There’s nothing higher than being within the Jap Convention this NBA season.
The Western Convention is totally more difficult, high to backside, so I needed to rank which groups within the East I believe are literally contenders.
Most of those groups are realistically pretenders, however a number of groups within the East are nonetheless very a lot the actual deal.
#1 Detroit Pistons: Pretenders
This Detroit crew is a superb watch; nevertheless, I discover it exhausting to consider that anybody actually thinks this roster is able to contend within the playoffs. Cade Cunningham is likely one of the finest gamers within the sport, and Jalen Duren has taken a major leap, taking part in at an All-Star degree. That doesn’t change that this roster is poorly constructed for postseason success.
Cunningham shoots it at simply 31% from the surface, and Duren’s fashion of play gained’t be exceedingly profitable within the playoffs. Then, on the opposite finish of the court docket, because you desperately want spacing, Duncan Robinson might want to get important playoff minutes, and if he’s not a flamethrower on offense, having defenses decide him aside may not make it price it even to play him.
I hope Detroit tries so as to add one other celebrity to this lineup to raise it to the subsequent degree. I do know he gained’t assist with spacing points, however if you happen to might discover a low cost solution to tackle Ja Morant from a determined Grizzlies entrance workplace, I might be open to believing you’re truly contenders.
#2 Chicago Bulls: Pretenders
The Bulls aren’t pretenders in the identical manner because the Pistons are. Really, I believe this Bulls crew is healthier than folks give it credit score for. Billy Donovan is as soon as once more displaying why he’s among the best coaches within the league.
That doesn’t imply the Bulls additionally don’t have an opportunity in hell of creating it wherever near the finals. Between Josh Giddey, Nikola Vucevic, Ayo Dosunmu, and Matas Buzelis, the Bulls actually have an fascinating core. This crew performs at an incredible tempo and might shock good groups with their hyper offensive risk.
Nonetheless, in the event that they run right into a crew with any inside risk on protection, I believe they’ll actually be slowed down on offense. Moreover, I’d be fascinated by seeing how their offense would translate into the playoffs, the place the tempo of the sport usually slows down.
#3 Cleveland Cavaliers: Contenders
Nov 7, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots the ball in opposition to the Washington Wizards within the second half in an Emirates NBA Cup recreation at Capital One Area. Obligatory Credit score: Geoff Burke-Imagn Photos The primary argument in opposition to this Cavaliers crew has been their lack of ability to translate regular-season success into postseason success—that, after all, and their twin small guard and large man lineups.
Nonetheless, if you happen to’ve watched this crew since Kenny Atkinson took over, I’m unsure the way you couldn’t consider in them at the very least just a little bit. When the entire crew is wholesome, their offense can attain historic ranges.
That has value them just a little bit on the opposite finish, however I’m not as involved about that on account of Evan Mobley’s game-altering presence on protection. Exterior of Victor Wembenyama, there’s no another impactful on the defensive finish within the league. I consider the accidents this crew has handled within the playoffs over the previous couple of seasons are fluky, and that is the 12 months they at the very least make it to the Jap Convention Finals.
#4 Milwaukee Bucks: Contenders
It’s so simple as this. If Giannis Antetokounmpo is in your basketball crew, it’s possible he’s one of the best participant on the ground, particularly within the Jap Convention.
The crew round him, sadly, isn’t nice, however I nonetheless suppose Giannis has at the very least another historic playoff run whereas he’s nonetheless assured to be in Milwaukee.
The optimistic is that I consider this 12 months’s supporting solid is extra able to compete than the previous couple of years. The lack of Brook Lopez is an addition by subtraction. Individuals like to hate on Myles Turner, however he’s a no-doubt improve over Lopez from final season.
Ryan Rollins is presently taking a completely surprising leap this 12 months, and would possibly give Giannis at the very least one different participant he can lean on to get a basket with out the offense set for them. Giannis is a kind of only a few guys within the league you may depend on at any second to take over a whole recreation, and even a collection.
#5 New York Knicks: Pretenders
Nov 2, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) drives to the basket in opposition to Chicago Bulls ahead Isaac Okoro (35) throughout the second half at Madison Sq. Backyard. Obligatory Credit score: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Photos This Knicks crew can clearly win a collection, however I believe there’s simply one thing off with this Knicks crew this 12 months. Exterior of Jalen Brunson turning into an animal within the playoffs, what’s going to be the id of this New York crew?
I simply can’t belief Karl-Anthony Cities to play good sufficient protection within the playoffs to persistently keep away from foul bother, which might permit me to suppose this crew could make the finals.
I additionally don’t love the opposite items they’ve. If Mike Brown can discover a solution to get another person to hit pictures persistently within the playoffs, I’ll consider in New York. For now, I nonetheless really feel as if Tibs was capable of simply get just a little extra out of this roster. This prediction is extra of a scorching take, as I’m not a lot of a Mike Brown believer. He’s by no means been capable of absolutely repair a crew at any level in his profession, and I don’t suppose this roster is proficient sufficient to do it for him.
#6 Philadelphia 76ers: Contenders
This decide is the inverse of my Knicks prediction. It additionally revolves round Joel Embiid’s well being and discovering a solution to return to a participant who intently resembles the one who gained the MVP in 2023.
This crew is already wanting so significantly better than the one we noticed fizzle out on account of accidents final 12 months. Kelly Oubre and Quentin Grimes are taking part in at a career-best degree, V.J. Edgecomb has already proven NBA readiness in simply eight video games, and so they have (doubtlessly) stable reinforcements on the way in which in Jared McCain and Paul George.
However let’s name it like it’s. Joel Embiid must be considerably higher. This crew goes as Embiid goes. I believe he’s capable of return to at the very least an All-Star degree, and can hopefully be capable of depend on what may very well be a deep core round him to shake issues up within the East.
