Why Each Team Will/Will Not Win the NBA Championship: Eastern Conference
Photo by Eric Canha from USA Today Sports
It’s been quite a bit since there’s been non-F1 content on this site, and we’re now getting smack into playoff time for the NBA and NHL.
So I figured why not do a deep dive into the NBA playoffs before the play in games begin tomorrow?
The Eastern Conference will be first, the Western Conference second, and if you don’t follow the NBA and aren’t sure about who to root for, don’t worry about that. I’ve got you covered tomorrow.
So, let’s dive right into it.
Boston Celtics
Why They Will
Are they the best team in the NBA? Eh, I’m not sure.
But there’s zero doubt that they’re the best team in the Eastern Conference, and if they can breeze through the East with little to no battle, they’ll be in great shape to win it all against whatever Western team gets through that gauntlet.
Why They Won’t
The Celtics for the past few years have been a very good regular season team, but the NBA is maybe the biggest difference between “regular season success” and “playoff success.”
Head coach Joe Mazzulla has a lot of pressure on him to succeed in the postseason to legitimize himself as a great coach in this league, and not just the interim who took a talented squad to the playoffs.
Getting there is easy.
Winning it is the difference.
New York Knicks
Why They Will
I know the Knicks are a bit of a meme, but I say this and I say it genuinely.
With how Tom Thibodeau coaches them, they could beat any single team in this league.
They’re talented, and they play insanely hard, with Jalen Brunson playing at a borderline MVP level the back half of the season.
Why They Won’t
There’s something very noble about Thib’s coaching methods and getting his team to play insanely hard, but this is the NBA.
Load management exists for a reason, and the Knicks don’t do it.
So yes, the Knicks do play hard!
But their first round matchup is going to be against either the Sixers or the Heat, two teams who also play extremely hard, but are better rested.
It’s a grueling season, and they might just be too worn out.
Milwaukee Bucks
Why They Will
Giannis and Dame.
The NBA is a star league, and the Bucks have two huge stars and a good supporting cast.
That may be all they need.
Why They Won’t
Giannis is hurt, Dame isn’t playing his best ball this year, and Doc Rivers doesn’t exactly have a great record of playoff success.
This may just not be the year.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Why They Will
Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley is a really, really good trio of players.
And not only that, but it’s 3 good players with differing talents, so they can score from anywhere on the floor.
Why They Won’t
The same reason that the Bucks might not this year.
Health.
Mitchell and Garland both missed time down the stretch, and they’re back now, but who knows their true health going into the playoffs?
It’s something to watch.
Orlando Magic
Why They Will
The Magic are run in the paint, and the playoffs are when the NBA goes from flash and finesse to a little bit tougher, stronger, and “who wants it more?”.
Being built with big men is a good sign for the Magic.
Why They Won’t
The playoffs are about toughness.
But it’s also still about finesse and flash.
Aka, the guards who can drive play.
The Magic don’t really have that, so it’s hard to see them going toe to toe against these teams who have great backcourts.
Indiana Pacers
Why They Will
Tyrese Haliburton turns into the player he was pre injury at the beginning of this year that drove the Pacers all the way to the in season tournament championship game.
Hey, it could happen!
Why They Won’t
That probably won’t happen.
Philadelphia 76ers
Why They Will
The Sixers may be the 7 seed on paper, but that’s due to not having reigning MVP Joel Embiid for most of the season.
Embiid is rested, he’s back, and if he plays at the level he did before his injury, the Sixers are a very serious threat.
It doesn’t hurt that they now have Nick Nurse, a proven playoff coach.
Why They Won’t
There’s a fine line between “rest” and “rust”, and we aren’t fully sure where Embiid sits on that front.
Not to mention, he hasn’t been the most consistent playoff performer himself.
The question is, was that a Doc Rivers issue? Or is it an Embiid issue?
Miami Heat
Why They Will
I think “Heat Culture” is stupid.
Having it on the court and the alternate jerseys, it’s just so cheesy to me.
However, there’s no doubt that it clearly works.
Coach Eric Spoelstra and his squad are always, always a threat come playoff time.
This year is certainly no different, even as the 8 seed.
They’ve knocked on the door a few times recently and ran out of gas.
Maybe this year is the year they finally get it done.
Why They Won’t
The reason they run out of gas is because they make it hard on themselves by having poor regular seasons and hurting their seeding.
Having to face the Sixers (and possibly Bulls/Hawks) before facing either the Knicks or Celtics is not an easy first few games.
They may get by them again, and may get through the East.
But if they do, they’ll be out of juice yet again.
Chicago Bulls
Why They Will
Science perfects cloning, and the Bulls organization finds a loophole showing they hold the rights to Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman still, meaning they become one of the truly elite teams in the NBA.
Why They Won’t
Granted, I’m not fully up to date on the most recent science news, but I don’t think perfect cloning exists yet.
That’s going to make it hard on the Bulls, to be honest.
Atlanta Hawks
Why They Will
I’m not even going to make a joke here.
The Hawks are 36-46 and somehow in a playoff spot.
God, the East is bad.
Why They Won’t
The Hawks are bad.
Good for them for making the play in game, but they’re bad.
