I think the league is just top-heavy this year. MIL, BKN, PHI, LAC, LAL. One of those teams will win it all. Respect teams like Utah, Portland, Indiana, etc. but I think we all know they'll fizzle out in the postseason to a team with more talent unless they suffer multiple star injuries.
The East in particular though has three contenders, followed by about 8-10 mediocre/average teams (including the C's). I mean the gap between the 4 seed and the 12 seed in the East is legit just 3 games LOL
Like as bad as they've been, Washington is only 3 games back of an 8 seed. And sadly despite all that the C's find themselves at .500 and reeling too.