The Western Conference, where the No. 3 and No. 10 seeds are separated by just four games, may feature a more wide-open playoff race than the Eastern Conference, but things aren’t nearly as tight at the top of the West, where the top-seeded Nuggets have a five-game lead on the No. 2 Grizzlies and an eight-game cushion on the No. 3 Kings.
In the East, there has been a perception for much of the season that the Celtics and Bucks are in their own tier as the conference’s top teams, but their lead in the standings isn’t nearly as big as the one held by Denver in the West.
Heading into the All-Star break, the 42-17 Celtics and the 41-17 Bucks are separated by a half-game, while the 38-19 Sixers are only three games out of the East’s top seed and the 38-23 Cavaliers are within five games of Boston.
The Celtics opened the season by winning 21 of their first 26 games and haven’t slowed down much since then. Even during their less dominant 21-12 stretch following their 21-5 start, Boston has a top-five net rating. For the season, they own not only the NBA’s best record but the best net rating (plus-6.2).
The Bucks have made the Celtics sweat for that No. 1 seed though, winning their last 12 games in a row. Milwaukee’s defense, headed by Brook Lopez and former Defensive Player of the Year Giannis Antetokounmpo, has the NBA’s second-best rating, and the Bucks still haven’t really gotten a look at their lineup with a fully healthy Khris Middleton. If Middleton is back to 100% or close to it by the spring, Milwaukee will be an incredibly tough out in any playoff series.
The Sixers‘ star duo of James Harden and Joel Embiid has hit its stride in its first full year together. After an up-and-down start to the season that saw them at .500 (12-12) in early December, Philadelphia has gone 26-7, with Harden and Embiid leading the way — the 76ers have a plus-8.7 net rating when they’re on the court together.
Although they’re the last of the East’s top four teams and own the least playoff experience, the Cavaliers shouldn’t be overlooked. Their defensive rating (109.3) ranks first in the NBA, and only Boston has a better full-season net rating than Cleveland’s plus-5.8 mark. The Cavs were on a roll just prior to the All-Star break, winning seven straight games before dropping one in Philadelphia on Wednesday.
Those four clubs look like the best bets to represent the East in the NBA Finals this season, especially since the revamped Nets at No. 5 probably lack the star power to make a deep postseason run. But there could be some dark horse contenders further down the Eastern Conference standings.
The Knicks at No. 6 won’t make things easy on any playoff opponent; the No. 7 Heat made the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago with a similar roster to the one they have now, and have the conference’s fourth-best record against teams that are .500 or better.
The Hawks, Wizards, Raptors, and Bulls – who currently rank between No. 8 and No. 11 – have been too inconsistent so far to consider them real threats to win the conference, but each roster features at least one or two stars.
We want to know what you think. Which Eastern team will represent the conference in the NBA Finals this season?
Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to explain your pick.
I have the Wizards finishing better than the Bulls if they can stay healthy
I’ve got the raptors winning
I’d like to see it! Raps are a fun team with a bright future.
Celtics will win it all!
To me it obviously has to be the Boston Celtics and no other team comes close. I see the Bucks have more votes at this time but I am not seeing it and by a wide margin to be honest.
I think the Bucks are too one-dimensional much in the same way the Dallas Mavericks are.. (or were.)
The Celtics have it all. Several Stars, great defense, toughness, deep bench, wings, big men, good coaching, shooting. I think they stand alone in the east. Just my opinion. In fact they probably win it all this year. They came close last year and Tatum wasn’t at his best in the finals.
Definitely not the sixers ! They won’t join the Phillies and eagles in losing in the grand stage they will lose before then in rd 2
I think the Bucks have more staying power than Boston. Milwaukee will finish strong. I see the Celtics finishing at a slightly-better-than .500 pace the last 10-12 games.
Yeah,good luck with that. Over the past 10 days Boston beat Philly while missing Smart/Horford/RWilliams,lost Brown at halftime and with Tatum scoring just 12pts.
Then beat Memphis while missing Smart/Brown/Brogdon and Tatum scoring just 16pts. Then next game took the Bucks to OT while missing Tatum/Brown/Smart/Horford. Add in their recent win against Brooklyn and they’re 3-1 in February against the top 7 teams in the overall NBA standings. This team is too deep to finish out the season at a slightly better than .500 stretch.
Boston is better than Milwaukee top to bottom.
Without refs stopping the clock for them, I don’t know how the Bucks defeat the upper crust in the playoffs.
The NBA will do anything for its next LBJ though, and fixing games has never been a problem for them.
EAST
defensive efficiency ranks
2. Bucks
3. Celtics
5. 76ers
Bucks healthy are the team to beat. Celtics, Sixers, Cavs in that order. After that you got the Heat, Knicks, Hawks. Then maybe Nets now.
I see tough 1st rd series coming up in the East. I hope Knicks come to win.
MIL, if they can get Middleton healthy (meaning playing the way he was before his injury at the end of last year). Otherwise, BOS. Either way, I expect the EC playoffs to go according to chalk and BOS and MIL to meet in the ECF.