Which Eastern Conference Team Should Concern Us Most?

[CelticsElite]

With the cavs quickly sputtering all season long into irrelevance, which team do we focus on as the team to beat?

Is it still the cavs because of lebron? Or a more complete team like the raptors

[nickagneta]

The Celtics. As long as they are healthy and playing to their potential, they should have zero trouble coming out of the east, IMHO.

[KGs Knee]

I'm more concerned about our own health than any of the teams in the east.

I mean, sure, you always have to be concerned about LeBron going 'beast mode', but that Cavs team looks broken.  And while the Raptors are talented, and everyone says they're different this year, I'll believe it when I see it.  They always come up short in the playoffs.

[KGs Knee]

The Celtics. As long as they are healthy and playing to their potential, they should have zero trouble coming out of the east, IMHO.

TP, Nick...beat me to it by about 30 seconds.

[chilidawg]

The Celtics. As long as they are healthy and playing to their potential, they should have zero trouble coming out of the east, IMHO.

I don't know about no trouble, but I agree we're the team to beat.  Toronto is the obvious next best team.

[jpotter33]

I think the most important thing will be trying to avoid playing BOTH Cleveland and Toronto in the playoffs, who are obviously the top-3 threats in the East alongside Boston.

Of course, that doesn't mean losing on purpose to try and manipulate the playoff bracket, but I think it'll be much easier to come out of the East only having to beat ONE of Toronto or Cleveland, not both.

[Moranis]

I'm of the belief that Thomas will look better and Love should be healthy by the playoffs which still makes the Cavs the biggest threat.  The Raptors would likely be favored in a series against the Celtics as well.  Frankly I wouldn't be overly surprised if a team like the Bucks, Sixers, or Pistons beat Boston in a series in the first round.  All of them have players that are difficult matchups for the C's.

[2short]

Besides Howard if we are fully healthy with Monroe added no one.  That said I'd go with Toronto and a dark horse vote for philly

[SHAQATTACK]

Teams with a BIG s inside presence was scary  But with Monroe we should have enough size to sustain a good inside game.

[Ilikesports17]

I'm not doubting Lebron. He still scares me.

I think we are better than any EC Lebron foe since the 2010 Celtics. I also think this is the worst Lebron team since 2010. But he's still Lebron. IT will get better. Love will return. Not discounting Cle just yet.

I think Toronto is very very good, but I'm more worried about Cleveland. Ideally they match up in the 2-3 ECSF and we only have to play one of them. No one else in the East concerns me in the slightest.

[Ilikesports17]

Teams with a BIG s inside presence was scary  But with Monroe we should have enough size to sustain a good inside game.

Monroe and Baynes inside is such a huge step up from Klynyk and Amir.

Edit: in terms of physicality and the ability to matchup with physical big men.

[Sophomore]

For now I'm going to say Toronto, and I'll be watching our games against them closely.

They used to be a really bad matchup for us, but I think our new personnel addresses our old vulnerabilities - we should be able to keep them from killing us on the boards late in the game, and I think Jaylen is going to give DeRozan all he can handle. Demarre is good enough he can't be totally stopped, but Jaylen is a tough, tough matchup for him.

I wouldn't sleep on the Wizards either. They are such a strange team - capable of coughing up games against pretty mediocre teams, and then playing very very tough against the best.

[SCeltic34]

It's still the Cavs.  We all know that the playoffs are a different beast.  Cleveland looks like crap right now, but the majority of their roster is battle-tested and of course they have LeBron.  They're the dominant force in the EC until proven otherwise.  I hope we can dethrone them and put an end to the LeBron era in Cleveland - again.

I'm of the belief that Thomas will look better and Love should be healthy by the playoffs which still makes the Cavs the biggest threat.  The Raptors would likely be favored in a series against the Celtics as well.  Frankly I wouldn't be overly surprised if a team like the Bucks, Sixers, or Pistons beat Boston in a series in the first round.  All of them have players that are difficult matchups for the C's.

I think we match up much better with Toronto now than in previous years - specifically we don't have a miniature backcourt in IT & Bradley that could not check Lowry & DeRozan.  Toronto tends to wilt in the playoffs against stiff competition too.  They'd be a tough out, but I think we have the edge.

While not my preferred choice to play in the 1st round, I'm not too concerned with the Sixers.  They don't know how to win (inexperience), and who knows if Embiid's body can hold up with the demands of the playoffs.  As far as the Pistons, I'm not worried about the master of panic VanGundy.  The Bucks would indeed be tough and hope we can avoid them.

[Neurotic Guy]

Looking at the East and West top 8's, it's clear that the West is top-heavy (probably the top 2 teams in the NBA; 4 of the top 6), but East definitely catching up regarding 1 through 8 quality.   I don't think there is a chump team among the East playoff teams.  Philly will not be an easy out.   

I am still most concerned with Cleveland.  Still the best player in the league and their (His) intensity will be heightened.

[Neurotic Guy]

Another thought is that I think other teams will be significantly more concerned with playing the C's than they were last year.  C's are intimidating at a different level, especially with the frontcourt help to come.  Add a shooter!