Official East Predictions Thread, Let's Go Baby!

[Packbuckman]

I don't consider any team from East, by current rosters, entering 2025-26, as "contender".

Only reason why some teams are now bumped into "contenders" isn't because they ever proved anything to be considered that but because actual two contenders are out of picture due injuries. Especially Celtics.

To make matters worst, not a single team from East even has draft capital to go all in to get better. They all already did it.

Imo, whoever comes from West is winning. East will be entertaining side show.


Consider fact that OKC went 29-1 vs East last year in regular season, only losing to Cavs until playoffs. And Pacers, who gave them ran for a money, are out of picture.

Doesn't help that East also has only 1 player among top 5, and him, Giannis, has so bad roster that they would win 20 games without him. Their guard rotation is worst guard rotation in nba. They don't even have rotation level guard for playoffs, let alone starting quality one.

Feels like 2026 East will be very similar to 2002 one. Who will have honor to get swept?

KPJ not only is a starter quality guard but he’s going to be inching towards top 10 guard play because of the space he’ll get off of Giannis and Turner

Top 10 among Bucks guards ?

KPJ played very good ball for bucks last yr I can see him in the 18 ppg on good efficiency Rollins at 10-12 ppg with great defense the bucks guard rotation will be a lot better than u and the so called experts think. Bucks were number one in 3 pt shooting percentage expect a lot of 3’s this yr

[Curmudgeon]

I thought the plan in Milwaukee is to give Giannis the ball and let him run the offense.

[DaGawd]

Cavs look like the best in the East to me. Hawks and Bucks are being overrated in this thread.
1. Cavs
2. Knicks
3. Magic
4. Pistons
5/6. Pacers
5/6 Celtics
7. Hawks
8. Raptors
9. Bucks
10. Heat
11. Bulls
12. Sixers
13. Wizards
14. Hornets
15. Nets

I may be underrating the Wizards a bit. But they are so young.

The Celtics lost like 4.5 starters and the Pacers lost 2 starters yet they’re both better than the Hawks and Bucks? Sounds pretty silly to me

The Celtics lost two starters and a 6th man. One of the starters (Porzingis) was never available so he's addition by subtraction as far as I'm concerned. And Horford is 40 years old. The guy they will really miss is Jrue, but he was also hurt off and on for much of the year.

As for the Pacers, losing Myles Turner was a choice. They had Bird rights and chose not to keep him.

Lastly, if you are trying to predict the Knicks' season, don't forget to subtract five wins for Karl Anthony Towns.

the same kat whose been to consecutive conference finals?

[iBall101]

1. Knicks
2. Magic
3. Cavs
4. Raptors (will surprise)
5. Hawks
6. Pacers
7. Sixers (playoffs this season)
8. Bucks
9. Hornets (this depends how healthy lamelo stays)*
10. Pistons (will drop in standings)

Bottom feeders:
Heat, Celtics, Wizards, Nets, Bulls

This list is a disaster IMO

Let's revisit this in April and see who's truly the disaster...

[iBall101]

This list is a disaster IMO

The Raptors will be surprisingly good. They usually beat their over under odds.

Ingram is better than Siakam.

Their bench is better.

They have starter level players who've experienced success before (Poeltl, Barnes, RJ, IQ, and Ingram). The bench has Dick, CMB, Walter, Agbaji, Shead, Mogbo, Battle, and other filler talent they can use along the season grind.

4th in the East is like 47+ wins and the Raptors are listed ~30 wins. Scottie is not this superstar that some seem to think around here lol and Ingram is also not in that category. The Raps didn’t get 4th with Siakam + FVV + OG + GTJ albeit they were 5th that season. I don’t see any reason to believe Barnes + Ingram + Quickley + Dick (or whatever other role players) is a more talented team

Raptors will be higher in the standings then your giannis low percentage free throw shooting star led bucks. Myles will be injured at some point during the season (the usual). Lets revisit my predictions in April before base less criticism.

[Curmudgeon]

The Celtics lost like 4.5 starters and the Pacers lost 2 starters yet they’re both better than the Hawks and Bucks? Sounds pretty silly to me

The Celtics lost two starters and a 6th man. One of the starters (Porzingis) was never available so he's addition by subtraction as far as I'm concerned. And Horford is 40 years old. The guy they will really miss is Jrue, but he was also hurt off and on for much of the year.

As for the Pacers, losing Myles Turner was a choice. They had Bird rights and chose not to keep him.

Lastly, if you are trying to predict the Knicks' season, don't forget to subtract five wins for Karl Anthony Towns.

the same kat whose been to consecutive conference finals?

Which he lost as a member of teams that were favored.

[DaGawd]

The Celtics lost two starters and a 6th man. One of the starters (Porzingis) was never available so he's addition by subtraction as far as I'm concerned. And Horford is 40 years old. The guy they will really miss is Jrue, but he was also hurt off and on for much of the year.

As for the Pacers, losing Myles Turner was a choice. They had Bird rights and chose not to keep him.

Lastly, if you are trying to predict the Knicks' season, don't forget to subtract five wins for Karl Anthony Towns.

the same kat whose been to consecutive conference finals?

