Top 5 teams who can push for the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference in the 2021-22 NBA season

The 2020-21 NBA season saw the Eastern Conference mostly dominated by three teams in the regular season, the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. Eventually, Milwaukee represented the East in the 2021 NBA Finals and won it all.

However, many were expecting the super Brooklyn Nets to run through everyone in the NBA Playoffs and win the title. Of course, the Milwaukee Bucks' solid postseason and some favorable breaks, mainly with Kyrie Irving's injury, helped Milwaukee beat Brooklyn in a thrilling series.

The two teams seem primed to dominate the East again, while Philadelphia has run into trouble with Ben Simmons' case and the unpredictability behind the team's moves for next year.

Five squads that could be big players in the Eastern Conference during the 2020-21 NBA regular season

The Miami Heat have signed Kyle Lowry and will look to make noise in the East. Elsewhere, the Chicago Bulls could be an interesting squad to watch after adding Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan to the Zach LaVine-Nikola Vucevic mix.

This article will give you five teams expected to have a solid NBA regular season and possibly grab home-court advantage for the Eastern postseason.

Without further ado, let us start.

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#5 Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots a three-point basket.

Despite a messy situation in the 2021 NBA offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers could still be solid in the 2021-22 NBA season. If they trade Ben Simmons and get considerable value in return, Joel Embiid can still lead the team to the top seed of the Eastern Conference again.

If Simmons and a package are traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Damian Lillard, for example, the Philadelphia 76ers could even be favorites to win the East. That's how fast situations can change in the NBA.

Last year, Doc Rivers' team finished first in the Eastern Conference with a 49-23 record, before it all fell apart in the second round against the Atlanta Hawks.

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#4 Atlanta Hawks

John Collins #20 and Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks.

The Atlanta Hawks started the season quite nicely last year, but they eventually ran into trouble, forcing the front office to fire coach Lloyd Pierce. The team had gathered some talent in the 2020 offseason, with Nate McMillan taking on head-coaching duties. The team took off and ultimately reached the Eastern Conference Finals.

Now, with a group of young players like Trae Young and John Collins with experience on the biggest stages of the NBA Playoffs and comfortable from a contractual standpoint, the Atlanta Hawks could be primed for another big season.

Last year, the team lost in the Eastern Finals against eventual champions Milwaukee Bucks in six games and the experience could definitely help them build something greater for next year.

Under coach McMillan, the Hawks ended the 2020-21 regular season with a 27-11 record in their last 38 games and that could translate for the upcoming campaign.

#3 Miami Heat

Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat drives to the basket.

After adding Kyle Lowry to NBA Free Agency through a sign-and-trade with the Toronto Raptors, the Miami Heat now have a good mix of talented players on their roster who could pose somewhat of a threat to the East's elite in the 2021-22 NBA season.

In the regular season, as other teams might be preparing fully for the NBA Playoffs regardless of their seed, the Miami Heat could definitely sneak in and grab the twhoseed of the conference.

Last season, the team finished sixth in the East with a 40-32 record, but the team dealt with several injuries to key players. Signing Lowry, keeping Duncan Robinson's shooting, and bringing P.J. Tucker's championship pedigree, is definitely good for the squad, with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo leading it and a great coach in Erik Spoelstra.

The team is coming off suffering a sweep in the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at the hands of eventual champions Milwaukee Bucks, and it will definitely need to play hard to avenge such a situation.

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#2 Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks.

The 2021 NBA champions have definitely taken a huge weight off their shoulders with their exploits during the 2021 NBA Playoffs. Giannis Antetokounmpo and company had dominated the Eastern Conference in the two years prior to the 2020-21 season, but have fallen short in the postseason, with an ECF appearance in 2019 as their best effort before 2021.

Their 2020-21 regular season was fully about preparing for the NBA Playoffs and making a push for a championship. As the third seed in the East with a 46-26 record, the Bucks went all the way and won the championship for the first time in 50 years.

Last year, most of the media really dismissed the Bucks in the regular season, as well as Giannis Antetokounmpo's chances of getting a third consecutive NBA MVP award due to their previous postseason struggles.

Now, with the weight off their shoulders, the Milwaukee Bucks could have a strong regular season, now that their identity is fully established and proven to be effective. It could be inercia for them to lead the East, and Antetokounmpo could be looking at even more regular-season silverware.

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#1 Brooklyn Nets

Kevin Durant #7 James Harden #13 and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets.

Regardless of some other teams gearing up strongly for the 2021-22 NBA season in the Eastern Conference, the Brooklyn Nets have simply too much when all their stars are at full strength.

Last year, after putting together Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving, the team was dominant when they played together. Though it really did not occur that much throughout the year.

Still, with Irving appearing in 54 regular-season games and Durant and Harden playing 35 and 36 games, respectively, the team finished second in the East with a 48-24 record.

If they stay healthy and take the regular season seriously, the Brooklyn Nets could be a lock to be the Eastern Conference's top seed throughout the regular season.

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