There’s no need to explain the title of this one, except that it’s the second part of my two-part NBA preview! This time, instead of the Western Conference, it’s the Eastern Conference, featuring the defending champions of the league. Anyway, let’s jump right into the predictions, starting with the…
Atlantic Division
Boston Celtics
The Celtics lost Kyrie Irving and Al Horford. Everyone thought that they would not be able to compete for a championship, a feat that had seemed all but inevitable a year ago.
Enter Kemba Walker.
Kemba agreed to a 4-year, $141 million deal with Boston at the start of free agency. Even though Irving was a much better handler and finisher at the rim, in my opinion, Kemba is the better overall scorer. He can both create his shot and get it to the open teammate for the score. Though Kyrie and Horford said their goodbyes, the C’s should be in great shape to contend for a title this season.
Record Prediction: 51-31, #3 seed in East
New York Knicks
Man, what a nightmare summer for the New York Knicks.
First, they lose out on the NBA draft lottery, thus not being able to land Zion Williamson. Then, both Kyrie and Kevin Durant–well, you know how that story ends. The Knicks’ best acquisition this offseason was former Pelican Julius Randle, coming off his best season as a pro by far. And even though they didn’t land Zion, New York still got to take his former Duke running mate R.J. Barrett with the third overall pick. But for a summer with such high expectations from a fanbase dying for a winning season, the Knicks came short.
Way short.
Record Prediction: 28-54, miss playoffs
Brooklyn Nets
A nightmare summer for the Knicks turned into a dream come true for the Brooklyn Nets. They were the winners of the Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant sweepstakes. They also inked former Knick DeAndre Jordan to a deal. Even though Kevin Durant is set to miss the entire season with a torn Achilles, the Nets should make it to the playoffs for the second year in a row with Kyrie Irving, Jarrett Allen, and Caris LeVert leading the way offensively. But when KD returns, man, the sky’s the limit for Brooklyn.
Record Prediction: 48-34, #6 seed in East
Toronto Raptors
The defending champion Raptors are in a tricky spot heading into the 2020 season, as they lost that Kawhi guy along with Danny Green. However, they have a guy who’s ready to take the next step and become “the man” in reigning Most Improved Player Pascal Siakam, a proven veteran leader in Kyle Lowry, and some young and intriguing pieces such as OG Anunoby, Norman Powell, and Fred VanVleet. I have high hopes for the Raps, as they are a team I like and I think that Siakam can take his game to another level in the 2020 season. Expect them to contend for the postseason yet again.
Record Prediction: 47-35, #7 seed in East
Philadelphia 76ers
The time is now for the Philadelphia 76ers.
With Kawhi Leonard out of the Eastern Conference, Philly’s time to strike is now. If they want to make the NBA Finals and seriously contend for the championship, then they need to act with a sense of urgency. Al Horford and Josh Richardson are great pickups in themselves, but it hurts to lose a player of Jimmy Butler’s caliber. But, the loss of Butler aside, I think the 76ers will once again be contenders in the East, but if they want to win a championship, then they need to kick their level of play up a notch.
Playoff Prediction: 53-29, #2 seed in East
Central Division
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers season came tumbling to a violent crash when star shooting guard Victor Oladipo ruptured his Achilles about halfway through the year. Indiana did make the playoffs, but they were ousted by a Boston Celtics team that was simply better than they were. And even though the East (aside from Kawhi) has remained largely the same, that shouldn’t hinder the Pacers’ chances of another playoff run. Expect this team to contend for a top spot in the East once their star returns to the court fully healthy.
Record Prediction: 50-32, #4 seed in East
Chicago Bulls
Yeah, the Bulls’ time won’t be for another few seasons.
Despite their young, promising core, they’re still a good number of years away from contending for a potential title. Zach LaVine is an underrated young building block, and Lauri Markkanen looked fantastic in his second full season, but other than that? Truthfully, there’s not much there. Point guard Kris Dunn struggled with injuries last year and just isn’t even that good, and Wendell Carter Jr. looked inconsistent and lost at times on the basketball court. Even though I like the young potential of this squad, Chicago isn’t there just yet.
Record Prediction: 30-52, miss playoffs
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland sports fans should be thanking their lucky stars that the Browns are finally a good team again.
