The Western Conference has dominated headlines, but with roughly a quarter of the regular season still to play, the NBA’s Eastern Conference has no consensus favorite. Front-office insiders told ESPN that as many as seven franchises believe they could reach the NBA Finals if they stay healthy.
Detroit, Boston, New York and Cleveland occupy the top four seeds, while Philadelphia lurks as a possible spoiler. Coaches, scouts and executives offered ESPN their assessments of each contender.
Detroit Pistons
Detroit, 43-13 entering Friday’s home game against Cleveland (7 p.m. ET, ESPN), can match last season’s 44-win total before March. Cade Cunningham has entered the MVP race, Jalen Duren earned an All-Star nod after securing a contract extension, and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff is again on the short list for Coach of the Year. The Pistons rank inside the league’s top ten in both offensive and defensive efficiency, joining Boston as the East’s only two-way standouts.
Rival executives, however, point to minimal playoff experience and a league-worst three-point volume (28th in makes per game). One Western Conference assistant said opponents can focus on Cunningham because “no one else consistently breaks you down.”
Boston Celtics
Despite losing Jayson Tatum to a ruptured Achilles in October and trading away Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, Boston sits at 38-20. The Celtics are second in offensive rating and seventh on defense under second-year coach Joe Mazzulla. Jaylen Brown is posting career highs of 29.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists.
Scouts praise Boston’s intensity but question postseason ceiling until Tatum returns. One Western scout called the Celtics “relentless every possession,” yet noted the talent gap with fully healthy contenders. Club officials believe even a 20-minute-per-game version of Tatum would restore Boston’s Finals ambitions.
New York Knicks
Owner James Dolan set an unmistakable goal during a January radio appearance: “We absolutely have to get to the Finals—and should win them.” New York fields two All-Stars, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, plus versatile wings OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart. Mitchell Robinson continues to lead the NBA in offensive rebounds.
The Knicks are tracking toward a third consecutive 50-win season, yet internal frustrations persist. Towns has voiced displeasure with his role, and first-year head coach Mike Brown is still searching for a consistent identity. A rival Eastern coach called New York’s roster “the deepest in the conference,” but scouts wonder whether chemistry questions will surface in April.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland shook up its “Core Four” by sending Darius Garland to the LA Clippers for 36-year-old former MVP James Harden. Earlier, the club moved De’Andre Hunter to Sacramento for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis. The Cavaliers, 17-16 on Dec. 26, have climbed to within two games of second place.
Harden’s arrival has already boosted Jarrett Allen (lob targets) and sharpshooter Sam Merrill, who poured in a career-best 32 points during Harden’s home debut. Coach Kenny Atkinson is experimenting with lineups that slide Dean Wade between small forward and small-ball center. Executives still question perimeter defense in closing groups featuring Harden and Donovan Mitchell, but label the trade a clear offensive upgrade.
Philadelphia 76ers: The Wild Card
Philadelphia sits sixth, a half-game in front of Orlando. Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid give the 76ers elite star power, yet both health and depth remain concerns, particularly with Paul George suspended until late March. The Sixers are 2-0 against Boston and New York this season but 0-5 versus Cleveland and Detroit. One assistant coach said Philadelphia could “lose 4-0 in Round 1 or knock out anyone if Embiid and Maxey are rolling.”
With no dominant favorite and several teams facing potential offseason upheaval if they fall short, executives expect an unusually volatile Eastern Conference postseason.
Source: ESPN.com
