There’s nothing higher than being within the Japanese 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 true deal.
#1 Detroit Pistons: Pretenders
This Detroit workforce is a good watch; nonetheless, I discover it laborious to consider that anybody actually thinks this roster is able to contend within the playoffs. Cade Cunningham is among the greatest gamers within the sport, and Jalen Duren has taken a big 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 type of play gained’t be exceedingly profitable within the playoffs. Then, on the opposite finish of the courtroom, 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 choose him aside won’t make it value 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 for those who may discover a low-cost method to tackle Ja Morant from a determined Grizzlies entrance workplace, I’d be open to believing you’re truly contenders.
#2 Chicago Bulls: Pretenders
The Bulls aren’t pretenders in the identical method because the Pistons are. Truly, I believe this Bulls workforce is best than folks give it credit score for. Billy Donovan is as soon as once more displaying why he’s top-of-the-line coaches within the league.
That doesn’t imply the Bulls additionally don’t have an opportunity in hell of constructing it wherever near the finals. Between Josh Giddey, Nikola Vucevic, Ayo Dosunmu, and Matas Buzelis, the Bulls truthfully have an fascinating core. This workforce performs at an incredible tempo and may shock good groups with their hyper offensive menace.
Nonetheless, in the event that they run right into a workforce with any inside menace on protection, I believe they’ll actually be slowed down on offense. Moreover, I’d be focused on 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 sport at Capital One Enviornment. Necessary Credit score: Geoff Burke-Imagn Pictures The primary argument in opposition to this Cavaliers workforce has been their lack of ability to translate regular-season success into postseason success—that, in fact, and their twin small guard and large man lineups.
Nonetheless, for those who’ve watched this workforce since Kenny Atkinson took over, I’m unsure the way you couldn’t consider in them at the least somewhat bit. When the entire workforce is wholesome, their offense can attain historic ranges.
That has value them somewhat bit on the opposite finish, however I’m not as involved about that as a result of Evan Mobley’s game-altering presence on protection. Outdoors of Victor Wembenyama, there’s no yet another impactful on the defensive finish within the league. I consider the accidents this workforce has handled within the playoffs over the previous couple of seasons are fluky, and that is the yr they at the least make it to the Japanese Convention Finals.
#4 Milwaukee Bucks: Contenders
It’s so simple as this. If Giannis Antetokounmpo is in your basketball workforce, it’s probably he’s the most effective participant on the ground, particularly within the Japanese Convention.
The workforce round him, sadly, isn’t nice, however I nonetheless assume Giannis has at the least yet another historic playoff run whereas he’s nonetheless assured to be in Milwaukee.
The constructive is that I consider this yr’s supporting forged is extra able to compete than the previous couple of years. The lack of Brook Lopez is an addition by subtraction. Folks like to hate on Myles Turner, however he’s a no-doubt improve over Lopez from final season.
Ryan Rollins is at present taking a completely surprising leap this yr, and would possibly give Giannis at the least one different participant he can lean on to get a basket with out the offense set for them. Giannis is a type of only a few guys within the league you possibly can depend on at any second to take over a complete sport, and even a sequence.
#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. Necessary Credit score: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Pictures This Knicks workforce can clearly win a sequence, however I believe there’s simply one thing off with this Knicks workforce this yr. Outdoors of Jalen Brunson turning into an animal within the playoffs, what’s going to be the identification of this New York workforce?
I simply can’t belief Karl-Anthony Cities to play good sufficient protection within the playoffs to persistently keep away from foul hassle, which might permit me to assume this workforce could make the finals.
I additionally don’t love the opposite items they’ve. If Mike Brown can discover a method to get another person to hit photographs persistently within the playoffs, I’ll consider in New York. For now, I nonetheless really feel as if Tibs was capable of simply get somewhat extra out of this roster. This prediction is extra of a sizzling take, as I’m not a lot of a Mike Brown believer. He’s by no means been capable of absolutely repair a workforce at any level in his profession, and I don’t assume this roster is gifted sufficient to do it for him.
#6 Philadelphia 76ers: Contenders
This choose is the inverse of my Knicks prediction. It additionally revolves round Joel Embiid’s well being and discovering a method to return to a participant who carefully resembles the one who gained the MVP in 2023.
This workforce is already trying so significantly better than the one we noticed fizzle out as a result of accidents final yr. 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 (probably) strong 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 workforce goes as Embiid goes. I believe he’s capable of return to at the least an All-Star degree, and can hopefully be capable of depend on what could possibly be a deep core round him to shake issues up within the East.