The departure of LeBron James in the 2018 offseason was a massive blow (duh) for them going into this year. They were forced to build around then-rookie Collin Sexton and Kevin Love, who had just, for some reason, inked a massive deal to stay in Cleveland for the next four years. And if you think that supporting cast was bad, well, they screwed up the 2019 draft, in my opinion. They passed on Texas Tech guard Jarrett Culver, who would’ve been a near-seamless fit next to the offensive-minded Sexton, and instead took a guy who played a total of four college games in Darius Garland. The fit with Garland and Sexton will be awkward at best, but hey, if you like a guy that much, then I guess you’ll pull the trigger.
Just ask the Giants.
Record Prediction: 21-61, miss playoffs
Milwaukee Bucks
The perennial title favorites now that Kawhi is out of the East, the Milwaukee Bucks look as polished and as hungry as ever for a championship. Even though the offseason contained the loss of Malcolm Brogdon, who went to the Indiana Pacers via a sign-and-trade, Milwaukee still looks like the dominant force that they were in 2019. The main reason for this, of course, is Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis dominated last year, and he was awarded win his first-ever NBA MVP award. This season, Antetokounmpo should continue his dominance on the court, and the Bucks should be in serious title contention because of this.
Record Prediction: 62-20, #1 seed in East
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons were rather quiet in what was an extremely hectic (obviously) NBA offseason, their only notable signing being former Timberwolf Derrick Rose to a two-year deal. Detroit will come into the 2020 season with mostly the same supporting cast as they had last year, except for Rose, of course. I think Detroit will put up a fight with a few other teams for the #8 seed in the East, and in the end, I say they just barely miss out on the postseason.
Record Prediction: 41-41, miss playoffs
Southeast Division
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks, like the Bulls, have a young and promising core, as breakout star floor general Trae Young looks like he’ll be one heck of a player in two or three years. Power forward John Collins looks like a potentially elite shot-blocker and rebounder, and if he develops a consistent jump shot, he (and prepare for a hot take) could become something like the next Anthony Davis. Overall, the Hawks’ window for playoff contention is getting wider and wider with each passing season, and Atlanta fans should be hyped for the future.
Record Prediction: 31-51, miss playoffs
Washington Wizards
The Wizards are nothing short of doomed after John Wall’s Achilles injury during last season. This kept him out the entirety of last year and will likely keep him out for most, if not all, of this season. Bradley Beal will now become the unquestioned number one option, and players such as Isaiah Thomas and rookie Rui Hachimura will need to step up and contribute in a big way. Otherwise, the Wizards have run out of magic for this season.
Record Prediction: 29-53, miss playoffs
Miami Heat
The Heat’s biggest offseason acquisition was, of course, former 76ers star Jimmy Butler, who they secured the services of via a sign-and-trade that sent Josh Richardson to Philadelphia. With the addition of Jimmy Buckets, Miami will get some much-needed star power, and I believe that he, along with the already solid supporting cast that the Heat has assembled around him, will help Miami contend for a playoff spot once again. Expect this team to reach the postseason for the first time in a good while.
Record Prediction: 49-33, #5 seed in East
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic may be possibly the toughest team to get a read on heading into this season. They made the playoffs last year with a core of Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, and Evan Fournier, and then they proceeded to re-sign Vucevic to a four-year deal this offseason. I see them just barely sneaking into the postseason this year, as their core served them well and Vucevic played the best basketball of his career. Expect this team to make it two in a row for the playoffs.
Record Prediction: 42-40, #8 seed in East
Charlotte Hornets
After star point guard Kemba Walker packed his bags and headed for Boston, the return of his sign-and-trade deal, Terry Rozier, will be forced to lead a Hornets squad that just looks so, so bad. Their second-best player (and maybe not even), Jeremy Lamb, departed for the Indiana Pacers in free agency. Sophomore Miles Bridges looked good last year and I expect him to take a big step forward this season. However, I’m not sure if he will playoffs-wise. Charlotte is still at the very start of a long, long rebuild.
Record Prediction: 20-62, miss playoffs
And that’s all for the two-part 2020 NBA preview! I hope you enjoyed, and stay tuned to The Roundup for more basketball and sports news!
