Why Each Team Will/Will Not Win the NBA Championship: Eastern Conference
Photo from Celtics Blog
It’s playoff time!
The NBA Play-In games begin tonight, which means it’s time to go over each team and why they will, or why they will not, win the NBA Championship.
We start with the East.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Why They Will
This Cavs team reminds me a lot about the Boston Celtics from last season.
A star player (Donovan Mitchell), really good players behind him (Darius Garland & Evan Mobley), a really good coach (Kenny Atkinson), and all the underlying numbers say the Cavs are a really good team.
What’s not to like?
Why They Won’t
The Cavs have a great roster, but they don’t have the best roster.
They have a star, but they don’t have a superstar.
They have a great coach, but they don’t have the best coach.
When was the last time a team won the title without any of those things?
The 04 Pistons, maybe? If you don’t consider them having the best roster that year.
The point is, the Cavs are a really, really good team.
They’re just not one of the best.
(I know that’s weird considering they won over 60 games. The NBA is weird).
Boston Celtics
Why They Will
Stacked roster. Back to back years winning over 60 games. Reigning champions.
They’re basically the exact same team as last years championship team, and that was a team that didn’t have their best player Jayson Tatum playing his best in the Finals.
If he improves, it should be a cakewalk.
Why They Won’t
Jayson Tatum has been in the Finals twice, and both times has not played his best basketball.
Coincidence? Or maybe a trend…
And if he doesn’t, the injury that last years Finals MVP Jaylen Brown currently has might mean the Celtics don’t have the help to carry them past it.
New York Knicks
Why They Will
The Knicks are what the NBA of my childhood is like, and I really like that.
The Knicks are deep, and have two superstar talents in Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, as well as a good coach in Tom Thibodeau.
They play hard. They play good defense. It’s good to see.
Why They Won’t
There’s a reason the NBA of my childhood doesn’t really exist anymore.
Yeah, the Knicks play super hard.
Thibs teams always play super hard.
That means, come playoff time, they are significantly more worn out than their playoff counterparts, who utilize load management a lot better.
Not to mention, the Knicks could not beat the Celtics or the Cavaliers all year long, and if you want to get to the NBA Finals, you’re going to have to get through probably both of them.
They’ve shown no signs they’ll be able to do so.
Indiana Pacers
Why They Will
Remember that run in the NBA In-Season Tournament the Pacers had last year?
That was cool. And it showed that they can get hot and go on a run.
That team also shocked everyone and went to the Eastern Conference Finals last year!
So maybe they can do that again!
Why They Won’t
The East last year was the Celtics and then a bunch of good, but not great, teams.
Now it’s the Celtics, the Cavs, and a bunch of good, but not great teams.
So sure, maybe they can win round 1 against the Bucks.
Then it’s the Cavaliers in round 2.
And if they somehow get through that, it’s the Celtics in the East Finals again.
It’s just not in the cards.
Milwaukee Bucks
Why They Will
Giannis will go Superman mode and drag the Bucks to the title like he did in 2021.
Why They Won’t
The NBA in 2021 did not have a dominant team, and that Bucks roster was a lot better than the current Bucks roster, who unfortunately won’t have Damian Lillard due to a blood clot.
Giannis will have to somehow surpass Superman mode to win this title, and I don’t think it’s in him.
Detroit Pistons
Why They Will
The Pistons went from historically bad one year ago, to a playoff team this year.
Who says they can’t go from a playoff team to a championship team???
Why They Won’t
I say that they won’t do that.
I think Pistons fans will also say that, to be honest.
And you know what? I bet they don’t give a damn.
Nor should they. This season has been awesome for the Pistons, and it’s good to see them back.
Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, & Miami Heat
Why They Won’t
I’m not going to lie to you.
After the Celtics, I was kind of grasping at straws for why teams could win it all.
I can’t even do that with the four play-in teams, all of whom are under .500 on the season.
I like the play-in tournament. It gives steak to these seasons, and I know the players are desperate to win these games and get into the playoffs, and that’s awesome.
But we don’t have to waste time.
None of these four are winning a title.
