NBA: Which team will finish third in the Eastern Conference?

The Bucks and 76ers have proved to be the lead catalyst in the Eastern Conference this upcoming NBA season. Which team is the next best?

And just like that, the 2019-20 NBA season is right around the corner; a few teams have already had their Media Day sessions and the preseason is drawing closer day by day. The dry portion of the offseason is finally over.

Months have been spent trying to predict the Eastern and Western Conference standings. The West remains a mystery due to the countless changed locations of star level players. The elite teams have been distinguished, but the seeding is still in question.

However, in the weaker Eastern Conference, we can clearly predict the lead catalyst as the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers. As for now, Philly and Milwaukee are the only two teams that can contend for a championship in their conference this upcoming season. There appears to be a monumental drop off in the East after these two squads, without a clear front runner to be placed third. The uncertainty will make for an exciting season

So, which team is the next best to challenge the favorites in the East?

I’ve narrowed it down to three reasonable options. The Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, and Boston Celtics. All three of these teams have their fair share of question marks as we enter the new season, and, at the same time, have the potential to be a threat to the Eastern Conference elites.

Let’s take a look at the case for each of these teams to contend for the third seed and, possibly, shoot even higher.