Predicting the NBA Eastern Conference Standings

 Ah August. What a time for me to start something like this when content is slim to none unless you're avidly following baseball. Something fun though might be predicting the NBA's standings for the upcoming season. Today we'll start with the Eastern conference. I think it'll be fun to do a retrospective at the end of the year and see how good I am at this prediction thing. Anyway, without further ado, here are your 2024-2025 Eastern Conference Standings: 

15. Brooklyn Nets

The Nets weren't the worst team in the league last year but this season will prove to be different. After trading Mikal Bridges to the Knicks for draft picks and scraps, then recovering their first round pick from the Rockets, The Nets are in tank mode. Unless Ben Simmons has a massive return to form, Cam Thomas takes a step with his playmaking and defense, and the front office decides they don't really care about incoming draftee Cooper Flagg, the Nets are going to be a bad basketball team this season 

14. Washington Wizards

I actually kind of like some of the players on the Wizards this season. They traded productive youngster Deni Avdija for Malcom Brogdon. They also added Jonas Valanciunas in free agency and retained Kyle Kuzma. Whether or not these guys are just trade fodder in a tankathon is yet to be seen. Even if the Wizards keep these three productive players, they're likely not enough to win more than 20 games in a stacked league and this fact alone likely pushes the Wizards towards tanking the second half of the season.

13. Detroit Pistons

The Pistons are better than they were last year, not saying much, but they are better. They added Tobias Harris, Paul Reed, Malik Beasly and Tim Hardaway Jr. More size and shooting across the board. A full season of Cade Cunningham with actual spacing might actually equate to a respectable offense. Defensively though this team will need a lot of work. This is another candidate who is ripe for some lottery luck and I doubt they will shy away from leaning into it. 

12. Charlotte Hornets

I wanted to put the Hornets higher. I really like Brandon Miller I think his game is Khris Middletonesque. LaMelo Ball is one of the most exciting players in the league. A full season with both of those two and the team actually has a respectable duo. The issue is, it's the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets have found a way to be bad my entire life, until I see different I won't believe it. 

11. Chicago Bulls

This is where things get kind of tough. The middle of the East is a bit of a blood bath. I wouldn't be surprised if teams 11-6 on this list finished in any order. That being said I believe Chicago will be the worst of the bunch. The Bulls added Josh Giddey, a player I like a bit if he gets the ball in his hands which he will in Chicago. They might get Lonzo Ball back  which would be huge for both him and the team. However, with the Zach Lavine situation hanging over them and basically zero players with defensive upside, I have a hard time seeing the Bulls making the play-in tournament in the east. They also have made moves that signify going younger and in a stacked draft class, I doubt they will pass up the opportunity to tank.

10. Miami Heat

OH BOY, this is a hot take I guess. Miami always finds a way to get it done. Eric Spoelstra is the best coach in basketball right now and Miami always seems to find random role players that outperform expectations. But, Jimmy Butler is 35 with a lot of miles on him, Tyler Herro is never healthy and I have to say the rest of the roster besides Bam Adebayo looks pretty lack luster. Famous last words I know, Miami probably makes me look like an idiot and finishes with the 2 seed, but for now on paper I think 10 is where they should be. 

9. Atlanta Hawks

For anyone who knows me, they know I dislike Trae Young's game. I've always felt that if the ball isn't in his hands, he's basically useless, despite how amazing he is with the ball in his hands. That being said, after trading Dejounte Murray, the Hawks look like they have a semblance of a team you should build around Trae, wings, shooters and bigs who don't need the ball. No matter what though, I believe a Trae Young led team has a ceiling of .500 + or - 5 games which should put them firmly in the playin. 

8. Indiana Pacers 

Another hot take! Yes I think Indiana will be a play-in team this season. Despite swinging big and landing Pascal Siakam last season, the Pacers were only 20-16 with both he and Haliburton in the lineup. Hali was notably injured for the second half of the season and that may have a lot to do with it, but really I think this team lacks defense. They are going to have an electric offense again this season and that will win them a bunch of games, but the league is tough and I have a hard time seeing them make a top 6 seed given that they've done nothing to improve on the defensive end. 

