Predicting the NBA Eastern Conference
13. Detroit Pistons
Player development will be the goal for Detroit this year. Cade Cunningham developing chemistry with backcourt mate Killian Hayes while Jerami Grant fills up the stats is what the Pistons need to accomplish this year.
14. Orlando Magic
The Magic are likely going to just let Jalen Suggs run wild. After trading away their two best players at last year’s deadline, player development will be the primary goal for 2021-22. A high lottery pick will likely be the franchise’s reward for probably ending up as one of the five worst teams in the league when it’s all said and done.
15. Cleveland Cavaliers
The re-signing of Kevin Love is looking worse by the year. My original thought was that they wanted to retain him as a future trade asset, without realizing injuries and age have greatly reduced his value. Attaching Collin Sexton to Love’s contract might be an excellent way to get some value back so that the team can further build around its young core.
Playoff Predictions
I have the Miami Heat beating last year’s defending Eastern Conference champs in the semi-finals and then beating the Brooklyn Nets in the Eastern Conference Finals. On offense, they might be a juggernaut of terror, but defense is what wins in the playoffs, and Miami has the defenders to do just that.
They also have a coach that has been to the finals five times along with a leader in Jimmy Butler, who is about as fearless as they. In the offseason, Miami added veterans with championship pedigree and will be a nightmare matchup, come the playoffs.
Who do you think will win the east? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.