Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo is the two-time reigning MVP. Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant is a two-time NBA Finals MVP and about to get back on the floor after recovering from injury. Washington’s Russell Westbrook is still a triple-double machine. Boston’s Jayson Tatum signed an extension this offseason that could pay him close to $200 million over five years.
And none of them even play for the defending Eastern Conference champions.
The Miami Heat were the best of the East last season, NBA finalists for the first time since 2014 and bring back almost all their top players from a year ago — yet they’re still bracing for what could be a very intense race this season. That speaks to how good the depth in the East will be, with the Bucks, Nets, Celtics, Toronto and Philadelphia all joining Miami as legitimate conference contenders entering the season.
All six of those teams are unquestionably good but at least two won’t win a single playoff series.
“The competition is really good in the East,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Our guys understand that and that’s the job of the coaching staff to figure out where we can improve.”
A look at the East, in predicted order of regular-season finish:
PLAYOFF BOUND
1. Milwaukee — Giannis Antetokounmpo is now signed for years to come, the Bucks added Jrue Holiday and they’re in line to be the first East team to earn the No. 1 seed in three consecutive years since Chicago in 1996 through 1998.
2. Boston — Kemba Walker’s knee remains a bit of a concern and Gordon Hayward has moved on to Charlotte. That said, Boston and coach Brad Stevens have more than enough — Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart — to contend once again.
3. Brooklyn — The waiting is over and it’s time to see Kevin Durant in a Nets uniform. New coach Steve Nash has assembled a star-studded staff of assistants and Durant, Kyrie Irving and the very underrated sharpshooter Joe Harris should click quickly.
4. Miami — The defending East champs will miss Jae Crowder, but their young core led by Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson could and should get even better. Point guard Goran Dragic in the sixth-man role clearly worked wonders last season.
5. Toronto — It’s starting as a season of change for the Raptors, who’ll play in Tampa. Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam are back, Fred VanVleet is signed, and if new bigs Aron Baynes and Alex Len fit quickly Toronto will be fine.
6. Philadelphia — It was an offseason of big moves — Doc Rivers, Daryl Morey, trading Josh Richardson and Al Horford — and the 76ers look better on paper. But what still has to be proven is whether Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid truly work together.
7. Atlanta — The Hawks are all-in on making a playoff run and added plenty of shooting with Danilo Gallinari and Bogdan Bogdanovic. The biggest addition: Adding Rajon Rondo as the veteran voice in the locker room and a mentor to Trae Young.
8. Washington — Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal, if healthy, aren’t going to be the backcourt that misses the playoffs. Reuniting Westbrook with coach Scott Brooks was a genius move by general manager Tommy Sheppard. The question will be if Washington can defend.
IN THE MIX
