Playoff Teams
8. Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons missed the 8th seed by four games last season, and they haven’t made improvements besides hiring recently-fired Dwane Casey as the head coach.
Offseason acquisitions include José Calderón, Zaza Pachulia, and Glen Robinson III.
Dwayne Casey must be patient with this young Pistons group as they are several roster moves away from contending in the East.
Regardless if the Pistons made drastic roster changes or not, Dwane Casey is an upgrade and will give the Pistons the edge over the Cavaliers to secure the 8th seed.
7. Miami Heat
The 7th seed in the East rightfully belongs to the Miami Heat.
Erik Spoelstra has shown year after year that his expertise in coaching different talents and producing the best results possible is the greatest quality a coach can have.
Although the Heat front office and UFA Dwyane Wade have not come to an agreement, the roster is well-balanced at each position.
The Heat’s resiliency and experience will earn them a spot in the playoffs next season.