With the NBA All-Star Game fading in the rear-view mirror,
and the NBA Playoffs looming in the distance, it’s time to talk contenders and
pretenders. The Eastern Conference has four teams with a legitimate shot at making
the NBA Finals, where they’ll probably find the Golden State Warriors waiting
for them.
Three of those teams — the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors
and Philadelphia 76ers — shored up their rosters at the trade deadline. One
team, the Boston Celtics, stood pat. All should find themselves with favorable
first-round matchups.
HOW IS THE EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF RACE SHAPING UP?
CONTENDERS
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
(43-14)
Everyone knew the Bucks would be good this season. But
leading-the-East, top-contender good? Giannis Antetokounmpo has blossomed into
the dominant All-Star everyone suspected he would, averaging 27.2 points and
12.7 rebounds per game, with a net rating of 13.7. Coach Mike Budenholzer keeps
the offense flowing through Giannis, opening up scoring opportunities for Khris
Middleton, Malcolm Brogdon and others. Barring an injury to the Greek Freak,
expect the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals.
TORONTO RAPTORS
(43-16)
The Raptors faced some uncertainty coming into the season.
DeMar DeRozan was shipped off to San Antonio in exchange for Kawhi Leonard.
Dwane Casey, coach of the year last season, was deposed in favor of assistant
Nick Nurse. Did this perennial contender do enough to get over the hump come
playoff time? So far, so good. Leonard remains a force at both ends of the
court. Scorers dot the lineup. And Pascal Siakam continues to develop, upping
his game when the Raptors need an extra scoring punch. This team can keep up with
anyone.
BOSTON CELTICS
(37-21)
What’s going on in Boston seems to be a whole lot of
nothing, at least as far as this year’s playoffs are concerned. Kyrie Irving
missed two games going into the All-Star break, both of which the Celtics won.
The team is now 9-2 without their all-star guard (though mostly against non-contenders), and has shown the ability to win with
a more team-oriented approach. Gordon Hayward, Al Horford and Jayson Tatum each
put up at least 20 points in an impressive win over the 76ers last week. But
the Celtics still belong to Kyrie, and he’s giving them 23.6 points and 6.9
assists per game, with a net rating of +8.9. Last year’s playoff run
notwithstanding, their best chance of making the Finals must include him.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
(37-21)
The process worked, and 76ers fans are enjoying another
season of quality basketball in Philadelphia. A young core of Joel Embiid and
Ben Simmons, along with veteran J.J. Reddick, solidified a competitive roster.
And the additions of Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris make the 76ers a dangerous
team come playoff time. Embiid, averaging 27.3 points and 13.5 rebounds per
game, is the leading scorer in a starting lineup in which every player averages
over 16 points. As daunting as they are, the 76ers have only one win in their
seven games against the other legitimate Eastern Conference contenders.
PRETENDERS
INDIANA PACERS
(38-20)
A knee injury ended Victor Oladipo’s season a few weeks
back, and the Pacers have been holding on ever since. Oladipo’s leadership on
the floor and on the stat sheet is missed, but the team is 13-9 over the
2018-19 campaign without their star. Bojan Bogdanovic and Myles Turner have
both stepped up, averaging 22.1 and 15.9 points per game in February
respectively. But their production down the stretch and into the playoffs won’t
be enough. Look for the Pacers to slip to the fifth position and then be
outgunned by the Celtics or 76ers in the first round.
BROOKLYN NETS
(30-29)
The Brooklyn Nets are a great story. They’re just not a
great team, yet. After a 28-54 record last season, the Nets are on pace to
finish above .500 for the first time in five years. And in a weak East, that
might be good enough for the sixth seed. The Nets have managed to build a
competitive team despite trading away the high draft picks afforded losing
teams. D’Angelo Russell, averaging 20.3 points and 6.6 assists per game, is
developing into one of the NBA’s better point guards. Lacking star power, the
Nets have pieced together a roster of role-players that play well together,
Jarrett Allen and Joe Harris among them. The contributions come from all sides,
which has helped them survive injuries. Their team game just won’t help them
advance out of the first round.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS
(27-30)
The Eastern Conference has eight playoff spots to fill, and
the Hornets currently have the seventh-best record. Chances are high that this
team makes the postseason with a losing record. Kemba Walker is enjoying this
third consecutive all-star season, averaging 24.9 points per game and shooting
36.2% from three-point land. He’s about the only bright spot for a middling
Hornets team. Jeremy Lamb kicks in another 15.2 points per outing, as the
team’s second leading scorer, which isn’t enough. The Hornets are a sub-par
shooting team overall, and a sub-par defensive team. Charlotte hasn’t won a
first-round series since 2002, and it won’t happen this season.
DETROIT PISTONS
(26-30)
The Pistons have the same record as the Miami Heat and hold
the tiebreaker coming out of the All-Star Break. That’s enough to make them the
current eight seed. It won’t be enough to matter come playoff time. Like the
Hornets, the Pistons are only part of the playoff conversation because they
play in the East. Blake Griffin, with 26.3 points per game, is a top-10 scorer,
with Andre Drummond adding another 17.4 points, along with an absurd 15
rebounds. (For context, Drummond averages more boards than any remaining Piston
does points.) Over the next couple months, the Pistons will battle the Hornets,
Heat and Orlando Magic for the final two playoff spots and the right to lose in
the first round.
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