2021-22 NBA TEAM PREVIEWS EASTERN CONFERENCE
The Eastern Conference is chock-full of questions to start the season. Can the Bucks repeat as NBA champions? Will new point guard Kyle Lowry help lead the Heat back to the Eastern Conference finals? Can the Hawks improve on their surprising playoff success from last season? Did the Bulls do enough with their roster to make a legitimate run in the East?
● Those might be good questions, and the answers will come in due time. But the biggest question marks are about Nets guard Kyrie Irving and 76ers guard Ben Simmons.
● When will Irving return to the team after being banned until he gets the COVID-19 vaccine? Will the Sixers find a suitable trade for Simmons? And what if he has to spend the entire season in Philadelphia?
● The answers can be found in the Eastern Conference team by team capsules.
● For more in-depth team previews, visit nba.usatoday.com.
Atlanta Hawks
2020-21: 41-31 (first, Southeast) Lost to Bucks in Eastern finals
Coach: Nate McMillan – first full season (27-11)
What’s different? As far as the roster, not much. Every major contributor from last season is back in the fold, and Delon Wright (10 ppg, 3.6 apg in 27 games last season), who was acquired from the Kings, could provide a spark as a backup to Trae Young. The luxury is that the Hawks can take their time with rookie Jalen Johnson, but if he can get them anything, it just makes an already deep team that much more dangerous.
How good can they be? There are roadblocks in their way: namely the Bucks, Nets and Sixers. There’s belief they can make noise in the Eastern Conference now that coach Nate McMillan is secured with a long-term deal. Locking up versatile forward John Collins, instant bucket Lou Williams and Young, who has become a leaguewide pest, has the Hawks’ future looking bright.
Boston Celtics
2020-21: 36-36 (fourth, Atlantic) Lost to Nets in Eastern first round
Coach: Ime Udoka – first season
What’s different? There will be a new man on the bench as ex-coach Brad Stevens moved to the front office, taking over basketball operations. Tasked with the Celtics’ reset is Ime Udoka, a longtime NBA assistant. He set the tone early in the summer with a message for his stars: “They know I’m going to be on their ass. … They want to be pushed.”
How good can they be? Jayson Tatum alone makes them a threat in the East, but before last season’s firstround exit, Boston had appeared in three of the last four conference finals. Even with a top-heavy East, 50 or more wins is more than enough to be in the mix come later April.
Brooklyn Nets
2020-21: 48-24 (second, Atlantic) Lost to Bucks in Eastern semifinals
Coach: Steve Nash – second season (48-24)
What’s different? The Nets made most of their moves via the draft, selecting five players including Cameron Thomas, the Summer League MVP. Brooklyn could have its big three of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving back, but it depends on if Irving gets vaccinated. If he does, and if all three remain healthy, watch out. Brooklyn could be as efficient and deadly an offense as we have seen in NBA history.
How good can they be? If the Nets don’t at least get to the NBA Finals as long as Durant, Harden and Irving are healthy, it would be a disappointment of monumental proportions. If pundits are concerned about the only perceived weakness, which is defense, that’s fine. Brooklyn will still outscore teams and should coast to the Finals.
Charlotte Hornets
2020-21: 33-39 (fourth, Southeast)
Coach: James Borrego – fourth season (95-124)
What’s different? The Hornets are going to have to replace Malik Monk and Devonte’ Graham, who combined to score 27 points per game. They can do this with the addition of Kelly Oubre and the continued maturation of rookie of the year LaMelo Ball. Ish Smith, Wes Iwundu and Mason Plumlee have been added to provide depth, and drafting UConn guard James Bouknight and Texas forward Kai Jones could provide a spark off the bench.
How good can they be? Charlotte can easily worm its way into a playoff seed and break a five-year postseason drought. Even if the Hornets manage to make and win the play-in tournament, getting out of the first round will be a tough ask. Ball is trending toward superstardom but needs a teammate to break through and play at an All-Star level.
