Eastern Conference Power Rankings

After every team wrapped up their media day, here's a look at my Eastern Conference Power Rankings heading into the new season.

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If the New York Knicks weren’t all-in with their trade for Mikal Bridges, they sure are now. Adding Karl-Anthony Towns is the biggest ‘win now’ move the franchise had left to make. And with that, the media is already anointing them as the favorites in the Eastern Conference. Fortunately, we already know who the real favorites are, and they’re 233 miles northeast (I asked Grok) of Madison Square Garden.

Still, with all the moves made around the East, I thought it would be fun to break down my power rankings heading into the new season.

1. Boston Celtics

The Celtics ended last season as the league's best offensive and second-best defensive team, with a historically good NetRating. Joe Mazzulla had the Celtics operate within an intricate offensive and defensive system, making use of the diverse talent on the roster and embracing advantages wherever they appeared.

That’s why Jalen Brown was a mid-range assassin in the year 2024. It’s why Jayson Tatum and Kristaps Porzingis earned praise for their work in the post. And it’s why the Celtics utilized pack-line principles on defense.

Brad Stevens spent this summer locking down the roster for the next couple of years. Boston’s championship window is wide open, and there is still room for internal development. Right now, no other team in the league has the continuity, talent level, experience and execution that Boston boasts.

Oh, and who can forget - we should thank the media for giving the Celtics all the additional motivation they needed heading into the new season.

"Did I need any extra motivation coming into the season? No,” Tatum said. “I'm not gonna give anybody any particular credit that they're motivating me coming into the season. It was a unique circumstance, something I haven't experienced before in my playing career, but I'm a believer that everything happens for a reason."

2. New York Knicks

(Potentially) Adding Towns gives the Knicks the floor-spacing they need to get the best out of Jalen Brunson and some of the slashing talent on the roster. It’s no coincidence that Brunson had one of his worst years for success and frequency around the rim last season. With Towns spacing the floor, Brunson could take his offensive game to another level.

Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby are big-time additions, too. They’re both positionally versatile on the defensive end, can lock down opposing teams best players, and can scale their offensive production to become a secondary or tertiary scoring option when required.

The Knicks will be an elite defensive team and a high-level offensive unit. However, I still think the Celtics have the advantage when matching up head-to-head. I’m also a big believer in the value of experience, and this Knicks team has multiple new pieces to incorporate. They’re a year away for me.

3. Philadelphia 76ers

You can’t deny the addition of Paul George and how that elevates the Sixers’ chances of success. When healthy, he’s still one of the best two-way forwards in the league, and he can still get buckets with the best of them. George averaged 22.6 points per game last season on 41.3% 3-point shooting and 52.3% from 2-point range.

Nick Nurse must find a way to protect George and Joel Embiid, though. Neither is the picture of health. If either spends a prolonged period out of the rotation and in the treatment room, the Sixers will struggle to maximize their potential.

Still, their big three, which includes Tyrese Maxey, will be a threat to whoever they face.

“I think this is the first time that I’ve played with an elite point guard and big man all at once,” George said. “For us, it’s kind of just countering off each other. Nothing’s forced for one person to kind of take that load alone. We’ve got to share that responsibility. I see us flowing. All of us can kind of play our game within the game.”

You can’t ignore the Sixers, but you can look to wear down their aging roster by playing uptempo and forcing them to run from start to finish. Philly could push to the conference finals next season, but the question marks over George and Embiid have me reluctant to put them higher than third on this list.

4. Indiana Pacers

After making the Eastern Conference Finals last season, there should be high hopes for the Pacers this time. Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam will hold the keys to how far the franchise can go — if Haliburton has taken another jump during the offseason, the Pacers will be a bigger threat than most of us expect them to be. And their two-man game will be integral during the postseason.

“It’s going to take a lot of work, but I think we have the talent and the characteristics to be able to do that,” Siakam said of a potenital a championship run. “There’s going to be a lot of ups and downs and we’ve got to focus on our task and improve every day, but I do think we have the pieces.”

What I like about Indiana is that it’s built around multiple young guys who all have star potential. Internal development is the key to their entire plan, and the more guys who continue to push forward, the quicker the Pacers can establish themselves as a legitimate force in the East.

I like the addition of James Wiseman, too. After difficult spells with the Golden State Warriors and Detroit Pistons, he has something to prove. His rim-running style of play should fit perfectly into the Pacers high-octane system, and Rick Carlisle could unlock the talent that saw him taken 2nd in the 2020 NBA Draft.

5. Milwaukee Bucks

Lots of questions are hanging over the Milwaukee Bucks coming into the new season. Can Khris Middleton still be a high-level scoring option? Is Brook Lopez capable of being the commanding defensive presence the Bucks need him to be? Will Doc Rivers figure out how to hide Damian Lillard on defense? And can the Dame/Giannis partnership finally click?

“I know Giannis’ game better than I did when I got here” Lillard said.” I’m more familiar with Doc than when he got here. I’m more familiar with Khris, and you know, the rest of the guys on the team. So we don’t have to go through that process again this time.”

