Who is the toughest remaining team in the East (other than the Celtics)?

[Moranis]

Heat > Bucks > Sixers.

If Middleton is back I’d consider the Heat and Bucks a tie for first. Heat just know how to close out games; they play smart and they don’t rattle easily, which is worth a great deal.

and the Bucks don't?

[Sophomore]

Heat > Bucks > Sixers.

If Middleton is back I’d consider the Heat and Bucks a tie for first. Heat just know how to close out games; they play smart and they don’t rattle easily, which is worth a great deal.

and the Bucks don't?

Of the 2 teams I would give Miami the edge. I’ve seen the Bucks suffer some pretty big collapses, including against the Cs, and I think they have more talent than Miami. Miami just does more with less.

[Sophomore]

In the bubble I was pretty sure we would beat the Heat on raw talent. Heat just played better team ball and kept executing relentlessly. At that point I wished we played the way they did.

[Phantom255x]

It's hard to say because honestly each of the four teams (BKN, MIA, PHI, MIL) are really good and they each have their strengths which they have designed their systems around which make it tough. Plus you have the obvious stars on each team (KD, Embiid, Giannis, Butler).

If healthy, I still lean towards the Bucks. Sixers are loaded too but their depth is iffy whereas I think MIL has better depth and it's showing now even with Middleton out. I think Middleton and J-Holiday are great players. Middleton is obviously a HOF-player against us, but remember when Giannis was out for a few games last year in the ECF, Middleton and Holiday played fantastic and helped MIL advance. They are just as capable of shouldering the load when needed.

[colincb]

These are the current Fan Duel odds as of 22 April so a few days ago but I think this accounts for most of the recent injuries.  According to this, the Heat are the best of the rest in the east.  Not sure if I agree but this is one perspective.  I think this is more a representation of how people are betting, not how the experts rank these teams.


Golden State Warriors          280
Boston Celtics                     500
Phoenix Suns                      550
Miami Heat                         600
Memphis Grizzlies                900
Milwaukee Bucks                  950
Philadelphia 76ers                950
Brooklyn Nets                      1800
Dallas Mavericks                  1900
Utah Jazz                            4400
Chicago Bulls                      8000
New Orleans Pelicans          10000
Minnesota Timberwolves     21000
Atlanta Hawks                   35000
Denver Nuggets                 49000
Toronto Raptors                 49000

Current NBA Championship odds at FanDuel today. Nets odds have fallen off a cliff:

GSW   280 BOS   460 MIA   550 PHX   550 MIL   650 MEM   1,000 PHL   1,200 DAL   2,100 UTA   3,200 BKN   8,000 CHI   8,000 NOL   8,000 MIN   12,000 ATL   49,000 DEN   49,000 TOR   49,000

https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nba?tab=nba-finals

[blink]

I would have said the Bucks for sure before Middleton got hurt.  Now I would say Philly by a nose.  Embiid-Harden-Maxy-Harris can put up points. 

[footey]

Heat > Bucks > Sixers.

If Middleton is back I’d consider the Heat and Bucks a tie for first. Heat just know how to close out games; they play smart and they don’t rattle easily, which is worth a great deal.

This

[Neurotic Guy]

If the Celtics beat the Nets, which they haven't, I think any of the 3 likely remaining teams can be beaten by the C's and I think any of those teams can beat the C's.  I suppose I'd feel most threatened by Miami with Middleton out, but not by much.   That's probably influenced by the fact that I find the Heat the most irritating of the remaining teams.  Pat Riley is on my historic most hated list, and the mix of scorers on that team make me cringe.  I also think Spoelstra is smart.  I don't like being beaten by guys who hit long range shots at high clips.  Just annoys me.  All/any of the potential series' look tough and interesting. 

[gouki88]

Milwaukee if Middleton returns and is at full-strength. Miami otherwise.

[celticsclay]

These are the current Fan Duel odds as of 22 April so a few days ago but I think this accounts for most of the recent injuries.  According to this, the Heat are the best of the rest in the east.  Not sure if I agree but this is one perspective.  I think this is more a representation of how people are betting, not how the experts rank these teams.