Chicago Bulls
2020-21: 31-41 (third, Central) Coach: Billy Donovan – second season (31-41)
What’s different? The new-look Bulls will have one of the most drastic roster turnovers. Sending Lauri Markkanen to Cleveland in a three-team deal acquiring Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan to pair with Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic gives Chicago instant credibility. Getting Illinois product Ayo Dosunmu in the draft and adding Alex Caruso, Derrick Jones Jr. and Tony Bradley punctuated the Bulls’ busy summer.
How good can they be? The many moves made Chicago, at least on paper, a player to make significant headway in the upper echelon of the East. Head coach Billy Donovan has a dilemma in doling out minutes to his young team, but the Bulls should be fighting for firstround home-court advantage.
Cleveland Cavaliers
2020-21: 22-50 (fourth, Central)
Coach: J.B. Bickerstaff – second full season (27-56)
What’s different? Disgruntled forward Lauri Markkanen found his new home, along with a four-year, $67 million deal. He will be paired with rookie Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, who has secured his own $100 million deal. Trading away Larry Nance Jr. will hurt, but acquiring a floor general in Ricky Rubio makes up for it. Rubio has averaged 11 points, 7.6 assists and 1.8 steals over a 10-year NBA career.
How good can they be? Cleveland still could make moves as it has a midlevel exception to help fill out the roster. The Cavs have won 27% of their games since LeBron James went west in 2018, so winning 30 games would be considered more than a success. A play-in tournament berth would really give the team something on which to build.
Detroit Pistons
2020-21: 20-52 (fifth, Central)
Coach: Dwane Casey – Fourth season (81-139)
What’s different? Drafting Cade Cunningham was a no-brainer along with intriguing second-round pick Luka Garza, a 6-foot-10 center who averaged 23.9 points and 9.8 rebounds last year at Iowa, and forward Isaiah Livers. All three are potential stars who’ll need to develop. Grabbing veteran forwardcenter Kelly Olynyk was a good move, and re-signing veteran Cory Joseph gives flexibility to a guard unit that could use scoring punch.
How good can they be? Anything other than last in the East would be cause for celebration. With a roster that is one of the youngest, hovering around the bottom of the tough Central is expected.
Indiana Pacers
2020-21: 34-38 (second, Central)
Coach: Rick Carlisle – First season
What’s different? Rick Carlisle is back in the Hoosier State for a second time after Nate Bjorkgren was jettisoned after one year. Carlisle inherits a roster that underachieved, mostly due to injuries, and missed the playoffs for the first time in six seasons. There wasn’t much change in player movement, with Torrey Craig signing a two-year free agent contract as the only noteworthy deal.
How good can they be? This is a nodoubt playoff team with the right mix of toughness, timely shooting and defense. Carlisle will get the best out of his players, keeping them in most games. A top-three seed is the ceiling for this team and a spot in the Eastern finals is not that far away if everything comes together. Another disappointing season could lead to a roster dump.
Miami Heat
2020-21: 40-32 (second, Southeast) Lost to Bucks in Eastern first round
Coach: Erik Spoelstra – 14th season (607-424)
What’s different? Miami gave Kyle Lowry, 35, a three-year, $85 million deal. He is an instant upgrade from anything they had last season. P.J. Tucker and Markieff Morris, 10-year veterans with championship experience, joined a roster that has always prided itself on being mentally tougher and physically stronger than everybody else. The trio should fit in nicely behind Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
How good can they be? Miami is one of those teams that can be confusing. The Heat have the talent and coaching to make another run to the Finals just as they did in the Orlando bubble. Or they can make an early exit like their firstround exit last season. The right mix of veterans and youth should propel the Heat as a tough out in the playoffs.
Milwaukee Bucks
2020-21: 46-26 (first, Central) Won NBA championship
Coach: Mike Budenholzer – Third season (162-65)
What’s different? The swagger of winning the title can only do wonders for Milwaukee ... and its opponents. The Bucks know they are going to get the best from opponents, especially those who thought the pandemic-shortened season caused many of the league’s superstars to go down with injuries. The loss of forward P.J. Tucker to Miami hurts, but the return of Donte DiVincenzo (foot) adds to a talented roster.
