An Updated Look at Eastern Conference Teams Heading Into the NBA Restart
After more than four months, the NBA is finally moving toward getting back to action later this month. Twenty-two of the league’s teams are in Orlando at Walt Disney World for the restart of the season. Teams have arrived and are in the early stages of ramping back up for action. Exhibition games take place beginning next week while the eight-game seeding period gets going on July 30. Today, we’ll take a look at the nine teams vying for the eight playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, breaking down where they stand, who may be missing and what sort of strengths and weaknesses they may face going forward. Without further ado, let’s take a look, based on the standings from when the season went on pause. The odds listed are current as of Wednesday, July 15, and are provided by BetUS so you’re prepared if you’re heading to the window.
Milwaukee Bucks
Record: 53-12 SU, 36-29 ATS, 30-34 O/U
Standings Location: 1st in Central Division, 14 games ahead of Indiana, 1st in conference, 6.5 games up on Toronto
Key Injuries/Missing Personnel: None
NBA Finals Odds: +300
The Bucks had steamrolled their competition most of the season as they rolled to the top record not only in the Eastern Conference, but in the league, when the season was paused. Milwaukee has plenty of veterans in their rotation and are led by the league’s reigning MVP in Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had put up 29.6 points, 13.7 boards and 5.8 assists per contest this year. Khris Middleton can pick up the slack (21.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 4.1 apg) but he has to be better than he was in clutch situations in the postseason last year. His struggles against the Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals proved costly. Milwaukee led the league in scoring (118.6 ppg) and rebounding (51.7 rpg) before the pause, while ranking fifth in scoring defense (107.4 ppg) to date. The Bucks were tied for second in field goal percentage (47.7 percent) but stood in the middle of the pack in three-point shooting (35.6 percent, 16th) on the year. Kyle Korver has to show he can still knock down shots from the outside to help create some spacing for Antetokounmpo.
Biggest Concern: The Bucks were 27th in the league in free throw shooting at 74.2 percent as a team. Antetokounmpo hit only 63.3 percent of his attempts, having clanked 209 free throws this season. Can he build off his success heading into the break, where he hit 79.7 percent in his previous 10 games, or could Milwaukee be unraveled by poor shooting at the stripe?
Toronto Raptors
Record: 46-18 SU, 35-28-1 ATS, 34-29-1 O/U
Standings Location: 1st in Atlantic Division, three games ahead of Boston, 2nd in Eastern Conference, 6.5 games behind Milwaukee
Key Injuries/Missing Personnel: None
NBA Finals Odds: +2000
Toronto looked like they may take a step back after winning the first title in franchise history last season. After all, Kawhi Leonard went to the City of Angels to play for the Clippers, taking the team’s number one option out of the mix. The Raptors simply retooled and revamped their rotation to continue their success. With Leonard gone, Pascal Siakam stepped up as the #1 option offensively, delivering 23.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. Kyle Lowry continues to run the offense, averaging 19.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 7.7 dimes a night. Fred VanVleet (17.6 ppg, 6.6 apg, 38.8 three-point shooting), Norman Powell (16.4 ppg, 39.8 percent three-point shooting) and Serge Ibaka (16 ppg, 8.3 rpg) gives Toronto a quintet of quality scoring options. Marc Gasol is an experienced post player that can stretch the floor. The Raptors were a middle of the road offense (12th in scoring offense) but made up for it on the defensive end as they were first in scoring defense (106.5 ppg) and second in field goal percentage defense (42.9 percent) on the year.
Biggest Concern: While the Raptors are healthy right now, it’s important to note that of the group of Siakam, Lowry, VanVleet, Powell, Ibaka and Gasol, none of them played more than 53 games. If one or more of them end up with a setback, can the rest of the group answer the bell? There is depth on the Raptors but it’s tough to replace that kind of production.
