NBA All-Star weekend has come and gone and we’re ready for the second half of the season. With less than 30 games remaining, who are the favorites from the East to make the NBA Finals. The Detroit Pistons sit atop of the Eastern Conference with a 40-13 record. Despite not having Jayson Tatum all season, the Boston Celtics are second with a 35-19 record. Only three games separate the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Toronto Raptors. The Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, and Miami Heat are the sixth through eighth teams. Who are the top 5 Eastern Conference teams that could reach the NBA Finals? Below are my top 5 Eastern Conference team that could reach the NBA Finals.
Boston Celtics
Boston was on the verge of possibly defending their NBA Championship a season ago. Unfortunately, Jayson Tatum went down with an Achilles injury, and they were ousted by the Knicks. Despite being out all season, the Celtics are currently sitting second in the Eastern Conference. Jaylen Brown is having arguably his best season of his career. Many have Brown as one of the potential MVP candidates. Boston could have help around the corner in Jayson Tatum. Tatum has eluded that he could be returning some time this season. The Celtics added Nikola Vucevic before the NBA trade deadline. If Tatum can return and play at an All-Star level, the Celtics could represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.
New York Knicks
New York is currently third in the Eastern Conference and only trails the Celtics by half a game. The Knicks have the group that could reach the NBA Finals. Jalen Brunson has become one of the most clutch players in the league. Karl Anthony-Towns have become the best shooting big man in the league. Towns are still having issues on the defensive end and staying in foul trouble. OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and Mitchell Robinson are great defenders. New York added depth at the guard position by adding Jose Alvarado. The Knicks also picked up Jeremy Sochan after he was released by the San Antonio Spurs. New York still has instant scorers in Landry Chamet and Jordan Clarkson. New York was a Jalen Brunson wrist injury from reaching the NBA Finals a year ago.
Cleveland Cavaliers
As of this writing, the Cleveland Cavaliers are tied for third in the Eastern Conference with New York. They defeated the Knicks last night, but New York won the season series two games to one. The Cavs acquired James Harden before the end of the trade deadline. Harden and Donovan Mitchell are two of the better scorers in the league. Cleveland also has two of the best defenders in Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. The success of this team could weigh heavily on the future of Donovan Mitchell with the organization. If Cleveland can stay healthy, they have the assets to compete against anyone in the Eastern Conference.
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons currently sit atop of the Eastern Conference. Cade Cunningham is one of the candidates for league MVP. After years of being one of the worse teams in the league, the young core has turned it around. Jalen Duran became an All-Star this season and has become one of the better defenders in the league. The veteran additions of Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert have paid off also. The Pistons have eight players averaging at least 8 points per game. The only concerning thing about this team is that their core is young. The age thing could be a gift or a curse because they’re playing with house money.
Philadelphia 76ers
The last spot was a toss up between the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers got the final spot in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia is a couple of games behind the Raptors for the 5th seed. This team has become Tyrese Maxey’s after making the All-Star squad again. Joel Embiid and his health will be the key to this team’s success. Embiid has played 32 of the 58 games this season while averaging almost 27 points per game. VJ Edgecombe has been a welcomed addition to the team in his rookie season. Paul George is slated to return from his 25-game suspension and could provide a boost. If Philadelphia is healthy going into the playoffs, this team could surprise people and make the Eastern Conference Finals.
What do you think about my top 5 Eastern Conference teams that could make the NBA Finals? Any disagreements? Who are your top 5 teams in the Eastern Conference? Leave some feedback below about anything related to my top 5 Eastern Conference teams that could make the NBA Finals.
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