Milwaukee pushed their chips in last summer. Losing Jrue Holiday hurt more than they probably expected — primarily due to the Portland Trail Blazers re-routing him to Boston.

After back-to-back first-round playoff exits, the Bucks must prove they’re still capable of contending for championships. Otherwise, this season could emerge as a catalyst for a larger-scale rebuild, and it might be tough to sell Giannis on that one.

6. Orlando Magic

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was a major addition to the Magic this summer. He brings championship know-how and an elite three-and-D presence to the roster. Cory Joseph is another solid pick-up for the young and developing roster.

I’m expecting Paolo Banchero to take another developmental jump, while I’m not expecting Franz Wagner’s shooting struggles to last forever. Jonathan Isaac is looking beefed up, too.

If the Magic’s roster can stay healthy, and some of their younger guys have improved during the offseason, they should be fair value to secure one of the final guaranteed playoff spots in the East.

“We’ve gone from 22 to 34 to 47 (wins), and not once have we set an expectation or goal for win total,” Jeff Weltman said. “So, our goals are more bigger picture. How do we put our players in the best positions to continue to develop the right way (and) play with one another? And obviously, making the playoffs last year, is going to add something. But how does that manifest itself remains to be seen … For me the goal is just to get better. Just as we’ve done the last couple of years.”

I’m a big fan of how they play, the talent on the roster, and their chances of improving heading into the new season.

7. Cleveland Cavaliers

Without Donovan Mitchell’s future hanging over their heads, the Cavaliers should play with a little less weight on their shoulders this season. However, they will be acclimating to a new head coach after Kenny Atkinson took the gig at the start of the summer.

In truth, I have the Cavaliers and Magic as interchangeable in this power ranking. It would shock me if Orlando found themselves in the play-in tournament, the same way it wouldn’t shock me if the Cavaliers did. That’s not a knock on either team. It’s more of an indictment of how talented the East has become.

I am curious to see how Atkinson develops the pairing of Mitchell and Darius Garland. Getting those two on the same page could be what unlocks the rest of the teams potential moving forward. Furthermore, it will be interesting to see if Evan Mobley can take another jump, as at his size, with his skillset, he could be a legitimate X-Factor for Cleveland this season.

"It was very calculated,” Mobley said of his offseason. “Weight room almost every day. In the beginning, that was the main focus. As the summer went on, I got on the court gradually. I worked on a lot of shooting. As I worked on that, I built up and started doing a lot more contact with coaches, trying to get down hill and imposing my will in the paint. A gradual build up throughout the whole summer."

8. Miami Heat

It feels weird having the Heat so far down this list. However, their quiet summer and lack of legitimate depth make it hard to feel confident that they could secure a guaranteed playoff spot—especially when Jimmy Butler saves his best for the postseason.

Miami’s chances of success will depend on how well Terry Rozier blends with Butler and Bam Adebayo, while the fitness of Tyler Herro will also play a big role. Miami lost Caleb Martin this summer, making him the third high-profile rotation player to leave the franchise in the past two years.

Erik Spoelstra’s job continues to look more difficult by the season.

“We need to innovate,” Spoelstra said during a news conference on Monday. “We need to do some things subtly better. There has to be some sophistication, some added new innovation to bring out the best in everybody. We have offensive talent everywhere you look. It should be a group that brings out a higher level.”

Still, we’ve learned never to count out the Heat, so I wouldn’t be shocked if they leapfrogged into the top six, but I’m not holding my breath.

9. Atlanta Hawks

Quin Snyder’s team is in somewhat of a mini-rebuild after trading away Dejounte Murray earlier this summer. Dyson Daniels is an interesting addition who could add some much-needed perimeter defense next to Trae Young.

“Dyson, incredible defender,” Hawks general manager Landry Fields said. “Continuing to evolve in his offensive game. Watching him from the [G League] Ignite to where he’s at now, you know that he has those playmaking abilities and the versatility that he’s shown. And when he doesn’t have the ball, he’s still effective out there.”

Jalen Johnson’s availability will be an important factor for Atlanta, too, after dealt with injuries last season. Nevertheless, the Hawks aren’t near the top of the East’s contenders and will do well to earn a spot in the play-in tournament.

Atlanta is currently re-tooling their roster — with Zaccharie Risacher a big-time draft addition that will need time to develop and gel. The Hawks are setting themselves up for the future, so their immediate success is a secondary thought right now.

10. Charlotte Hornets

Is this the year the Charlotte Hornets' rebuild finally gets them closer to the playoffs? A 10th-seeded finish would place them in the play-in tournament and give some of their younger stars their first taste of postseason basketball.

With Charles Lee now leading the team and a solid young core in place, Hornets fans may be daring to dream of what’s to come in the next few years. LaMelo Ball’s health will undoubtedly indicate how far this team can go.

“Pretty much just go out there and stay healthy for real,” Ball said on Monday. “If I’m healthy, I’m straight.”

