2023-2024 NBA Eastern Conference Preview

1. Atlanta Hawks

Hawks extend Forward/Center Onyeka Okongwu to a 4-year deal, some say that he will be the young version of John Collins on the roster, as Collins got traded to the Utah Jazz and is no longer with the Hawks. Now they need to figure out if Okongwu and Capela (C) can be on the floor together and creating some good offense and defensive plays. Neither brings a shooting skill so will there be a trade for Clint Capela and they will move Okongwu to Center being 6 foot 9? Let’s talk about Trae Young and what he brings to the team, Trae brings so much to the team with his skills and playmaking abilities. He was asked if he did any mechanical changes or anything to change his game play style this is what he responded with. “Nah. I am one of the best in the world at what I do so there is not too much that I want to change on my stuff.” We will see if he can stand by his statement along side with Dejounte Murray which are both great playmakers on the offensive side, so it should bring some excitement to this team.

2. Boston Celtics

Celtics have on of the best teams right now with the talent they have on there roster, when you look at there starting five they have four players who made an All-Star Game in their career. Also acquiring Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday who are great players and Holiday also known for being defensive player of the year, and Porzingis showing why the Celtics were willing to do whatever it took to get him especially them trading Marcus Smart away. This team just has talent both on offense and defense, having Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown working on the offense and bringing great plays and scoring abilities to the team and on the defensive side you got Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. They have it all, now will they be able to execute in the regular season? Seeing how they have been playing in pre-season there is no doubt that they will have a special team and a special run this season.

3. Chicago Bulls

Bulls last season just barely missed the playoffs going 40-42. They will definitely be looking for redemption this season, Bulls being led by Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, who are both super stars and great duo on the court making great plays and both having great scoring abilities and bringing a lot to the offense with there playmaking. Nikola Vucevic you got at center also making a statement couple days ago saying “Probably our last shot” this is concerning the “Big Three” (LaVine, DeRozan, Vucevic) they will definitely make there run this season also a great PG rising up and making a name for himself Coby White, and just other pieces as well off the bench Alex Caruso and also Andre Drummond. Yes, maybe they won’t be the best team in NBA or not even expected to be top seed in the Eastern Conference but they definitely have a roster that should easily compete for a playoff spot. At the very least they can at least make it to the Play-In Tournament.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers

Cavs looking to comeback after getting kicked out of playoff last year in Round 1 against the New York Knicks. Cavs looking to make another run to the playoffs this season alongside the core four which you have Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarett Allen. With this roster and even some add ons they had brought on after noticing a clear need for bench scoring, they got Max Strus after his great performance with the Miami Heat, George Niang who is a consistent three point shooter as well, and Emoni Bates who has great potential. Mitchell said “You look at the team we were last year, not to totally reflect in the past, but we did a lot of really good things. Now we have the additions, we only look to continue to build.” With the stating five and the new add ons to the bench the Cavs have another great opportunity to reach the playoffs. With there great talent on offense and Mitchell leading on offense this will be a new look on there offense and we will witness what they are capable of in the regular season.

5. Detroit Pistons

The Pistons were 17-65 last season putting them last in the Eastern Conference, this team has been struggling to get anywhere for the past several years with losing records past 4 years. They have one of the youngest team in the league according to the average of their rostered players, they have a young core led by the 2022 number 1 overall pick, Cade Cunningham, who basically missed the entirety of last season due to a undergoing surgery to his shin. Looking at the teams roster for the 2023-2024 season with Cunningham coming back from his injury, No. 5 pick Ausar Thompson coming in the line up and Jaden Ivey looking to build off of his rookie season. With these top 3 players and several veterans on the team do they have the potential to be great this season?

6. Indiana Pacers

Pacers got eliminated last season and did not make the playoffs. During the offseason the Pacers haven’t done a whole lot to improve or to give them a better chance at making a strong run for the 2023-2024 season, they will find it difficult to win at a consistent rate. The Eastern Conference just has many good teams, which does not help the Pacers. They definitely have a better chance then last year of getting more wins with the new roster acquiring Obi Toppin and Bruce Brown Jr., so if we look at there starting five you got Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin, Bruce Brown, Obi Toppin, and Myles Turner, this roster definitely has talent and skill but is it enough? Depending on their performances and abilities to close out games will determine whether the Pacers exceed expectations and make a huge turn around making a significant impact in the new season.

7. Miami Heat

Heat coming back this season after losing last year in the championship against the Denver Nuggets. Heat lost several players during the offseason including 2 players who played a great part in helping the team get to the championship who are Max Strus and Gabe Vincent. Looking at the starting five for Heat you got Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro, Josh Richardson, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo. The president of the Heat said he still believes his team has “as good a chance as anybody” to win the Eastern Conference. Don’t get me wrong the Heat have great talent and skills especially with Jimmy Butler showing what he can do and improving every year to get better and better. They will heavily rely on Butler and a few others to make another great run to the playoffs, they definitely have a chance with this roster they will have great plays and will be a great team to watch. On the other hand if they don’t do to well this season it could have a serious effect on what happens to the Heat next season.

8. Milwaukee Bucks

Coming off from an outstanding season last year being 58-24, which was the best in the NBA, but they came short in the playoffs losing to Miami Heat in Round 1. Don’t count out the Bucks thus in the recent 3 way trade the Bucks acquired one of the best PGs in the league, Damian Lillard. This Duo will have fans and people watching excited with there play making abilities and skills. They have a great chance to a great season with there roster. With there starters Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Brook Lopez. This roster has Allstars, great talent, playmaking abilities, and more. There is no doubt in my mind that they make another strong run to the playoffs this season. They have all around players going from shooters, playmakers, skills, and defense they got it all. We will see how the Bucks execute this season and if it will be as we all expected.

