I’ve covered the teams in the West. If you missed it, you can go here to check it out. Now it’s time to look at the Eastern Conference.
Who are we kidding here. I’m not going to waste your time or mine. I think it’s about two teams, the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Lets get started.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland was the top team in the conference this year. They started the year off strong winning their first 15 games and at one point held a 33-4 record. Donavan Mitchell is a superstar and their number one option. Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland are part of the Big 4. The role players like Strus and Hunter will determine the outcome of a few games. They can make it to the Conference Finals with just those guys alone that I have mentioned. But the guy that’s going to have the biggest impact in my mind is Evan Mobley. His play will be what decides if they make it past the Boston Celtics or are left waiting for next season. I was skeptical of him taking it up a notch after watching his play in last year’s playoffs. But he’s stepped it up big time this year. His stats don’t say it as much as his skillset does. After all, they do have many mouths to feed on this team. Still, Mobley has went from 15 pts a game to 18 pts a game. And he’s went from shooting one 3-pointer a game to shooting 3 of them now, at a 37% clip. Again, his stats are not going to wow you, but I think he will be the biggest reason the Cavs get over the Boston hump, or not.
Boston Celtics
They’re the defending Champs. The only thing that’s going to stop them from making it to the Finals again is that Cavs team and/or injuries. And being that Jalen Brown is going into the playoffs injured, they very well could be watching the Finals on TV this year. But there’s too much talent on this team not to at least make it to the Conference Finals. They’ll get there and we’ll see who’s the better team after that, them or Cleveland.
New York Knicks
This is a pretty good team. Who’s going to step up to help Jalen Brunson in the 2nd round if they get to Boston? That’s my biggest question. We know that depending on Karl Anthony Towns to be your second best scorer consistently is not a winning formula. So let’s see if they can do it by committee from a game to game basis. They are not as deep as Boston or Cleveland but they have enough talent (Bridges, OG, Hart, McBride, Robinson) to scare either team if they get rolling. I say Boston beats them in the 2nd round though. The Knicks haven’t fared well against really good teams all season.
Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers
This should be a fun and exciting series, with or without Dame Lilliard. But whoever wins this one will meet the Cavs in the 2nd round. And that will be that!
Detroit Pistons
Other than the Lakers, this is the team I’m most excited to see in the playoffs. This is a young roster that could really open some eyes with their play this post season. We’ll see what they can do, starting on Saturday against the Knicks.
The NCAA teams
No Change At All teams. The rest of the East (Orlando, Miami/Atlanta) has no chance at all to make an impact in these playoffs. We all know it. No need to waste any energy on them until they level up.
And there’s my recap of the East’s playoff teams. This should be fun, especially the first round. I can’t wait. Over and out.