Eastern Conference– Pick the 3 Most Likely to Make the Finals

TheHartBreakKid · Post #1 » by **TheHartBreakKid** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 1:05 am

Eastern Conference– Pick the 3 Most Likely to Make the Finals

For transparency, I think the Eastern Conference is wide open this year. Instead of just picking the favorite, I’m curious which three teams posters think are most likely to make the Finals.

The poll includes the current top 10 teams in the standings. Apologies to teams 11-15, but the poll platform only allows 10 options. If I had it my way, I would include every team.

scrabbarista · Post #2 » by **scrabbarista** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 1:09 am

I voted wrong.

MavsDirk41 · Post #3 » by **MavsDirk41** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 2:14 am

Detroit, Cleveland, and New York

zeebneeb · Post #4 » by **zeebneeb** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 2:23 am

scrabbarista wrote:I voted wrong.

Pat Buchanan?

The ballot was confusing.

Magicman125 · Post #5 » by **Magicman125** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 3:45 am

NYK, DET, and ORL is what I voted.

Parasite · Post #6 » by **Parasite** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 3:48 am

zeebneeb wrote:
scrabbarista wrote:I voted wrong.
Pat Buchanan?

The ballot was confusing.

Buchanan was right about everything.

Knicks/Cavs/Celtics

ReggiesKnicks · Post #7 » by **ReggiesKnicks** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 4:19 am

Knicks/Magic/Cavs

RoyceDa59 · Post #8 » by **RoyceDa59** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 5:01 am

Knicks
Pistons
Cavs

Rainwater · Post #9 » by **Rainwater** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 5:17 am

Orlando, New York, and Cavs

JujitsuFlip · Post #10 » by **JujitsuFlip** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 9:11 am

Not the Pistons, their coach can't get past the 2nd round his entire career.

Not the Magic, their coach has had exactly 1 winning season in his career.

Not the Cavs, the entire core (and their coach) are stuck at the 2nd round.

================================

1a. Knicks. Mike Brown took the Cavs to the Finals a billion years ago but at least he knows what it takes. LeBron or not.

1b. Celtics. They just won a title with this coach a couple years ago. If/when Tatum rushes back, this team will be a tough out. They still have 8 players on their roster from that championship team.

1c. Heat. Spo factor. He has them playing the gimmicky 7 seconds or less offense but I'd never count him out, great coach.

tiderulz · Post #11 » by **tiderulz** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 12:51 pm

JujitsuFlip wrote:Not the Pistons, their coach can't get past the 2nd round his entire career.

Not the Magic, their coach has had exactly 1 winning season in his career.

Not the Cavs, the entire core (and their coach) are stuck at the 2nd round.

================================

1a. Knicks. Mike Brown took the Cavs to the Finals a billion years ago but at least he knows what it takes. LeBron or not.

1b. Celtics. They just won a title with this coach a couple years ago. If/when Tatum rushes back, this team will be a tough out. They still have 8 players on their roster from that championship team.

1c. Heat. Spo factor. He has them playing the gimmicky 7 seconds or less offense but I'd never count him out, great coach.

to be fair, Orlando's coach was a 1st time coach brought into a complete rebuild. not his biggest fan, but he has imprinted a defensively philosophy on the team and they play everyone tough. Their biggest thing will be health more than the coach imo.

i think you are putting coach as too much factor. Coaches arent on the court playing

bonita_the_frog · Post #12 » by **bonita_the_frog** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 1:44 pm

Boston Boston Boston, the hottest team in the East.
I have Boston overtaking Detroit in the standings within the next month and reaching the NBA Finals.

JujitsuFlip · Post #13 » by **JujitsuFlip** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 1:55 pm

tiderulz wrote:
JujitsuFlip wrote:Not the Pistons, their coach can't get past the 2nd round his entire career.

Not the Magic, their coach has had exactly 1 winning season in his career.

Not the Cavs, the entire core (and their coach) are stuck at the 2nd round.

================================

1a. Knicks. Mike Brown took the Cavs to the Finals a billion years ago but at least he knows what it takes. LeBron or not.

1b. Celtics. They just won a title with this coach a couple years ago. If/when Tatum rushes back, this team will be a tough out. They still have 8 players on their roster from that championship team.

1c. Heat. Spo factor. He has them playing the gimmicky 7 seconds or less offense but I'd never count him out, great coach.

to be fair, Orlando's coach was a 1st time coach brought into a complete rebuild. not his biggest fan, but he has imprinted a defensively philosophy on the team and they play everyone tough. Their biggest thing will be health more than the coach imo.

i think you are putting coach as too much factor. Coaches arent on the court playing

Coaches are what turn playoff series man. They're the ones coming up with the game plan, not the players. Sure it's up to the players to execute it but if you have a coach who consistently gets out coached, ya won't go far.

celtxman · Post #14 » by **celtxman** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 2:01 pm

bonita_the_frog wrote:Boston Boston Boston, the hottest team in the East.
I have Boston overtaking Detroit in the standings within the next month and reaching the NBA Finals.

I'd love to agree, but it' could be harder for the Celtics. For example they may trade Anfernee Simons for assets for this season but possibly the assets may come in the off-season ($27.5 M TPE.)
In other words they could have a thinner squad this season, but get more talent in the off season for Tatum's return. We'll know more between December 15th and February 5th (Trade deadline. )

kenwood3333 · Post #15 » by **kenwood3333** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 2:16 pm

NYK - already have a talented roster and Brunson has shown he can elevate the team when needed
MIA - play well as a team and they have a proven coach
DET - young team with nothing to lose and may surprise people

CLE - if they get healthy by the all star break
ATL - if they make a win now trade

bstein14 · Post #16 » by **bstein14** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 2:18 pm

If an EC team lands Giannis, they are probably going to go to the Finals.

brackdan70 · Post #17 » by **brackdan70** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 2:32 pm

Knicks when healthy and clicking are probably the best in the East by a hair. Detroit looks really good obviously. The Celtics have an outside shot….can the young guys keep performing at this level…is Tatum coming back this year?
Idk about the Cavs. On paper that’s a good team and were amazing in last years regular season. Can they get it together?
Magic, Hawks, Raptors all seem solid but I can’t see them getting to the finals.
Lots could still happen…who ends up with AD? Who ends up with Giannis?

3ddman23 · Post #18 » by **3ddman23** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 3:18 pm

Like always Orlando gets over looked but how can you over look a team that plays tough, hard and is a defensive first minded team. If they get hot even remotely offensively towards the end of the season into the playoffs, they absolutely can beat anyone in the east and make a deep run.

It's up to them to do it. When the magic lose they usually beat themselves with self inflicted wounds. They start hitting shoots and limit the wounds they are a problem.

tamaraw08 · Post #19 » by **tamaraw08** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 4:03 pm

brackdan70 wrote:Knicks when healthy and clicking are probably the best in the East by a hair. Detroit looks really good obviously. The Celtics have an outside shot….can the young guys keep performing at this level…is Tatum coming back this year?
Idk about the Cavs. On paper that’s a good team and were amazing in last years regular season. Can they get it together?
Magic, Hawks, Raptors all seem solid but I can’t see them getting to the finals.
Lots could still happen…who ends up with AD? Who ends up with Giannis?

I created the thread about Boston being the most dangerous team in the East. But it's contingent on the health of Tatum because they will struggle to score if they are not hitting their 3pt shots without Jason being able to create and go the the FT line IMO.

KokoKaizer · Post #20 » by **KokoKaizer** » Wed Dec 10, 2025 4:25 pm

Really surprise by Celtics this year.

Hope they continue, it's great

Which 3 teams are most likely to win the East?