134 Stephen Curry three pointers, 504 Andre Drummond rebounds, and about 50 unnecessary spin moves from Rajon Rondo into the season, it is time to take a stab at predicting which lucky eight teams will book their tickets for a playoff spot out of the tough Eastern Conference.
For the first time in seemingly forever, the NBA’s Eastern Conference is the league’s stronger of the two. With 11 of its 15 teams having won at least half of its games, the Eastern Conference playoff race has never been so competitive. Remarkably, only 3.5 games separate the first place Cavaliers and the tenth place Pistons, and even more remarkable, seeds five through 10 are only separated by one game! The start to the season sets up what could be a very intriguing playoff race that, for the last decade or so, was only prevalent out West.
- Cleveland Cavaliers (19-9)
The Cavs have been doing more than just surviving with a very limited Kyrie Irving so far, they’ve been thriving. With 19 wins in just 28 games, Cleveland finds itself sitting atop the Eastern Conference with just a few days left in 2015. Kevin Love is putting together a terrific season and LeBron James is still LeBron James which is enough said. The Cavs will only become more dangerous once Kyrie returns to full health and is able to contribute consistently.
- Miami Heat (18-11)
This year has been somewhat of a renaissance for the Miami Heat and its fans. Following the post-LeBron era, which saw four Finals appearances and two new NBA Championship banners hung from the rafters, the Heat fell into a state of mediocrity. Last season, for the first time since the 07-08 campaign, the Miami Heat failed to reach the playoffs. Led by the aging Dwayne Wade, this new Heat group including Duke Blue Devils’ star, Justice Winslow, has jumped out to a spectacular start. 2010 second round draft pick Hassan Whiteside and former Suns point guard Goran Dragic have been consistent contributors for Miami. Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh have turned back the clock this season as the Heat look to go as far as their big two will take them.
- Toronto Raptors (19-12)
Following a disappointing playoff exit last year and the departure of guards Louis Williams and Greivis Vasquez, many thought this year would be a write-off in the 6. Though the Raptors lost a lot offensively, they are able to make up for their losses with a much improved defensive squad. The additions of Demarre Carroll, Bismack Biyombo, and Cory Joseph have given the Raptors timely defense and have contributed to an overall more athletic club. The addition of Luis Scola gives the Raptors a veteran presence that they were so desperately in need of in their series loss to the Wizards. With all these additions, the Raps are still heavily reliant on their All-Star back-court of Demar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry who have been stellar thus far. Both Lowry and DeRozan have averaged over 20 points per game (PPG), and as long as that continues, the Raptors will be seen as a real contender in the East.
- Atlanta Hawks (20-12)
The Atlanta Hawks have been as consistent as any team in the East through 32 games. Minus a loss to the Brooklyn Nets and two surprising losses to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Hawks have handled their business against weaker opponents. Their red-hot start was due in part to a weak schedule and the losses started to come for the Hawks once they began clashing with higher quality teams such as Cleveland, Toronto, San Antonio, Miami, and Oklahoma City. After a bit of a losing slump, the Hawks have returned to their red-hot form winning their last six contests (including matchups vs. Eastern contenders Boston, Orlando, and Detroit). If the Hawks continue this form, you can expect many more toothless smiles from Dennis Schroeder in the New Year.
- Chicago Bulls (16-12)
The Bulls have been a perennial powerhouse in the East for many years now. This year’s edition of the Chicago Bulls should prove no different. With big wins over Cleveland, San Antonio, the Clippers, and Oklahoma City twice, the Bulls have shown spirts of greatness early on in the campaign, but have not been consistently dominant enough to be considered elite. Ranking 18th in PPG, and 15th in opponents PPG, there is plenty of room for improvement for the Chi-Town boys moving forward. Jimmy Butler has taken over as the leader of this star-studded lineup, a title that used to belong to Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol. Look for the Bulls to sharpen up on the offensive side of the ball as the season progresses, and claim a playoff spot in the jam packed East.
- Boston Celtics (18-13)
The Boston Celtics have been the Cinderella story of 2015 in the NBA. The Celtics have compiled an 18-13 record so far this season. Though 18-13 doesn’t jump off any pages, it’s a solid start to the season considering the difficulty of opponents Boston has faced. The Green Machine has already beaten many high profile clubs such as Atlanta, Oklahoma City, Houston, Miami, and Chicago which has impressed many basketball fans. What is even more impressive is that they are one of just two teams that ranks top ten on both sides of the ball (PPG and Opponents PPG) ranking 6th in both. This is a testament to the brand of basketball that Brad Stevens has brought to Boston, a defensively responsible side that finds ways to score which carries over very well to playoff style basketball. Beware of the Celtics climb in the Eastern Conference’s ranks.
- Indiana Pacers (17-12)
The Indiana Pacers are an entirely different animal with PG-13 in the lineup. A team that struggled without their star all of last season is playing as well as ever with him back. Paul George is averaging 25 points, 8 rebounds, and four assists per contest which, had it not been for a guy named Stephen Curry, would probably have him leading the way in early MVP talks. Though George has been a huge part to the resurgence of Indiana, center Jordan Hill deserves his share of the credit. Hill has been reliable with his mid-range game all year, combined with his ability to rebound the ball, reset possessions, and play tough interior defense. What makes the Pacers so dangerous is their ability to beat their opposition in both high scoring games, and in grueling defensive battles. This versatility is a reason why they (along with Boston) are the only teams ranked top ten in the league on both sides of the rock.
- Orlando Magic (17-13)
The Orlando Magic’s young nucleus promised the organisation a bright future, but what the Magic have given their fans is a bright present. The young team is managing to maintain the 8th best defense (by opponents PPG) which is uncharacteristically high for a team who’s core consists of 21 year old Elfrid Payton, 21 year old Jusuf Nurkic, and 23 year old Victor Oladipo. As well as the season has gone for the Magic, fans can’t help but feeling as if their record could be better. 6 of Orlando’s 13 losses have come by 5 points or less (including games vs Chicago, Atlanta, the Clippers, and OKC). The young Magic are gaining experience and will only get better as the year progresses, allowing them to just sneak into the final playoff spot in the East.
Just missing out: Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets
