Reassessing the NBA’s Eastern Conference playoff picture as we near the midway point of the 2021-22 season.
As the NBA nears the midway point of the 2021-22 season, it’s a perfect time to reassess the playoff picture in both conferences. Teams are beginning to separate themselves from the rest of the pack and we’re getting a clearer picture of what the playoffs could look like.
In the Eastern Conference, we’ve seen the playoff hopefuls fall into three categories or essentially three tiers.
Tier 1
At the top, there are three teams that have separated themselves as the cream of the crop. The Brooklyn Nets are clearly the best team in the league, with the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks following shortly behind.
Even though the Bucks are nearly three games back of the Nets for the top spot, I include them due to the fact that over the last month and a half of the season, Milwaukee has the best record in the league.
Tier 2
In the second tier, the Miami Heat and upstart Cleveland Cavaliers, at 21-13 and 20-13 respectively, are holding down the middle of the conference. Both of those teams are good, solid teams that appear to be in the running for homecourt advantage in the first round.
The Heat is the true wildcard in the conference and has done a great job of staying afloat amid the loss of Bam Adebayo.
Cleveland has been the surprise team of the East and has a strong young core that is likely only going to get better as the season progresses.
Tier 3
Towards the bottom of the playoff picture are the Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks, and Atlanta Hawks.
In this tier, there are essentially seven teams that will be vying for three playoff spots. That means that a projected playoff team is going to miss out on the postseason or even the playoff play-in tournament.
The Eastern Conference playoff picture is set up to be quite the race during the second half of the season. The playoff picture, however, is becoming clearer and clearer with teams falling into three tiers that will dictate what we see in May and June out East.