Right Now, Project the Eastern Conference

[SparzWizard]

Boston
Philadelphia
Milwaukee
Toronto
Indiana
Washington
Charlotte
Brooklyn

Some sub .500 teams will make the playoffs in the East.

[KungPoweChicken]

If Cleveland is smart, they will tank hard until James becomes a free agent again. They ought to be loaded with talent when The King returns to Cleveland for his last couple seasons before he retires.

[Erik]

Boston
Toronto
Washington
Indiana
Philadelphia
Milwaukee
Detroit
Miami

[LilRip]

Boston
Toronto
Philly
Indiana
Washington
Milwaukee
Miami
Detroit

That’s your playoff seeding. We’ll need a big like Baynes to slow Drummond down in the first round. Then we’ll need pit bulls on the wings to contain Oladipo in the 2nd.

[Moranis]

If Cleveland is smart, they will tank hard until James becomes a free agent again. They ought to be loaded with talent when The King returns to Cleveland for his last couple seasons before he retires.

I think he might sign a 1 day to retire a Cav but he moved to LA for his kids so I just don't see him leaving for a whole season unless it is to play with Bronny

[nickagneta]

1. Boston Celtics

2-1615. Don't care.

What I do care about:

Western Conference

1-1514. Don't care

1615. Sacramento

Unless you know of an ultra stealth expansion, there are only 15 teams in each conference.

lol....got mixed up with NFL. Fixed the original post. TP

[action781]

With the lottery odds spread out more, I don't think we'll see teams with as low win totals going forward as we used to and the teams with crappy rosters but coaches that try to win won't fare as well as they used to.

1. Boston - 62-20
2. Toronto - 59-23
3. Philly - 55-27
4. Washington - 49-33 (Wall missed a lot of time last season plus DH an upgrade over Gortat)
5. Indiana - 48-34
6. Milwaukee - 44-38
7. Miami - 44-38
8. Detroit Pistons - 41-41
---
Charlotte Hornets - 38-44
NY Knicks - 30-52
Cleveland Cavs - 30-52
Chicago Bulls - 28-54
Orlando Magic - 25-57
Brooklyn Nets - 25-57
Atlanta Hawks - 22-60 (I think Trae Young is going to kill this team but he still gets lots of minutes anyways)

Overall conference record: 600-630 (48.8%).  I think this is slightly too generous overall for this conference which means some of these team wins gotta come down further.  That win decrease will likely come from some unpredictable injury to a player like a celtic all-star, Lowry, DeRozan, Embiid, Simmons, Wall, Griffin, Porzingis, or a trade of Kemba or Love to the West.

[dreamgreen]

1. Boston
2. Toronto
3. Philly
4. Indiana     
5. Washington
6. Detroit
7. Milwaukee
8. Cleveland     
9. Miami
10. Charlotte
11. Chicago 
12. Orlando
13. Brooklyn
14. New York
15. Atlanta

[green_bballers13]

1. Boston
2. Philly
3. Toronto
4. Milwaukee   
5. Indy
6. Washington
7. Miami
8. Detroit   
9. Charlotte
10. Chicago
11. Cleveland 
12. New York
13. Brooklyn
14. Orlando
15. Atlanta

[Moranis]

After the Kawhi trade, I would bump up the win range for the Raptors by 2 wins, but I'm still going with them at 2 with Boston getting the 1 seed. 

[RodyTur10]

1. Boston
2. Toronto
3. Indiana
4. Washington
5. Milwaukee   
6. Philadelphia
7. Charlotte
8. Miami
9. Chicago
10. Detroit   
11. Orlando
12. Brooklyn
13. Cleveland 
14. New York
15. Atlanta

[TheSundanceKid]

1. Boston
2. Toronto
3. Washington
4. Philadelphia
5. Milwaukee
6. Miami
7. Indiana
8. Cleveland
9. Detroit
10. Charlotte
11. Orlando
12. Chicago
13. New York
14. Brooklyn
15. Atlanta

I didn't predict with this in mind but those first round matchups look tasty! Especially Philly - Milwaukee, that'd be excellent to watch.

In terms of controversial picks I guess Cleveland making the playoffs might surprise some. Obviously losing James is huge but a lot of those players couldn't have been worse last year and I would expect them to all lift their games slightly. Management will also want to make the playoffs until they can ignite a proper rebuild, likely next summer. Washington above Phila as well, I think Washington will click this year and they are a very talented starting 5. I am accounting for likely absences here and I do think Embiid will miss a good portion of the season.

I see Boston coming out of the East (obvs) but I think the ECF will be between Boston and Washington, a 6 game series with us winning on the road in Game 6 to take us to the finals!

[ederson]

WAS 3rd ? I doubt they are better than MIL

[TheSundanceKid]

WAS 3rd ? I doubt they are better than MIL

That's why it's a controversial pick!

I don't think it should be questioned that they are a more talented starting 5 than Milwaukee. The trouble with Washington has always been chemistry and on floor success. Last season Wall had a fair chunk of injury time, this year I think they put it together. Of course there is the chance they continue on the same route of underachievement... But that is why it's only a prediction!

[Birdman]

Indiana going to be tough folks..dont overlook them