The top tier of the Eastern Conference has been clearly defined for months, as the Nets, Sixers, and Bucks separated themselves from the rest of the pack in the first half and have maintained that cushion for most of the 2020/21 season. With the postseason fast approaching, those three clubs look like the best bets to come out of the conference and represent the East in the 2021 NBA Finals.
Brooklyn is the odds-on favorite to win the East at this point. The Nets have had all three of their stars – Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving – healthy and available just seven times this season, but they still sit atop the conference standings with a 41-20 record. If they can play this well with just one or two of their stars on the court, it’s a reasonable assumption that the Nets will be an even tougher out in the playoffs once they have all three back.
Still, while Durant, Harden, and Irving are all expected to be ready to go for the postseason, that’s certainly not a lock. Durant has been limited to just 25 games as he has dealt with various injuries this season, Harden recently experienced a setback in his recovery from a hamstring strain, and Irving has a long history of health issues. Even if all three stars are available, their lack of minutes together to date could result in some growing pains when the stakes are highest. And Brooklyn’s 24th-ranked defense could be a concern in the postseason too.
The Sixers, at 39-21, currently hold the No. 2 seed in the East, and will also be counting on good health luck once the playoffs get underway. When he has been on the court, Joel Embiid has played like an MVP this season, but his injury history is a concern. While Ben Simmons is a legit Defensive Player of the Year candidate and Tobias Harris is having perhaps his best season as a pro, the Sixers’ ceiling hinges on Embiid’s availability.
The Bucks, meanwhile, have flown somewhat under the radar this season after leading the NBA in wins for two consecutive years. At 37-23, they appear to be focused less on piling up regular season victories and more about preparing for the postseason. With Jrue Holiday now in the mix, the Bucks – who are the only one of the East’s top three teams with both an offensive and defensive rating in the NBA’s top 10 – have a more versatile and more dangerous closing lineup than they’ve had in recent years.
According to the oddsmakers at BetOnline.ag, no other Eastern team is better than a 16-to-1 shot to come out of the conference. Still, it’s worth keeping an eye on some of the dark horses, since we saw the fifth-seeded Heat knock off three higher seeds in last year’s playoffs to make the Finals.
This year’s Heat have a pretty similar roster, but they’re currently ranked just seventh in the East at 32-29, putting them in position for a play-in spot. They have the same record as the No. 6 Celtics, the team Miami beat in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. The C’s have underachieved a little this season, but if Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kemba Walker are all clicking at the same time, they can hold their own against just about any team.
While Miami and Boston are more battle-tested in the postseason, they’re currently trailing the upstart Knicks and Hawks, who rank fourth and fifth in the Eastern standings. The two 34-27 squads are among the hottest teams in the league — New York has won nine straight games while Atlanta has won 20 of its last 27. Neither club has a ton of playoff experience, but if they can hang onto their current spots in the standings, at least one of them will make the second round.
What do you think? Which team do you expect to represent the Eastern Conference in this year’s NBA Finals?
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The biggest no-brainer in the history of mankind. The Brooklyn Nets.
It’s hard to see a team other than Brooklyn winning the East but don’t count out my Miami Heat. I think the key is Oladipo being healthy though and that’s not looking so promising at the moment.
Yes, Miami will benefit a lot from the ball-stopping 30% FG on offense and traffic cone defense.
For big no brainers, I agree the Nets are the obvious sucker bet. 3 flakiest superstars in the game and most injury prone. If the Nets win they will be the first team to be a bad defensive team and a bad rebounding team to ever win the title. The Bucks or Sixers will maul them.
GeneralZod you are not wrong. What I’m counting on is that at 30 years of age these guys will wake up and take a look at their past and learn from it. Each guy will today do what it takes to win as opposed to five years ago do what it takes to look good. Well that’s what I’m counting on… if it happens, who knows.
But out of the teams in the East I can’t think of any reason why Brooklyn doesn’t come out on top. The other strong teams have more flaws than the Nets in my opinion.
I just don’t see how they can keep bigger teams from battering them on the glass or to stop anyone. Maybe, but I see the Nets as much less balanced and with a great offense, to me that isnt a winning formula.
It’s not really a no-brainer if they can’t stay healthy though. Bucks are incredibly good too.
I haven’t looked but I wonder what Giannis free throw percentage is in the fourth quarter. Isn’t he a little like Simmons where he’s superb at scoring and getting to the hole but his shot is suspect and his free-throw shooting is a weakness? Doesn’t go over well in the playoffs when you can put a 60% free throw shooter on the line in the last 2 minutes.
The Nets my win a round or 2 but there is not a chance they win the East. 1. They have never played together at the same time. In the playoffs, you don’t develop chemistry, you test the chemistry already in place (see the Clippers last year for just one of many exs.). The Nets have literally no playing time together and will fall into that trap. 2. They couldn’t defend someone if their life depended on it. In the last 50 years, the only team to win a ring without being a top 10 defense in the regular season is the lakers (2001 I believe) and they were the #1 team defense the year before (they were basically the same squad as before but they just didn’t see the need to try until the playoffs). They simply have no answer to the big men of the bucks and 76ers, who will run roughshod over them, not to mention anyone else they face. 3. Does anyone really trust Kyrie, who is one of the loosest cannons in the league, and Blake Griffin, who hasn’t been more than average in years plus being unhealthy, to be truly effective supporters to KD and Harden, who have both not been able to stay healthy? I rest my case.
I totally agree, how can a team who can’t defend, can’t rebound, and has just been thrown together win the title? Especially if for months now they have been together and have played only 7 games together. The playoffs is not the time for jelling or learning to play as a team.