Boston Celtics
Record: 43-21 SU, 38-23-3 ATS, 30-34 O/U
Standings Location: 2nd in Atlantic Division, three games behind Toronto, 3rd in Eastern Conference, 9.5 games behind Milwaukee
Key Injuries/Missing Personnel: None
NBA Finals Odds: +1000
It was a season of chance for the Celtics, who saw Al Horford and Kyrie Irving leave Beantown for division rivals. Boston replaced Irving with Kemba Walker, who put together 21.2 points and 4.9 assists per game in his first season with the team. Jayson Tatum picked up the slack that was created with Horford’s departure as he led the team with 23.6 points plus 7.1 rebounds per game. Jaylen Brown (20.4 ppg) gives Boston three guys that can go off on any given night while Gordon Hayward and Marcus Smart are solid veteran options. The Celtics were second in the league in scoring defense (106.8 ppg) while ranking tied for fourth in field goal percentage defense (44.2) and tied for third in three-point field goal percentage defense (34.2) on the year. Boston is going to have to avoid the injury bug as Walker and Brown each played just 50 games while Smart played 53. Hayward was suited up for only 45 games and that’s something Boston would love to avoid.
Biggest Concern: Boston has to get better production in the low block from their centers. The combination of Daniel Theis and Enes Kanter have to improve on what they provided during the regular season offensively. One has to wonder if Tacko Fall will get a chance to showcase himself at any point down the stretch after playing just 24 minutes before the pause.
Miami Heat
Record: 41-24 SU, 33-30-2 ATS, 39-25-1 O/U
Standings Location: 1st in Southeast Division, 11 games ahead of Orlando, 4th in Eastern Conference, 12 games behind Milwaukee
Key Injuries/Missing Personnel: Jimmy Butler (toe) is probable, Kendrick Nunn (undisclosed), Bam Adebayo (undisclosed) are questionable
NBA Finals Odds: +2500
The Heat had run away with the Southeast Division thanks to the rest of the division cratering this season. However, Miami has their own concerns to work through at the moment as they try to get up to speed for the restart. Jimmy Butler leads the way for Miami with 20.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game on the year. However, he continues to deal with injuries as he missed the final game before the pause with a toe issue. One has to hope that he has recovered from that. The Heat has plenty of options to look at offensively as a half dozen guys averaged better than 12 points a game this season. Miami had three players test positive for COVID-19 last month but only one was named: Derrick Jones Jr. The possibility that the other two are Adebayo and Nunn has been raised as it was reported by Goran Dragic that those players hadn’t entered the bubble as of Tuesday. It could make things difficult for the Heat depending on their matchup. Adebayo’s presence is extremely important as he has proven to be an effective stopper on Antetokounmpo this season.
Biggest Concern: Beyond the question about whether Adebayo and Nunn can join the team and contribute to their playoff run, another concern is how the youth will respond in crunch time. Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro have played well this season but the pressure is turned up when you reach the postseason. Can they answer the bell or fold under the pressure?
Indiana Pacers
Record: 39-26 SU, 34-28-3 ATS, 35-29-1 O/U
Standings Location: 2nd in Central Division, 14 games behind Milwaukee, tied for 5th in Eastern Conference
Key Injuries/Missing Personnel: Malcolm Brogdon (illness) is probable, Victor Oladipo (quad) is now questionable, Jeremy Lamb (torn ACL) is out
NBA Finals Odds: +10000
Indiana comes into the seeding games tied for fifth with Philadelphia and knowing that they’ll likely finish somewhere in the fourth through sixth spots in the East. The Pacers have to figure out some things offensively as they were a dismal 22nd in scoring offense (109 ppg) despite ranking tied for second in field goal percentage (47.7) on the year. Despite their size edge with Myles Turner (11.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.2 blocks) and Domantas Sabonis (18.5 ppg, 12.4 rpg, five assists), Indiana struggled on the glass this year, ranking tied for 23rd with 42.8 boards per game. T.J. Warren was solid in his first year with the team after coming over from the Suns, averaging 18.7 ppg on the year. Brogdon had tested positive for COVID-19 but gotten through the quarantine period and returned to practive Wednesday, which is a plus. Oladipo originally chose to sit out due to fears of reaggravating his torn quad tendon that cost him half of the 2018-19 season and the majority of this season. However, he’s reconsidering that decision as he’s been practicing with the team in the bubble. That could be a boost to the Pacers offensively.
Biggest Concern: Generating enough offense with their pace. Indiana was 23rd in the league in pace with 98.5 possessions per game and stood 22nd in scoring offense with 109.3 ppg this year. The Pacers have to be more efficient offensively and they are going to have to find a way to get that production without hampering their defensive performance. If Oladipo returns and is able to contribute the way we’ve seen him do in the past, that could be alleviated.
