. In the NBA, a club is more likely to worry about its playoff seed within the conference than its spot in the divisional standings.
Still, even if winning a division doesn’t assure a team of a first-round bye or a weak opponent in the postseason, there will be at least one NBA divisional race worth keeping a close eye on in 2018/19. The Celtics, Raptors, and Sixers project to be not just the top three teams in the Atlantic but also the three best teams in the Eastern Conference, based on a handful of early win-loss projections from oddsmakers.
According to sports betting site Bodog.eu, for instance, the Celtics have an over/under of 58.5 wins for next season, followed by Toronto and Philadelphia at 54.5. No other Eastern Conference team is projected for more than 46.5 wins.
The forecast for the Atlantic makes sense. The Raptors (59-23), Celtics (55-27), and 76ers (52-30) were the top three seeds in the Eastern Conference in 2017/18, and there’s no reason to expect any of them to take a huge step back.
The Celtics should have Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving back to lead a deep rotation that includes Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Marcus Smart, Terry Rozier, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Morris, among others. Young Sixers stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons now have a full year under their belts, and if 2017’s first overall pick Markelle Fultz can bounce back from a lost rookie season, Philadelphia has a scary amount of high-level talent on its roster.
The Raptors underwent the most significant changes of any of the Atlantic’s top three teams this summer, with Nick Nurse replacing Dwane Casey on the sidelines and Kawhi Leonard replacing DeMar DeRozan on the court. If Nurse struggles in his first NBA head coaching job and/or Leonard isn’t fully healthy, the Raptors figure to fall short of their projections, but their upside is as high as that of any team in the East.
We want to get your thoughts on how the Atlantic division will play out this season. Will the Celtics make good on their status as favorites and take the division? Will the Raptors defend their Atlantic title? Will the Sixers take a big step forward as their young stars continue to improve? What order do you expect those top three Atlantic teams to finish in?
Vote below in our poll and jump into the comment section below to share your thoughts!
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I think it’ll be Celtics, Raptors, and Pacers. I just remember last season Philadelphia was barely in the playoffs until they acquired Marco Belineli and Irsan Illyasova. Then they had the easiest schedule to finish out the season. The Pacers won the season series against Philadelphia 2-1 last season.
I think Boston’s chemistry is perfect. They asked Brad Stevens this summer if he’d be interested in another job. He said not until they fire me.
Pacers aren’t in the Atlantic. I think they’ll be in contention for a top 4 seed in the East, but Washington and Miami will be fighting for that as well with the Celtics, Sixers, and Raptors.
They are in the eastern conference is what I mean. I think Boston and Toronto are sure things. I think with the addition of Jeff Green and Dwight Howard, the Wizards have to be considered. I think last season was a fluke for them. Indiana is the deepest team in the east.
It’s tough believing a roster that was 1 game away from the finals that adds Kyrie, Hayward, and Theis from injury is not the deepest team. I dont think theres a higher quality & versatile top 10 roster in the nba; Irving/Hayward/Tatum/Horford/Baynes, rozier/smart/brown/morris/Theis. plug and play based on matchup. Is the bottom 5 the difference? How are you looking at “depth”/ who are the great depth pieces in IND? genuinely asking, didnt watch them a lot last year.
Mio, I grew with you that I think the Pacers are the 3D best team in the East, followed closely by by Philly.
I think the Raptors will have the most regular season wins though. Boston has a great club, but they have to work back in two returning stars from injury, whereas the Raps only have to do so with one. I think Boston is the better playoff team, but I could see the Raps picking up a couple of more regular season wins.
Celtics, Pacers, Raptors, Cavs, Sixers. Embed will miss 3/4 of the season and Simmons won’t hit a jump shot until mid January and it’ll be the only one he hits all year
Make no mistake is gonna be Philly, Boston & Toronto. But for the ECF is gonna be Philly, Boston, Milwaukee,Washington, Toronto, Indiana, Detroit & Cleveland/Miami. Embiid will play all the around 70 games & Simmons will keep dominating the league as a PG regardless if he can hit jump shots or not, you see the 3 best PG’s of all time, for me anyway (Magic, Stockton, J-Kidd) no one of them was considered a good or decent shooter, at least till the end of their careers, dominated the league without shooting, just making team mates better, which is their job not shooting.
csec, the 90s called. They said it’s not the 90s anymore and to leave them out if it. Also, Paul, Curry, Kyrie, Harden, IT, K Walker et al left you a message. They said you don’t have a clue. On the bright side, Ball, Rondo and Westbrook are at the door. They said your dead on with your analysis
Also, Adam Silver wanted me to let you know there’s only 2 teams in the ECF, not 9
cesc, it was a different time when Stockton and Magic played, the three point shot was not a weapon. As such, let’s compare mid-range 2’s and free throw %’s from their rookie years shall we.
Stockton – .481/.736
Magic – .540/.810
Simmons – .325/.540
Simmons is not on the same level as those two after one season, so don’t try to compare apples and oranges. Will Ben become a better shooter, likely, but the only comparison after one season is with Kidd, not Magic and Stockton (ps – I couldn’t find Kidd’s mid-range stats, but he shot 69% from the stripe, not 54% like Simmons).
Facts don’t go well with blind homerism
You can look at assists too. Magic said last season they want to hang Lonzo’s jersey next to his, and wanted him to break all his records. Won’t happen. Simmons is comparable to Lonzo, not Magic or Stockton.
Nailed it
At the end of the day for Philly they will have TJ Oconnell in at PG to give them their best look. Simmons, it doesn’t matter that much what he is doing. PF maybe.
Indiana had their everything-worked year. They will fall back a bit for 2019.
I think Wall and Howard will work out. But Boston is ahead of everyone.