Which he lost as a member of teams that were favored.

in the ecf i don’t feel like favor even really matters. both teams are pretty close

[Packbuckman]

I thought the plan in Milwaukee is to give Giannis the ball and let him run the offense.

He will have the ball in his hands but you still need other ball handlers out there and players who can guard the other guards Giannis will be guarding bigs. I can see Giannis getting 8 assists or more a game this year.

[wegotthabeet]

I can't express how much I'm looking forward to 1st option Jaylen Brown and unleashed Payton Pritchard. Boston is gonna be fun to watch.

Boston could be anywhere from top four or bottom four. Same with Indiana. Both should tank if they can, but the East is so bad that it’s nearly impossible to be bottom three.

[Curmudgeon]

If Stevens wants to tank he will have to fire Mazulla and Cassell and bring back M.L. Carr.

[GiannisAnte34]

I can't express how much I'm looking forward to 1st option Jaylen Brown and unleashed Payton Pritchard. Boston is gonna be fun to watch.

Boston could be anywhere from top four or bottom four. Same with Indiana. Both should tank if they can, but the East is so bad that it’s nearly impossible to be bottom three.

There isn’t as much incentive to tank this season in a weak draft. Last year so many wanted their lotto pick because of the top end draft class

I think this year will be different in the sense that teams won’t alter their lineups to influence losing midway. I could see everyone except the bottom 2 or 3 teams in the East gunning for a play-in spot

[wegotthabeet]

I can't express how much I'm looking forward to 1st option Jaylen Brown and unleashed Payton Pritchard. Boston is gonna be fun to watch.

Boston could be anywhere from top four or bottom four. Same with Indiana. Both should tank if they can, but the East is so bad that it’s nearly impossible to be bottom three.

There isn’t as much incentive to tank this season in a weak draft. Last year so many wanted their lotto pick because of the top end draft class

I think this year will be different in the sense that teams won’t alter their lineups to influence losing midway. I could see everyone except the bottom 2 or 3 teams in the East gunning for a play-in spot

2026 looks like a much stronger class than 2025, so I’m not sure that’s accurate.

[GiannisAnte34]

Boston could be anywhere from top four or bottom four. Same with Indiana. Both should tank if they can, but the East is so bad that it’s nearly impossible to be bottom three.

There isn’t as much incentive to tank this season in a weak draft. Last year so many wanted their lotto pick because of the top end draft class

I think this year will be different in the sense that teams won’t alter their lineups to influence losing midway. I could see everyone except the bottom 2 or 3 teams in the East gunning for a play-in spot

2026 looks like a much stronger class than 2025, so I’m not sure that’s accurate.

Deeper might be valid but nobody is a clear #1 like Flagg

In a draft that is supposed to be deep and without a clear #1 there will be less incentive to tank IMO

I could be wrong and teams think that the top 5 picks are worth tanking for. Any team that gets a random star injury might think about shutting them down longer than necessary

[SlimShady83]

1 Last bump b4 the season starts, yes I will be creating a new thread end of the season

Peace out!

[Catchall]

I can't express how much I'm looking forward to 1st option Jaylen Brown and unleashed Payton Pritchard. Boston is gonna be fun to watch.

Boston could be anywhere from top four or bottom four. Same with Indiana. Both should tank if they can, but the East is so bad that it’s nearly impossible to be bottom three.

I think Boston will tank. They've gutted their roster and will probably start guys like Pritchard, Qeta and maybe Hauser.
Indiana should tank, but I'm not sure it's Rick Carlisle's style to do it.

[nomansland]

Cavs
Knicks
Hawks
Magic
Pistons
Bucks
Celtics
Pacers
Bulls
Heat
Raptors
Sixers
Hornets
Wizards
Nets

[knicksfan974]

This is the year the Knicks go all the way. Team is stacked!

[GiannisAnte34]

Cavs
Knicks
Hawks
Magic
Pistons
Bucks
Celtics
Pacers
Bulls
Heat
Raptors
Sixers
Hornets
Wizards
Nets

would you still put Hawks top 4 if you knew KP misses 40+ games

[wegotthabeet]

I can't express how much I'm looking forward to 1st option Jaylen Brown and unleashed Payton Pritchard. Boston is gonna be fun to watch.

Boston could be anywhere from top four or bottom four. Same with Indiana. Both should tank if they can, but the East is so bad that it’s nearly impossible to be bottom three.

I think Boston will tank. They've gutted their roster and will probably start guys like Pritchard, Qeta and maybe Hauser.
Indiana should tank, but I'm not sure it's Rick Carlisle's style to do it.

I fully expect them to tank like Golden State in 2020. The opportunity to add a high level prospect or valuable trade piece is too good to pass.

[Caneman786]

EAST STANDINGS PROJECTION

1. NYK 50–54 w.
2. CLE 50–54 w.
3. ORL 50–54 w.
4. MKE 45–49 w.
5. ATL 45–49 w.
6. MIA 40–44 w.
7. DET 40–44 w.
8. PHI 40–44 w.
9. IND 40–44 w.
10. TOR 35–39 w.
11. BOS 35–39 w.
12. CHI 25–29 w.
13. WAS 20–24 w.
14. BKN 20–24 w.
15. CHO 15–19 w.