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ESPN has released its Eastern Conference predictions for the 2022-23 season

We are at the beginning of August, this somewhat slack period when the summer market has become very calm again and where the next season is still several weeks away. Nevertheless, the advantage is that we have a fairly clear vision of the profile of the different NBA teams, which allows us to get started – already – in a few predictions. The influential site named ESPN wasted no time as he just swung an early version of the Eastern Conference standings in 2022-23. We take a look at it right away.

Which team is best equipped to finish at the top of the hierarchy at the end of the regular season? Who will occupy the Top 4 of the Conference and in what order? Which franchises will end up in the places for the play-in tournament? Who will occupy the bottom of the ranking? These are the kinds of questions that the various Hexperts fromESPN. Without further ado, this is it.

  1. Boston Celtics, record of 54 wins – 28 losses
  2. Milwaukee Bucks, 54-28
  3. Miami Heat, 51-31
  4. Philadelphia Sixers, 50-32
  5. Toronto Raptors, 47-35
  6. Atlanta Hawks, 46-36
  7. Cleveland Cavaliers, 45-37
  8. Chicago Bulls, 44-38
  9. Brooklyn Nets, 40-42
  10. New York Knicks, 39-43
  11. Charlotte Hornets, 38-44
  12. Washington Wizards, 34-48
  13. Detroit Pistons, 28-54
  14. Orlando Magic, 23-59
  15. Indiana Pacers, 23-59

Now that we have balanced the rankings, a little hot reaction is necessarily necessary. Already, seeing the Celtics at the top of the East probably won’t shock anyone. Best NBA team for the calendar year 2022, winner of the Conference before falling to the Warriors in the Finals, and author of a convincing recruitment with in particular the arrival of Malcolm Brogdon (without forgetting Danilo Gallinari), Boston has everything in store to finish on top. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Bucks should logically be in the mix like every year, they who can look anyone in the eye when they are complete. Ditto for the Miami Heat of Erik Spoelstra, passed to a small victory of a return to the NBA Finals at the end of May and carried by a collective which should once again do the job behind Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Co. The departure of PJ Tucker could nevertheless penalize the Sud Plage team, Pijay deciding to join his pal James Harden in Philly this summer. The Sixers will clearly be one of the most interesting teams to follow after their rather attractive offseason, they who have the potential to make a lot of noise. Certainly ESPN places them “only” fourth with a record very slightly lower than last year, but with a Joel Embiid in MVP mode, a vindictive Barbu and a Tyrese Maxey on the upward slope, we want to believe in the podium or even better .

Behind the Top 4, the big blow made by the Hawks with the transfer of Dejounte Murray allows Atlanta to be considered again as a real Playoffs Team, the Trae Young band being ranked just behind the Raptors. With the Falcons sixth at the time of the predictions, it is Chicago – directly qualified for the Playoffs in 2022 – which falls, the Bulls even finding themselves behind the fine Cleveland team led by the very promising trio Darius Garland – Evan Mobley – Jarrett Allen. Enough to infuriate the Bulls Nation, which will probably cry out in disrespect. If it is true that the uncertainty surrounding the state of health of Lonzo Ball does not really reassure, Chicago has shown last year its ability to shake up the hierarchy behind the exploits of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and the bald world’s most legendary Alex Caruso. So, underrated the Bulls? Maybe. Behind them, in places 9-10, it is the two New York teams that we find: Nets and Knicks. Between the ultimatum just posed by Kevin Durant, the hazy future of Kyrie Irving or even the uncertainty surrounding the return of Ben Simmons, Brooklyn looks like a huge mess which obviously makes any forecast for the 2022-23 season difficult. But ESPN took the plunge by betting on a 40-win campaign synonymous with play-in tournament, just ahead of the Knicks at 39 wins. A potential arrival of Donovan Mitchell in the Big Apple to form a very hyped backcourt with rookie Jalen Brunson could obviously reshuffle some cards in favor of New York, except that at the time of these lines nothing has yet materialized between the Knicks and the Jazz regarding a potential transfer.

In the back seats, we find in particular Charlotte, inevitably weighed down by the situation surrounding Miles Bridges. The Hornets’ offseason has been more than eventful and Steve Clifford has returned to the bench to replace James Borrego, fired a few months ago after another elimination at the play-in tournament stage. Obviously, according to ESPNthere won’t even be a play-in in North Carolina next season. ESPN doesn’t believe much in Washington either despite Bradley Beal’s contract extension, the presence of Kristaps Porzingis (who arrived in the US capital during the 2022 trade deadline) and the arrival of the Denver duo Monte Morris – Will Barton. Only 34 hits isn’t a lot. Finally in the last places, we find without much surprise the more or less advanced reconstruction projects that are Detroit, Orlando and Indiana, the latter two bringing up the rear with 23 small victories.

So, your hot opinion? Rather agree with these predictions or not at all? Who are you riding? Who are you going down? Who are you leaving? It’s time to put your first toe in the water to get a little wet, especially since it’s always very hot outside…

Source texte : ESPN

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