NBA Playoff Predictions: Eastern Conference

1. Brooklyn Nets (51-21)

Since acquiring James Harden, the Nets have been on a tear. The Nets are 15-3 in their last 18 games without Kevin Durant and 24-9 overall since Harden has been with the team. Their offense has looked unstoppable, especially with Harden facilitating at a high level right now (Harden currently leads the league in assists). When Durant eventually comes back, expect the Nets to pull away from the Sixers and Bucks with the number one seed in the East. 

2. Philadelphia Sixers (49-23)

Before he went out with an injury, center Joel Embiid was having an MVP caliber season. Without him, the Sixers haven’t missed a beat. They’ve gone 6-2 so far in his absence — including a loss to the Bucks — with a favorable schedule coming up in their next eight games. In the last month of the season, the Sixers have a crucial game against the Nets and two critical games against the Bucks. All three of those games could help determine seeding down the stretch, but I think the Sixers will lose out on the one seed by a slim margin.

3. Milwaukee Bucks (48-24)

Since they lost five in a row in mid-February, the Bucks have gone 13-3 and have made the race for the East’s number one seed even more interesting. It looks like the Bucks have found the form that allowed them to have the best record in the league the past two years. As previously mentioned, two critical games against the Sixers await the Bucks in April that will have a huge impact on seeding heading into the playoffs.

4. Boston Celtics (39-33)

The Celtics have been a disappointment in the Eastern Conference this year. Fresh off their Eastern Conference Finals appearance, they have been up and down all season. Currently, they are 23-23, but they are just a game back of the four seed. Of the teams fighting for the four seed, the Celtics are clearly the best, they just have to play like it to end the season. 

5. Miami Heat (37-35)

Another disappointment from last season, the reigning Eastern Conference Champions have played poorly this season. If the season ended today, the two teams that played in the Conference Finals last year will have to play in the play-in tournament in order to make the playoffs. One of the biggest reasons for their decline has been their three-point shooting. They were one of the best last year, now this season, they’ve become one of the worst. Whether they move up in the standings or drop lower will depend on whether they are able to find their shooting stroke again or not. 

6. New York Knicks (34-38)

Arguably the biggest surprise of this season has been the New York Knicks. Led by Julias Randle, the Knicks are currently sitting in the fourth seed in the East. I don’t expect that to last long, but I do believe that this is the year that the Knicks return to the playoffs for the first time since 2013. 

7. Indiana Pacers (33-39)

The Pacers haven’t played up to the level that they were at last season. Part of it has been because they haven’t had their full complement of pieces, with Caris LaVert returning just two weeks ago, and now it has been confirmed that T.J. Warren is out for the rest of the season after playing just four games for the team. He was their leading scorer last season, including averaging 27 in the bubble. Another reason is that they just haven’t been playing as well as they did overall last year. Currently, they’re the ninth seed, but I expect their play to pick back up to land in the playoffs.

8. Atlanta Hawks (32-40)

The Hawks haven’t been good this season, but in the East, it’s not required to be a playoff team. Trae Young has been great, but the team as a whole has struggled to put together stretches of consistency. While also having chemistry issues, their path to the playoffs will be difficult, but the teams below them are even worse than they are so they’ll get this spot by default.