9. Brooklyn Nets

After losing in the first round in the playoffs last season to the Philadelphia 76ers, Nets look to bounce back and make it to the playoffs once again this upcoming season. With a great starting five they seem to be happy with Ben Simmons who looks to be back to his old self, but regardless of that the team is looking to run the offense through Mikal Bridges and to help him be more efficient on the offensive end. The team was playing more of an isolation game play when they had Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving but now with them not on the team anymore the Nets will look to a different offensive gameplay which will involve more ball movement and cutting actions that will help involve players like Bridges and Cam Johnson to perform. This team has a great roster a team with great potential and talent. Will be exciting to see them play and perform with this new roster and how they will execute. I believe they will outperform many teams and show why they are a great team.

10. New York Knicks

Knicks entering the season after going 47-35 last season but unfortunately getting eliminated in the second round against the Heats. The biggest impact that they will have coming from the offseason is bringing Donte DiVincenzo after trading Obi Toppin to the Pacers which helped them clear the necessary cap space, but now without a strong Power Forward, they will look towards Josh Harts ability to rebound and play well defensively against larger opponents. The Knicks have a more difficult time in the Eastern Conference with the big moves from the Bucks and Celtics. The Knicks will have to heavily rely on Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett and Julius Randle to perform well on offense and prove themselves once again. There roster isn’t the flashiest and the craziest built team, but they have a decent roster which could hold up and make it to the playoffs, but the real question is, will the New York Knicks hold up in the Eastern Conference?

11. Orlando Magic

Magic struggled last year with a record of 34-48 and not making it to the playoffs. To look at any potential success this season they look no further then Banchero and Wagner, this duo wen to the international stage during the offseason for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and proved themselves and showed there skills and abilities. Wagner also earning TCL player of the game leading Germany its first FIBA Gold medal. Another player that really helped and made a difference last year for the Magic is Markelle Fultz, the way he plays and the pace he plays at while protecting the basketball most will say is underrated, and don’t forget about his great ability to shoot from the mid-range. Yes the Magic don’t have the best team in the NBA but they have a somewhat good roster with Wendell Carter Jr. at center which really helps on both offensively and defensively while taking pride in his great physicality, boxing out, rebounding, and setting great screens. If there starting five stay healthy throughout the season, I don’t see why the Magic won’t have a chance in the playoffs. They will have to bring power and play hard they will have great challenges during the season but with there roster they have great potential.

12. Philadelphia 76ers

76ers had a great record last season 54-28 making it to the playoffs, sweeping through Round 1 but then fell short in the semi-finals to the Boston Celtics. Things not looking great for this team as James Harden keeps missing practices and losing him the 76ers would likely not be title contenders. Also many trade rumors going around about Joel Embiid. The only positive so far for them is Joel Embiid they need a playmaker like him to keep the Sixers in contention in the Eastern Conference. Embiid will continue to do great things for the team including Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, and P.J. Tucker, but the team just doesn’t have enough top-tier weapons and especially if Harden won’t be around the Sixers will find it more difficult to be consistent based team. They definitely will make a close run to the playoffs they got enough talent and skills but I just don’t think they have what it takes especially with all the different situations going around and them still needing to figure some things out.

13. Washington Wizards

Eliminated from playoffs with a record of 35-47 last season, can the Wizards bounce back from that? After losing Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis 2 very good players, the Wizards are lacking size and start power. Yes they did acquire a few players like Jordan Poole, Patrick Baldwin Jr., Danilo Gallinari, Tyus Jones, and more. When you look at there starting five you don’t see a team that makes you think oh they for sure will make the playoffs, yes they do have Jordan Poole great player with great potential we saw what he can do when he was with the Warriors but can he really carry this team be the leader in this offense, if they can all come together in style somehow and somewhat have a good run and maybe compete for a Play-In spot in the Eastern Conference. We will watch throughout the season how they play and will be able to see more and more what this team is capable of but for now it’s too early to tell.

14. Toronto Raptors

Raptors falling just short of the playoffs last season with a record of 41-41 lost to the Bulls in the Play-In tournament. The team still have two great players OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam to give this team a more competitive approach in the upcoming season while losing Fred VanVleet in free agency. Scottie Barnes is next up on this team for a bright future he has shown his skills and the potential he has to be a star player. Also adding on to the roster Raptors signed Dennis Schroeder and drafted in the 13th pick Gradey Dick, a great player who can score on multiple levels. This team has grown to be better on defense. With the talent and potential this team has assuming they come to agreements with new contracts for Siakam and Anunoby as they will be free agents in 2024, this Raptors team has a chance to be in the top 10 in the Eastern Conference if not even in the top 5 but that all depends on how this team develops and shows out this upcoming season.

15. Charlotte Hornets

Hornets just couldn’t get away from injuries last season leading them to a 27-55 record, Lamelo went down multiple times Cody Martin sidelined for basically the entire year, Hayward missed 32 games, Kelly Oubre missed quite a bit of time as well, with all those injuries Hornets stood no chance in being competitive. Now with a Healthy Roster the Hornets look to make a significant change on the season. They also brought back Miles Bridges but will miss 10 games during the 2023-2024 season due to the NBA suspending him. The Hornets are also under new leadership led by Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin who bought the team from basketball legend Michael Jordan. Hornets look to be a rebuilding team this year, if the team can stay healthy there is no doubt they will do better then last season but I just don’t see the Hornets making it to the playoffs this season especially with a few teams in the Eastern Conference building better teams and will make it more difficult for other teams as the Hornets to compete.

Overall 2023-2024 season starts today will be very exciting to see what this season brings, all the highlights, news, trades, and much more. Make sure to subscribe to our Newsletter for more news and blogs.

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