Still, with Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges, Ball and Grant Williams, the Hornets have a solid core to build around. I’m expecting an improvement from them this season, with the 10th seed a fair and realistic goal if everything goes according to plan.

11. Chicago Bulls

The loss of Alex Caruso will hit the Bulls hard. Placing Chicago at 11th is probably my hottest take out of this power ranking. Lonzo Ball will be back and fighting to prove himself during a contract year. Josh Giddey will want to prove he’s the long-term answer at point guard, and Coby White needs to show last season wasn’t an aberration.

Still, Nikola Vucevic is another year older. DeMar DeRozan is gone. And there’s still no telling what will happen with Zach LaVine.

“I’m in a great situation, a great headspace,” LaVine said during Chicago’s media day news conference. “I’m fully healthy right now, which I don’t take for granted. Anything negative that will try to pin me and the organization –- rumors, drama, whatever it is -– I leave that in the past. I’m focusing a lot on this camp right now, going forward on this team and helping, learning, and just having a good time.”

With so many questions hanging over the head of Billy Donovan’s team, it’s hard to gauge how good they will be this season.

As such, I’m tentatively expecting them to either fall short of the play-in tournament or make it by the skin of their teeth. Too much needs to go right for the Bulls to be legitimately competitive this season.

12. Toronto Raptors

It’s a rebuilding season in Toronto. They have the main pieces to their core in RJ Barrett, Scotty Barnes and Immanuel Quickley. However, the supporting cast still needs some work. Focusing on internal development makes sense here, especially as the team is still young and has plenty of time to get things right.

“This has to be a long-term project,” Jakob Poeltl said on Monday. “I think we all know we’re not gonna attack the championship this year. It makes no sense for us to try and win every single game and sacrifice our development.”

There’s a lot to be excited about if you're a Raptors fan; it’s just that none of those things are going to happen this season.

13. Brooklyn Nets

Losing Mikal Bridges will be a blow, but for the Nets, the draft capital they acquired was essential for their rebuilding plan. They still have Cam Thomas to develop and build around, and will be hoping that the real Ben Simmons stands up to be counted.

“Yeah. I feel like when my body is healthy, that’s the confidence I always have, and that’s where I’m at right now,” Simmons said. “Physically I feel great and ready to go. And so it’s just getting reps, game reps and playing…I think people forget me as a player when I’m healthy. You know I can play basketball, I’m pretty good right?”

The Nets have some high-level rotation players on their roster. However, they don’t have the top-tier talent to be a major threat in the East. As such, i’m not sold that they can challenge for a playoff spot this season. Of course, if Simmons is an All-NBA defender again, that could change quickly.

14. Washington Wizards

The Wizards are exactly where they want to be — toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference. They’re a rebuilding team, and with that, the more high-level draft picks they can accumulate, the better. Of course, it does help that the upcoming draft class is deep and headlined by Cooper Flagg, who is already capable of being a franchise cornerstone.

Alex Sarr looks incredibly raw and will need time to develop. Kyle Kuzma may be better served moving on to become a secondary or tertiary option on a contender. After struggling in his first season as a primary offensive option, Jordan Poole has a lot to prove, too.

“You can just tell his blood pressure is a lot lower,” Corey Kispert said on Monday. “I couldn’t imagine the kind of stuff he was dealing with his first year here, coming to a brand new team, to a place he’d never been before, and you’re asked to do a host of different things where maybe he didn’t have that role or responsibility with the Warriors. It felt like he was juggling a lot of different stuff.”

It’s going to be another tough season for the Wizards, but if Poole can prove himself to be a legitimate lead guard and Sarr can improve throughout the year, the building blocks for success will be firmly in place.

15. Detroit Pistons

I’m a big fan of what the Pistons did this summer. Adding Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley, Paul Reed and Tim Hardaway Jr., the Pistons have drastically improved their floor spacing, which should help bring the best out of Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey — who have been dealing with clogged lanes their entire NBA careers.

By bringing in a host of veteran talent, the Pistons are hoping to raise the standard with the locker room and on the court. New head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said as much in a news conference on Monday.

“What you see in situations like this is young guys get to play and make mistakes, and they know they're going to keep playing, so they don’t learn as quickly as they should,” Bickerstaff said. “We’re going to hold guys to a standard.”

Out of all my power-ranking predictions, I think putting the Pistons at 15th is the one that could bite me in the ass the most. The roster has been re-tooled to suit the talent available while also bringing in some legitimate competitors. Still, you can never get too high on a rebuilding roster in a deep draft year — sorry, but it’s true.

I’ll be watching the Pistons closely, especially as Bickerstaff has a point to prove this season, too.

Let me know…

What your power rankings for the East are heading into the new season, and whether you agree or disagree with where I’ve put teams!

With media day out of the way and the new season fast approaching, it’s time to get back to the grind over here on the Celtics Chronicle. I wanted to do it last week, but I was pretty sick, so I chose to hold off. With that being said, we will get some preseason basketball at the end of the week, and I can’t wait.

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