How good can they be? Well, Milwaukee is the defending champion and upgraded its roster, so anything less than an appearance back on the sport’s biggest stage will be looked at as a failure. In fact, the Bucks’ title might be questioned. It will be a battle with Brooklyn all season for the No. 1 seed. The Nets certainly remember how the Bucks knocked them off at home in Game 7 of their conference semifinal.
New York Knicks
2020-21: 41-31 (third, Atlantic) Lost to Hawks in Eastern first round Coach: Tom Thibodeau – Second season (41-31)
What’s different? The signing of local hero Kemba Walker no doubt excited the fan base, but he’s been injury prone and the inability to land an All-NBA caliber star has been the franchise’s undoing for years. Guard-forward Evan Fournier adds another scorer with the ability to get 20 points a night, and veteran Derrick Rose will continue to provide a spark and leadership off the bench.
How good can they be? The Knicks reached the playoffs for the first time since 2013. Then they ran into the redhot Hawks. Realistic expectations are key. Yes, New York will be good defensively, and yes, the Knicks can compete for a top four spot in the East. Consistent play from the offense and staying healthy are paramount to even sniff breaking a five-decade title drought.
Orlando Magic
2020-21: 21-51 (fifth, Southeast)
Coach: Jamahl Mosley – First season
What’s different? Rebuilding with draft pick Jalen Suggs and pairing him with Markelle Fultz and forward Jonathan Isaac, who are making their way back from knee injuries, isn’t a bad idea, and adding veteran center Robin Lopez via free agency still isn’t enough to keep the Magic from the Eastern cellar. New coach Jamahl Mosley, an assistant for three NBA teams, certainly has his hands full, but with potential ample cap space, the fortunes could change.
How good can they be? Orlando will struggle to find consistent scoring. With most rebuilds, smart drafting and some luck needs to happen, but as long as the front office isn’t pushing for a win-now scenario, taking their time to make sure it is set up for the future is the right play.
Philadelphia 76ers
2020-21: 49-23 (first, Atlantic) Lost to Hawks in Eastern semifinals
Coach: Doc Rivers – Second season (49-23)
What’s different? Nothing is going to change until it does something with Ben Simmons. While the offseason moves did nothing to inch the 76ers closer to the Nets and Bucks, locking up Joel Embiid to a four-year, $196 million max deal shows the franchise will move forward with or without Simmons. Now the task is to find another All-Star caliber player to team up with the league’s dominant big man.
How good can they be? The 76ers are as talented as any team and have a championship-winning coach in Rivers. But that coach has also let multiple playoff leads slip away in stunning fashion, leading to questions about strategy and overall competence. Having Embiid healthy and playing at an MVP level gets the Sixers closer to hoisting the trophy, but not by much.
Toronto Raptors
2020-21: 27-45 (fifth, Atlantic)
Coach: Nick Nurse – Fourth season (128-88)
What’s different? The Raptors will look a lot different without stalwart Kyle Lowry, who was shipped to Miami for an expiring deal in Goran Dragić and Precious Achiuwa. Masai Ujiri, who signed a new deal to became the team’s vice chairman and president, continues to impress, making a shrewd deal in resigning Gary Trent, giving the Raptors more guard firepower.
How good can they be? Toronto was unable to snag another superstar during this thin free agent period, but if the Raptors slip to the back of the pack come time for the still unannounced trading deadline, the roster could look entirely different in a hurry. As currently constituted, Toronto is more than good enough to make a playoff appearance, but advancing deep is another story.
Washington Wizards
2020-21: 34-38 (third, Southeast) Lost to 76ers in Eastern first round
Coach: West Unseld Jr. – First season
What’s different? Spencer Dinwiddie should be fully healthy after suffering a partially torn ACL and was able to secure a three-year, $62 million contract and was part of the trade that sent Russell Westbrook to the Lakers. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma and Montrezl Harrell were also part of the deal. Wes Unseld Jr. was tapped to be the coach and has a monumental task: No Wizards coach has finished above .500 in his tenure in two decades.
How good can they be? The Wizards did a nice job getting serviceable assets in the Westbrook trade and could challenge for a playoff spot in a top-heavy conference. But if rumblings about Beal’s status continue to linger throughout the season, the team could easily contend for being the NBA’s worst team.