7. Cleveland Cavaliers 

I am SCORCHING now. Cleveland has a lot to be excited about, Evan Mobley is a defensive menace as promised. Donovan Mitchell can score at will on any given night. Darius Garland is coming off the worst year of his career and is likely to improve. The Cavs however, have made no changes to their team from last year. Mitchell is in the last season of his contract and trade rumors will be swirling all season. The fit between their two bigs, Mobley and Jarrett Allen, has long been criticized as has the fit between the backcourt pairing of Garland and Mitchell. With all the potential for drama swirling around the team this season, I believe they may take a slight step back and find themselves in the play-in tournament. 

6. Toronto Raptors

Yeah I am a homer, so what? I like to believe in things and have hope when so few do. We barely got to see the new look Raptors at full strength last year. Almost immediately after RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley joined the team, Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl got hurt and the wheels fell off. A full season of those 4 will prove to be an actually good NBA offense with skillsets that mix and match well. Scottie Barnes took a leap last season becoming an all-star and I have no doubt he will continue to improve his game. Gradey Dick surged in the second half of the season last year looking like an actual NBA 2 guard. Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk and Davion Mitchell are 3 real NBA players they can bring off the bench with a variety of youngsters to add to the mix. A lot of people are down on this Raptors team but I think the team fits a lot better around Scottie and will surprise a lot of people this season. 

5. Milwaukee Bucks

I feel like I am losing my mind when I talk to people about Damian Lillard. On the eye test, it felt like he was good in 1/5 games last season, that 1 game would be awesome but 4 games would leave you wanting more. He's another year older, frequently an injury concern and a massive, massive part of this Bucks team. Giannis will be enough to drag them to the playoffs himself as he is amazing but his supporting cast is aging rapidly. Brook Lopez will be 37 this season, Khris Middleton hasn't looked great in a couple of years and they don't exactly have depth that inspires confidence. I think the Bucks take a step back this year, this will anger some fans.

4. Orlando Magic

Yes! The Magic over the Bucks! Lets be clear, this is a regular season prediction. If these two teams were to meet up in the playoffs, as I am predicting, I think the Bucks take the series. That being said, the Magic are built for the regular season. Franz Wagner shouldn't have another bad shooting year, Paolo Banchero is a cool jack of all trades tough shot maker and the addition of KCP provides much needed shooting without taking away anything from their defense. I think this team has the potential to win 50+ games this year which should firmly land them home court in the first round. 

3. New York Knicks

Let me start off by saying I love Jalen Brunson, he might be my favorite player in the league (if Shai didn't exist he would be). The addition of Mikal Bridges is a perfect fit for any team, but it just makes the Knicks unfair. They can roll out a lineup of Brunson, Anunoby, Bridges, Randle, Mitchell with Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo on the bench. Their depth, shooting and 2 way players all should lead to a regular season monster. I believe the 3 seed is the floor for this team, but the high end talent on the top 2 stops me from placing the Knicks any higher. 

2. Philadelphia 76ers 

The 76ers were 31-8 with Joel Embiid last season and they were 16-27 without him. Is betting on the health of the injury prone big stupid? Maybe. I think the addition of Paul George will allow the team to manage his minutes and games a bit more carefully. PG is a massive upgrade over Tobias Harris and should lead to more regular season wins by that fact alone. Maxey is a rising star and I think he will take another step this year. The 76ers should be feared atop the east by all except for...

1. Boston Celtics

YUCK. It always sucks to gas up the Celtics but they were far and away the best team in the league last season and they have brought back essentially everyone. There isn't much to say, the team fits like a glove, they can play lineups with zero holes in shooting, playmaking or defense and they're well coached. It would be surprising if the Celtics weren't the 1 seed again barring catastrophic injuries.