Predictions for the upcoming NBA 2013-2014 season. (Part Two "Eastern Conference Standings edition)

Even though many people, including myself, view the Eastern conference as the weaker of the two conferences, they have produced the last two NBA champions in the Miami Heat. The Miami Heat have basically ran the NBA since the Big 3 assembled 3 years ago. They have won 2 championships, almost broke an NBA record for a regular season winning streak, and have had the winner of the last 2 MVPs in LeBron James. To put it plain and simple, they have completely dominated teams while making it look easy. This year proves to be a more tough challenge for them, as its always hard to 3 peat, but also because virtually every team in the East have gotten better this off season. Here are my Eastern Conference Standings predictions!

Eastern Conference Standings

 

1. Miami Heat - Anything and everything you want to know about the Miami Heat was said in the introduction, this team is on the brink of becoming a dynasty. There are some questions surrounding this team, though, and the biggest one is interior defense. If there was one thing exposed about the Heat last year, it's that teams score fairly easy on them in the post. They tried to answer that question by signing talented but injury prone Greg Oden. If Greg Oden can stay healthy, the supporting cast plays well, and Dwyane Wade is able to give them one more productive year, then this will be another championship year for the Miami Heat.
2. Indiana Pacers - Last year the Pacers had one of their best years since the Reggie Miller era, and I think they will be even better this year. The emergence of Paul George as well as the supporting cast of Roy Hibbert, David West, and co. make this team the biggest threat to the Heat in the East. If they can get good production out of Danny Granger, who is coming off of a knee injury that sidelined him for most of last season, I think they have a real shot at taking down the champs.
3. Brooklyn Nets - The Nets had arguably the best off season in the NBA by trading for future Hall of Famers Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. By adding those two as well as Jason Terry and Andre Kirilenko to an already productive core of Deron Williams and Brook Lopez, they make up for one of the best starting 5s in the NBA. The two biggest questions surrounding this team will be age and how 1st year head coach Jason Kidd (I know it sounds weird saying it to me too) will be able to manage the many egos of this team. If they can gel well together, this might be one of the top 3 teams in the NBA.
4. New York Knicks - This off season the Knicks quietly made one of the biggest moves of the summer with the signing of Metta World Peace. World Peace is really going to help this team in their weakest department, defense. They won't need him score as that position is filled by reigning scoring champ Carmello Anthony and the always exciting JR Smith. The biggest question looming over this team is whether or not Iman Shumpert can take his game to the next level. If Shumpert can become a reliable 2nd or 3rd scoring option for the Knicks, they could challenge their cross town rival for that 3rd seed.
5. Chicago Bulls - Last season the Chicago Bulls really overachieved by winning a playoff series despite the very controversial decision by their superstar Derrick Rose to sit out. With Rose coming back this season after sitting all of last year out after ACL surgery, the Bulls will have an established superstar to lean on, but I don't think that will make them a better team. I was a firm believer that the absence of Rose led the rest of the team to step their game up and overachieve, but I think Rose coming back will lead some of them to ease up a little bit. Ultimately, though this is a talented team with D Rose, Luol Deng, and Joakim Noah and they will contend.
6. Detroit Pistons - After what was a terrible year for the historically great Detroit Pistons, the team got the ball rolling this off season with some great additions. The Pistons have had a great championship tradition, but in recent years have fallen off the wagon a little bit. Despite a 29-53 record last year, there was room for optimism as the team discovered budding stars in Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe. The team decided to build around those two and make them their front court for the future. The biggest question surrounding them is whether or not new additions Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings will be able to conform of the idea of team ball. If they do, they will be a dark horse team in the East.
7. Cleveland Cavaliers - This team has been hurting hard since "The Decision" made by their hometown hero to take his talents to south beach, but the emergence of Kyrie Irving into a budding superstar has eased the pain a little bit. They also had a very good off season by acquiring a good back up point guard in Jarrett Jack and drafting Anthony Bennett to go along with an already talented team. The biggest question irking this team is the health of their big man of the future and new addition Andrew Bynum. When healthy Bynum is the 2nd best center in this league and in the conversation for number one. If he can stay on the floor this season, Cleveland will finally have a winning team to cheer after a few years of sheer depression surrounding the city.
8. Washington Wizards - Like many other teams in the league, the biggest issue plaguing this team is the injury bug. They have a very good young back court in John Wall and Bradley Beal, and whenever their on the court together it's trouble for the other team. If they can get good production out of Nene and Emeka Okafor in their front court as well as the bench, this team will reach the playoffs for the first time since the Gilbert Arenas era.
9. Toronto Raptors - While many other sites and experts are writing off this team, I really believe this team can compete for a playoff spot. They have a very good young core in Rudy Gay, Demar Derozen and Jonas Valanciunas who was the summer league MVP in Las Vegas. If this team gets their chemistry together and plays hard every night, I think we might see the best team in Canada since Half Man Half Amazing.
10. Boston Celtics - This team went into straight rebuilding mode this off season by blowing up their core. They sent KG, Pierce, and Jason Terry to the Celtics for draft picks, and expiring contracts in hopes of building a younger team through the draft. All of these moves basically left top 3 PG Rajon Rondo to be the unquestioned leader. Although it's going to be tough, I think a core of Rondo, Jeff Green, and Avery Bradley can contend in for an 8th seed in the East.

 

Best of the rest : Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Bobcats, Orlando Magic, and Philadelphia Sixers. (In order)