Top of the East is crazy right now

[ruffian253]

If KD comes back in form and even if with a part time Kyrie, KD, Ben, and Curry will be more than enough to make it to ECF against the Bucks. Everyone is just a side it and is a feel good story for the regular season. The two caveats are the Heat (no superstar, but will 3 all stars in Jimmy, Lowry, and Bam be enough) and whether Harden magically turns it on and builds instant chemistry with Joel, Harris, and Maxey.

[rapluva]

Cavs have such a bright future it’s unreal.

Looking good right now, let's hope their management doesn't screw it up.. people will start needing to get paid..

[kieferli]

Anything can happen with 5 teams all within 2.5 games of 1st, but the Heat should be able to hold on to the top seed (and hopefully avoid BOS and BKN in the 1st round)

- 17 of remaining 26 games at home (Heat have the East's best home record, 3rd best in the NBA)
- Butler/Bam/Lowry all healthy for like the first time since November (Butler and Bam have combined to play in less than 61% of games so far; Lowry has missed 13 of 56)
- Oladipo has missed the entire season and is expected to suit up any game now
- Markieff Morris hopefully returns at some point and fills the team's only real roster need at backup PF
- Proven depth in case of any minor injuries or rest nights

After that I think it'll be race between MIL and PHI for the 2nd seed with CLE and CHI battling for the final home court seed. The playoffs should be crazy

Stay top 2 may be pretty danger this season,KD may come back after all star break and they may be end up 7or 8 . Don’t know if Miami want to face them in first round

[Mind_Odyssey]

I just don’t want Boston in round 1. That’s not a good matchup for us style and schematic wise.

[Madhouse]

I just don’t want Boston in round 1. That’s not a good matchup for us style and schematic wise.

That would be an ugly series with little offense and scoring.

[rate_]

If KD comes back in form and even if with a part time Kyrie, KD, Ben, and Curry will be more than enough to make it to ECF against the Bucks. Everyone is just a side it and is a feel good story for the regular season. The two caveats are the Heat (no superstar, but will 3 all stars in Jimmy, Lowry, and Bam be enough) and whether Harden magically turns it on and builds instant chemistry with Joel, Harris, and Maxey.

If Bam continues to play like he's been playing this month making the next leap while still young, it will be more than enough.

[eyeatoma]

It sucks.
Bulls FINALLY get good, and the east decides to ball out. WTF man...

The Harden/Simmons trade shakes things up. I bet Raps would love to play Brooklyn in the first round (if that happens)...no Kyrie at all.

That would be the nightmare matchup for the Nets. Raptors defend Simmons quite well.

[Madhouse]

Cavs have such a bright future it’s unreal.

Looking good right now, let's hope their management doesn't screw it up.. people will start needing to get paid..

they gonna be fine money wise over the next 2-3 years. It gets more dicey once Garland and Mobley sit on big contracts

[zimpy27]

I have Nets as the favourite to win the championship this year if Simmons plays full time and even if Irving can't play home games.

I think people are underestimating how good Simmons is with 4 shooters and spacers. He's also going to transform the Nets defense.

[Madhouse]

And Brooklyn is gonna continue to freefall into the playins with kyrie as a part time player, ben can't carry an offense.

But I wouldn't wanna face a healthy Nets in the first round of the playoffs.

Nets will be the #8 seed and take the #1 seed out in round 1. It's destiny.

[Madhouse]

If KD comes back in form and even if with a part time Kyrie, KD, Ben, and Curry will be more than enough to make it to ECF against the Bucks. Everyone is just a side it and is a feel good story for the regular season. The two caveats are the Heat (no superstar, but will 3 all stars in Jimmy, Lowry, and Bam be enough) and whether Harden magically turns it on and builds instant chemistry with Joel, Harris, and Maxey.

I do agree but not sure the word feel good story is appropriate. I read the exact same thing about Phoenix mid way through last year and how the Lakers were a lock for the Finals.

[Cavsfansince84]

Strongest the east has been since at least 97 imo.

[somerandomdude]

Heat have some crazy amount of home games.

17 at home vs 9 on the road, and 15 of our next 20 games are at home.

We also have the best home record of any team in the East.

The remaining road schedule is tough, aside from NYK ORL and maybe BKN CHA.

Anyway, there's a strong chance the Heat pull away from the pack for the #1 seed in the East.

The Cavs are 1 game behind you with the 2nd easiest schedule remaining....I think there is a better chance Cleveland jumps to the #1 seed than there is a chance the Heat pull away.

Spoiler:

I don't expect serious discussion from someone who's posting memes, but I actually looked at the schedules and decided to share for anyone who's interested.

My thoughts: Heat face tougher opponents, and some of the play-in teams are playoff caliber, but the Heat do play 1 more lottery teams and have more home games, which should offset some of the Cavs' weak SoS. The Heat have 1 more B2B than Cavs, but the Cavs also have a stretch where they play 4 games in 5 nights, which is very tough.

[NZB2323]

Not only the top, but the Nets are the 8th seed and the Hawks are the 10th seed.

[LivingLegend]

Heat have some crazy amount of home games.

17 at home vs 9 on the road, and 15 of our next 20 games are at home.

We also have the best home record of any team in the East.

The remaining road schedule is tough, aside from NYK ORL and maybe BKN CHA.

Anyway, there's a strong chance the Heat pull away from the pack for the #1 seed in the East.

The Cavs are 1 game behind you with the 2nd easiest schedule remaining....I think there is a better chance Cleveland jumps to the #1 seed than there is a chance the Heat pull away.

Spoiler:

I don't expect serious discussion from someone who's posting memes, but I actually looked at the schedules and decided to share for anyone who's interested.

My thoughts: Heat face tougher opponents, and some of the play-in teams are playoff caliber, but the Heat do play 1 more lottery teams and have more home games, which should offset some of the Cavs' weak SoS. The Heat have 1 more B2B than Cavs, but the Cavs also have a stretch where they play 4 games in 5 nights, which is very tough.

Nobody is interested because you just shared you opinion that is not statistically correct.

Sorry that you wasted your time, but a 3 second Google search will lead you to this:

https://www.tankathon.com/remaining_schedule_strength

Cavs- #8th easiest SOS in the NBA. #1 easiest schedule remaining of the top 6 in the East
Heat- #19 easiest SOS in the NBA. #3 easiest schedule remaining of the top 6 in the East.

I can post memes and stats better than you. Nerd.

[somerandomdude]

LMFAO someone's salty from that L they just took from the Sixers tonight.

[dakomish23]

One of MIA MIL BKN PHI CHI won’t make it passed the first round. Plus CLE BOS CHA TOR are far from easy opponents. Maybe ATL finds their groove from last year.

East is the deepest it’s been since the 90’s probably

[LivingLegend]

LMFAO someone's salty from that L they just took from the Sixers tonight.

@me bro and I see you were trying to dodge the fact that the entire post you just made trying to call me out was incorrect and you didnt want to tie yourself to it.

[falcolombardi]

Strongest the east has been since at least 97 imo.

east was strong at the top between 2005-2012~

but the lower half of they playoffs east was weaker

[mksp]

Cleveland and Chicago are high likelihood to lose in round 1 as high seeds. Young (Cle) and not really that good (Chi).

Still a much stronger East, it’s super fun.