Boston will run away with the East
Speaking of the favorites in the Eastern Conference, it starts with the Boston Celtics. Then, after and only after them, are the Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors and possibly Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards if they can ever figure things out.
But the Celtics are the team that nearly everyone is penciling into the NBA Finals next season, and rightfully so. After all, without a healthy Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward last season, they made it all the way to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Simple math suggests that simply by getting healthy this season, they should break through. However, I’m not sure it’ll be that easy.
The Raptors just added a top 5 player in the NBA, when healthy, and the Sixers are going to get better simply based off development. Plus, Markelle Fultz was broken last year. The hope is that he’s back this season. The Celtics will be in the mix, but it won’t be as easy as some might suggest.