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Writer's pictureAJ Gonzalez

2020-2021 NBA Preview: Eastern Conference


(Photo by Slate.com)


The NBA is beginning in break-neck speed to deliver a season full of memories......and less-than-stellar basketball.


BOSTON CELTICS

The C's were heavily favored going into the Eastern Conference "Finals" against the Miami Heat, and they came up short. They were able to lock up Jayson Tatum and signed Tristan Thompson to help in the frontcourt. Losing Gordon Hayward will not hurt the team as they are still considered the heavy favorite in the Eastern Conference.


BROOKLYN NETS

The Nets fired their coach before the "bubble" and stumbled into the playoffs without Kyrie Irving. Both he and Kevin Durant are back as Steve Nash takes the reins as head coach with Mike D'Antoni serving as assistant. Brooklyn has a roster full of young talent mixed with two future Hall-of-Famers that can become a terror in the East. Hopefully, they did a lot of cardio.


NEW YORK KNICKS

Ugh. Another terrible season. Steve Mills and David Fizdale were thrown under the bus. Spike Lee decided to stop going to games. They drafted hometown product Obi Toppin, which is good. Their biggest free-agent signing was Nerlens Noel. They hired Tom Thibodeau as head coach. Yes, let's hire the guy who wore out his welcome in Chicago and Minnesota. I mean, there is promise, but......


PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

The Sixers were one of the favorites to win the NBA title coming into this season. Then they struggled and went into the "bubble" and was swept by the Celtics in the first round. Ben Simmons suffered an injury, also. The Sixers decided to clean house by letting Brett Brown go and hiring Doc, sorry, Glenn Rivers and bringing Daryl Morey in as President of Basketball Operations. The Sixers signed Dwight Howard to help.


TORONTO RAPTORS

The Raptors had a good season defending their NBA crown. Nick Nurse won the coach of the year, as he should. They bowed out to the Celtics in the second round, but Toronto has promise coming into the season. Re-signing Fred VanVleet was a must and the Raptors have a playoff team despite losing Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol.


CHICAGO BULLS

The Bulls were once again, underachieving. They decided to end the GarPax experiment, well, the Gar part of it and let Jim Boylan go. Billy Donovan is the new head coach since he has experience with young players. Chicago has questions going into the season. They have a young core, but can they succeed with Donovan? They drafted Patrick Williams with the 4th pick, but he is raw. Maybe they should have traded for superstars. Just saying.


CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

The Cavs underachieved, and according to Charles Barkley, sent to their coach out before the season ended. Cleveland picked up the option for Andre Drummond, which helps since they can't draft frontcourt help. Isaac Okaro is a talented wing that Cleveland drafted, but no frontcourt help. Cleveland has a young nucleus, but.....


DETROIT PISTONS

It's full rebuild time in Detroit. Despite Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose being on the roster, the Pistons are in rebuilding. Signing Jerami Grant helps and drafting Killian Hayes, Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart can help the rebuilding process, but they are a playoff contender.....in two to three years.


INDIANA PACERS

The Pacers are a team that seems to have a stacked squad, but something is missing. After another first-round exit, Indiana fired Nate McMillan and replaced him with former Raptors assistant Nate Bjorkgren. There are whispers that Victor Oladipo and Myles Turner want out. They have pieces to contend, but need whatever that is missing to advance past the first round.


MILWAUKEE BUCKS

The Bucks, once again, were the best team in the NBA (per record). Once again, the Bucks ended the season empty-handed. Giannis was hurt, then was unhappy. He wanted the team to get players to put Milwaukee over the top. They traded three first-round picks and Eric Bledsoe to New Orleans for Jrue Holiday. After a failed trade for Bogdan Bogdanovic, the Bucks still look like the class of the conference.


ATLANTA HAWKS

The Hawks were bad, but showed an abundance of young talent flourishing in spots. Trae Young became a legit superstar last season. Atlanta added some veteran presence with the signings of Danilo Gallinari and Bogdan Bogdanovic. Drafting Onyeka Okongwu gives the Hawks more young talent in the frontcourt to pair with John Collins and Clint Capela. Atlanta could be special this season.....or maybe next season.


CHARLOTTE HORNETS

MJ decided to blow it up, somewhat. The Hornets needed to bring star power, for reasons, and drafted LaMelo Ball with the third pick in the draft. Charlotte signed oft-injured Gordon Hayward to improve the team, if he's healthy of course. The Hornets have a roster that looks promising, but it hasn't produced a playoff run. This year shouldn't be any different.


MIAMI HEAT

The Heat had a surprising great season before the shutdown, then decided to become world-beaters in the "bubble" and slayed heavy favorites in the Bucks and Celtics en route to the NBA Finals, only to succumb to the Lakers. Miami brings back, basically, the same team with Bam Adebayo armed with an extension. Precious Achiuwa adds a frontcourt presence for them. Can they repeat their success from last season? Who knows?


ORLANDO MAGIC

Orlando made the playoffs for the second straight season, and for the second straight season, they were bounced. They really should improve in areas and didn't make any significant moves to do that, expect maybe draft guard Cole Anthony from North Carolina. The Magic could improve with their young players, but other than that, not much.


WASHINGTON WIZARDS

The Wizards continue on their slide as the franchise, allegedly, wanting to trade Bradley Beal. I said, allegedly. They saw Deni Avdija fall into their laps at 9.....and found a taker of John Wall's contract by trading him to Houston for Russell Westbrook. In my opinion, this actually improves the Wizards and they could be a playoff contender. Could be.


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