Golden State Warriors          280
Boston Celtics                     500
Phoenix Suns                      550
Miami Heat                         600
Memphis Grizzlies                900
Milwaukee Bucks                  950
Philadelphia 76ers                950
Brooklyn Nets                      1800
Dallas Mavericks                  1900
Utah Jazz                            4400
Chicago Bulls                      8000
New Orleans Pelicans          10000
Minnesota Timberwolves     21000
Atlanta Hawks                   35000
Denver Nuggets                 49000
Toronto Raptors                 49000

Current NBA Championship odds at FanDuel today. Nets odds have fallen off a cliff:

GSW   280 BOS   460 MIA   550 PHX   550 MIL   650 MEM   1,000 PHL   1,200 DAL   2,100 UTA   3,200 BKN   8,000 CHI   8,000 NOL   8,000 MIN   12,000 ATL   49,000 DEN   49,000 TOR   49,000

https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nba?tab=nba-finals

The memphis odds don’t make any sense. They are in a tight series right now. How In the world do they beat golden state? Also as a disclaimer nobody should bet on these they are awful odds and you will make much more money betting by series.

[Kiorrik]

Miami imo

[Cman]

Miami imo

Agreed.

[ashanm10]

Miami here too - their depth is insane and basically they are what we are - just our defence is tougher than theirs but their zone is ridicoulous tough - super coach too - win against them is when imma go crazy and then GSW on the other end ofcs - sky is the limit baby

[Moranis]

Even without Middleton, I think the answer is still Milwaukee.  Giannis is just an absolute monster.  Hardest guy to defend in the sport.  Can go to coast to coast, blow by you on the perimeter, back you down, or just post you up.  So long, strong, and fast.  Even without Middleton, I just don't like what Giannis can bring when you are trying to guard him.  Wouldn't be surprised to see a 40 spot every game in the series (especially if Middleton can't go and he needs to do more).  And it is hard to overcome that sort of game from your opponent when it happens every game in a 7 game series.  And it isn't like it was just the Giannis and Middleton show in Milwaukee, Holiday is an excellent player, and their role players i.e. Lopez, Portis, Allen Connaughton, Matthews all know what they are doing.  The Bucks are just a well constructed team around the best player in the world.

Miami is very good, but I just don't think Butler can do it every single game over a 7 game series and they need Butler to do that for them to really compete for a title.  I remember in the Finals 2 years ago, Butler had 2 massive games, and 4 ok games.  Not unsurprisingly, the Heat won the 2 games where Butler really showed up and lost the other 4.  I just don't think Butler is in the same class of player as Giannis, and that matters a lot.

Embiid certainly has the potential to be a Giannis level impact, but I don't trust his health or his supporting cast.  I'd be pretty darn surprised, maybe even shocked, if Boston lost to Philly.  I think Embiid would have to go for something like 40/15 every game for that to happen and I don't think Embiid can string 4 in 7 like that with his frailty (especially since it would after another full round on that thumb).

[tenn_smoothie]

If the Celtics beat the Nets, which they haven't, I think any of the 3 likely remaining teams can be beaten by the C's and I think any of those teams can beat the C's.  I suppose I'd feel most threatened by Miami with Middleton out, but not by much.   That's probably influenced by the fact that I find the Heat the most irritating of the remaining teams.  Pat Riley is on my historic most hated list, and the mix of scorers on that team make me cringe.  I also think Spoelstra is smart.  I don't like being beaten by guys who hit long range shots at high clips.  Just annoys me.  All/any of the potential series' look tough and interesting.

I will second your feelings about Pat Riley. I hate that arrogant jerk.
To this day, he doesn't have a kind word to say about the Celtics and especially about Red Auerbach.
There are quite a few players out there who are still bitter towards the Celtics for all the pain we have dispensed over the years.
That is one reason I have respect for Jerry West - he suffered more than anyone against us but has always maintained his integrity.