A team that can’t defend for their life and has had their 3 stars play a total of 6 games together is a no-brainer?
Black Ace who do you have coming out of the East? I think the other teams are too flawed.
I think it’s the Nets, Bucks, or Sixers. Each have major flaws. I don’t trust the Nets defense, health, or chemistry. I don’t trust the playoff version of the Bucks until they prove it and Budenholzer can adapt in game and Giannis can win when it matters. I don’t trust the Sixers offense in the playoffs or their health. You are right with all that which is why I don’t think any team is a no brainer.
It’s going to be the Nets with all their heathy players because they’ve sat out most of the season with phantom injuries or a head case (Kyrie) this season is bought for by them it’s pathetic
Amen….
I heard that Hamstring recurring rate is 32% for players
Bucks coaching is declining
Embiid needs to rest 5 games
Pacers – Boom Baby ! My lifelong team…
Whoops, wait. Never mind…
I see it as the Sixers being the favorite to come out of the east. Milwaukee has also come out of some early season issues and have a well rounded squad. The Sixers are a team that creates mismatches for everyone. And they defend and clean up the glass. If they enjoy good luck with injuries I see a repeat of the early 80s finals with the Lakers
That would definitely be fun to watch. I really wouldn’t mind seeing embiid and Simmons on the grand stage with all eyes watching in the finals and see how they do. Probably pretty well.
While I can see all of these teams making it, I think Curry disciple Giannis will be the one who will be the most inspired by Curry’s recent greatness, which in turn will influence him to play better in the playoffs, so I’m going Bucks/Warriors finals this year.
If the Nets are healthy, they’re the favorite.
The Sixers won’t beat the Bucks in a series. If the Nets aren’t healthy, the Bucks have a clear path to the finals.
The Bucks are pretty good and I love how Middleton has stepped up. He’s really a great player. They do seem to have filled in places where they were weak previously.
The disrespect for a team that’s been a top the standings pretty much all year and only recently feel a game behind while playing short handed is ridiculous! Sixers will win the East!
The Sixers are very good. Everyone knows that. The fourth quarter of a playoff game is a different story. Can you really have Ben Simmons on the floor with that free throw shooting? That says nothing of his inability to hit anything outside of 19 feet. Defenses will adjust and the Sixers will probably fall short.
One other reason is I believe Tobias Harris is a very good player, borderline perennial All-Star.. but still Falls a little short of 3rd Star status. He’s paid like one and does many things very well but he’s not a star who will help embiid in crunch time.
Both 76ers and Bucks coaches have the worst playoffs coach in the nba?
They won so many games in regular season and have huge under-achievements in playoffs
Will Doc Rivers be healthy for the playoffs? If so, count Philly out.
I agree that a “healthy” HEAT team can surprise and get to the conference finals and even beat Brooklyn with a Big Two. If they have 3, Brooklyn is in the finals. I just dont think they’ll make it thru the playoffs with all three.
Stating the obvious, I’ve never seen a season where every good team has all their main player’s health so “iffy”. Sure, we’ve seen injuries. But every team in the hunt (except LAC) is having issues with their star players. Usually it’s just a George Hill-type player. There’s still a couple weeks left for an LAC injury tho Smh
Jumpshot, yes, thanks for reminding me. I forgot about the Doc Rivers Factor. The roster is great and loaded but Doc Rivers practically guarantees a second-round exit.
I downgraded the Nets and 76ers chances because of the injury factor. If everyone stays healthy, it’s a toss up. The coaching factor is interesting. Bud has a lot of experience in the playoffs but has botched three seasons where his team had the best record in the Conference or NBA. Doc also has tons of playoff experience and has actually won a Championship. Nash is a rookie with little experience. Nash’s coaching, be it it clutch or cringeworthy, may dictate the Nets success. Bud is gone if he does not make it to the Finals. Advantage: Doc and the 76ers.
Teams are hoping that other teams are injured so they can win the East
It means to me that they are not good enough
Guys play hurt in the playoffs. Play through pain. Shouldn’t be a problem for most teams other than the Phoenix Suns. (Insert Chris Paul annual Hammy here.)
Miami or Boston can upset anyone… Bam, Nunn & Butler starring. Boston is hard to predict. Dedmon will be the best of the late center signings, b/c he will allow Adebayo to be a forward. He looked a little lost when I saw him but by playoff time, he should be able to make advantage-takers pay. And Herro needs to find his stride. To win, they would need “old” Dipo, but that may not happen.
I will say Jrue will come through and MIL wins. Not that confident though. Rivers will piss off the refs and Durant will not be able to stay healthy against Philly.
I love Miami’s grit Factor and super stud Jimmy Butler. Erik Spoelstra is definitely an underrated coach even after all these years. Can’t count Miami out but do they have the horses?
They have to distracted from their famous core values. And Bjelica has not worked out either besides Dipo and they messed up Herro, Dragic and Nunn by starting Herro a PG.
In recent years, teams that really get it together cannot seem to stop putzing with the formula!
It is clearly going to be the Bulls. They traded their way to the Finals.
A solid defense team can give Nets trouble. I hope we see them in 2nd rd, please. Sixers and Bucks D can beat the Nets. Nets healthy have to be favorites. A team that plays D and makes the gm clock an issue. Can beat Nets. You have to play them full court or 3/4 court. Make Nets use clock. Then make them pay on D. Both Bucks n Sixers have players to get fouls on KD n Harden. Both are weak on D and can be bullied. You have to attack Nets D and don’t get into a shoot out. Easier said than done, I know. Sixers and Bucks both have the team n depth to do it in 7gm series.
I got Bucks coming out of East. Knicks will soften Nets up first. Bucks vs Clippers Finals …..