NBA: Eastern Conference Championship candidates

A Conference dominated by the Boston Celtics till the 90’s and the Chicago Bulls in the 90’s has seen a change since the start of the new millennium. Since 2000, 8 different teams have been crowned the Eastern Conference Champions.

Although the last three years it has been Miami Heat advancing through to the Finals from the East, this season isn’t going to be that easy for the two time defending champions.

Post this off-season the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets have all grown into legitimate title contenders

Predicting the order these teams would finish in at the end of the regular season is not an easy task (except the top spot) , but here is my predictions for the top 5 Eastern Conference teams this season:-

5. Brooklyn Nets:

Can the Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce help the Brooklyn Nets make it to the Conference Finals this season?

Key Starters: Brook Lopez (22.3 ppg in postseason), Deron Williams and Joe Johnson

Key Reserves: Reggie Evans

Key Acquisitions: – Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Andrei Kirilenko and Jason Terry.

Their acquisitions in the offseason earn them a spot on the top 5. Future Hall of Famers Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce will team with the back court duo of Joe Johnson and Deron Williams to make a starting line-up along with Brook Lopez which consists of a collective 35 All-Star selections.

Although they have a stellar starting lineup, people across the league would also pay close attention to the coaching of Jason Kidd, who was appointed head coach just 9 days after he retired with the New York Knicks.

With Garnett, Pierce and Terry all battling father time, the nets are looking at a maximum of 2-3 years as the window where they could be favored as title contenders. So they better get to work and show positive signs right from day 1.

4. New York Knicks:

Although their roster does not lack talent, the Knicks will have their task cut out when it comes to making the Conference Finals

Key Starters: – Carmelo Anthony (NBA’s reigning scoring champion) and Iman Shumpert (All-Rookie first team in 2012)

Key Reserves: – J.R. Smith (NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year last season)

Key Acquisitions: – Metta World Peace and Andrea Bargnani

They have names that a lot of basketball fans recognize as good players; Melo, Shumpert, Smith, Tyson Chandler, Amar’e Stoudemire, Andrea Bargnani, World Peace, Kenyon Martin, Raymond Felton, they can all play, but somehow they can’t get it done.

Repeating their previous season record of 54-28 is expecting too much from the Knicks, but there is hope with the acquiring of the new recruits in World Peace and Bargnani.

Even after acquiring Melo they have never made it to the Conference Finals and whether it is multiple injuries or lack of effective coaching, the Knicks have to figure out themselves if they want to contend for a title.

3. Indiana Pacers:

The Pacers would look to maintain their strong team defense in the hope to make it past the Conference Finals this season.

Key Starters: – Paul George (All-Star, All-NBA 3rd team, All-Defensive 2nd team, Most Improved Player), Roy Hibbert (2.6 regular season blocks per game, 17 ppg, .511 FG% in postseason), David West (17.1 ppg, .498 FG% last season)

Key Reserves: – Danny Granger (missed 77 games with knee injury last season), D.J. Augustin

Key Acquisitions: – Luis Scola and C.J. Watson

They have exploded onto the scene in the past two years after taking the Miami Heat to their limits in the Playoffs. Their regular season performance is mediocre and will never be flashy, because it’s the postseason where this team leaves its mark.

Another heavily defensive minded team the Pacers led the league in number of points allowed per shot with a mere 1.0 and would look to maintain that stat.

Although George Hill and Lance Stephenson, the Pacers back court pair, are lesser known, their contribution to the team is invaluable and one that cannot be replaced. New acquisitions Luis Scola and C.J. Watson will be key players who were strengthen their weak bench. With all areas covered, the Pacers would be geared to make a mark once more in the Playoffs, however this team they would want to defeat the Miami Heat rather than pushing them to the limits once more.

2. Chicago Bulls:

Derrick Rose’s return helps the Chicago Bulls go unbeaten in the pre-season. Can he help them win the title this season?

Key Starters: – Derrick Rose (2011 MVP, missed all of last season with knee injury, Joakim Noah (averaged double-double last season, 1st Team All-Defense)

Key Reserves: – Key Reserves Taj Gibson and Kirk Hinrich (career .415 FG%)

Key Acquisitions: – Mike Dunleavy

The Chicago Bulls are a tough set of players who despite having a injury-riddled season made into the second round of the Playoffs. Of course for them to compete for a championship they have will have to be fully healthy but their unbeaten pre-season run would give them confidence heading into the season opener in 3 days.

Derrick Rose was a major factor why the Bulls have been successful in the past as well in this year’s pre-season. He is back from injury, after a long rehab, faster, more explosive and more determined.

The signing of Mike Dunleavy from the Milwaukee Bucks is a key to helping address the Bulls so called weak perimeter shooting.

1. Miami Heat:

Key Players: – LeBron James (two time defending NBA MVP), Dwyane Wade (9 All-Star Selections)

Key Reserves: – Ray Allen (Clutch) and Chris Anderson (.807 FG% in postseason)

Despite how much I dislike the Miami Heat, they earn the rights to being on top of the list. Back-to-back Championships, 3 straight Conference titles, 27 game winning streak and a big 3 which add up to 27 All-Star selections together, you just can’t argue with that.

They lack size and skill in the front court which has been exposed by Hibbert, David West, Joakim Noah and Tim Duncan all through the Playoffs but when you have the best player on the planet in LeBron James none of that matters.

Although they did add Greg Oden to their roster, his contribution to the team in competing and winning a title is yet to be seen.

The number of title contenders in the East has increased but the Miami Heat is no.1 and most favored to win the gold next June.