Philadelphia 76ers
Record: 39-26 SU, 28-33-4 ATS, 34-30-1 O/U
Standings Location: 3rd in Atlantic Division, 7.5 games behind Toronto, tied for 5th in Eastern Conference, 14 games behind Milwaukee
Key Injuries/Missing Personnel: Ben Simmons (back) is probable
NBA Finals Odds: +2000
Philadelphia has been up and down this season as minor injuries have taken a toll on guys like Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons during the course of the year. Brett Brown is juggling his rotation heading into the restart as Simmons is going to move from point guard to power forward. Shake Milton is likely to slot in at the starting point guard spot to step in for Simmons while Al Horford, who Philadelphia took from Boston via free agency, will become a bench guy. He and Embiid seemed to play better when the other wasn’t on the floor. The 76ers had a -1.3 ppg scoring differential when both were on the floor. That number shifted to +5.2 ppg when Horford was on without Embiid and a hefty +8.9 ppg when Embiid was on without Horford. Tobias Harris (19.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg) is a capable scoring threat while Josh Richardson (13.8 ppg) has to get back to knocking down shots. Alec Burks and Furkan Korkmaz have to deliver, as will Horford, to give the starters some support.
Biggest Concern: Chemistry. Things clearly weren’t working with Horford and Embiid sharing the floor and while the shuffling of Horford as a bench guy may help, the fact remains that they need to coexist. Simmons has been a solid all-around player this season with 16.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 8.2 apg and 2.1 steals a night, though his lack of perimeter shooting is going to be a concern. How will Milton adjust to being a starter when the stakes are the highest? Will this pay dividends or blow up in Brown’s face?
Brooklyn Nets
Record: 30-34 SU, 31-33 ATS, 31-32-1 O/U
Standings Location: 4th in Atlantic Division, 16 games behind Toronto, 7th in Eastern Conference, 22.5 games behind Milwaukee, one-half game ahead of eighth-seeded Orlando, six games ahead of ninth-seeded Washington
Key Injuries/Missing Personnel: Spencer Dinwiddie (illness), DeAndre Jordan (illness), Wilson Chandler (personal), Kyrie Irving (shoulder), Taurean Prince (illness), Michael Beasley (illness), Nic Claxton (shoulder) and Kevin Durant (Achilles) are out.
NBA Finals Odds: +10000
The Nets are a train wreck when you get right down to it. Exactly zero of the guys that you would have relied on to start are in the mix for them. A staggering eight guys are out of the mix, including Beasley, who left the Orlando bubble and went home after testing positive for COVID-19, less than a week after signing with the team as a replacement for missing pieces. The depth chart for Brooklyn shows Chris Chiozza, Caris LeVert, Joe Harris, Rodions Kurucs and Jarrett Allen as the starting five right now. LeVert can score but missed a chunk of the year with ankle and foot injuries but now is going to be the top scoring threat. Harris can shoot from the perimeter and Allen is an effective big man but there are far more questions than answers. Losing Dinwiddie and his production was a major blow that the Nets can’t replace.
Biggest Concern: Can these guys do much of anything given the massive talent loss they suffered? The Nets look more like a team full of replacement players during the 1987 strike season of the NFL than an actual NBA squad. Will Brooklyn be able to throw a scare in anyone or is it a quick, painless exit from the postseason?
Orlando Magic
Record: 30-35 SU, 31-32-2 ATS, 33-29-3 O/U
Standings Location: 2nd in Southeast Division, 11 games behind Miami, 8th in Eastern Conference, 23 games behind Milwaukee, one-half game behind 7th-seeded Brooklyn, 5.5 games ahead of 9th-seeded Washington
Key Injuries/Missing Personnel: James Ennis (illness) is probable, Markelle Fultz (personal) is questionable, Jonathan Isaac (knee) is questionable
Finals Odds: +10000
Orlando stepped things up down the stretch before the pause, taking three straight and six of their previous nine heading into the pause, to create some distance in the playoff picture. The Magic has to be better offensively as they were just 27th in the league in scoring offense (104 ppg), 26th in pace (98.3 possessions per game), 27th in field goal percentage (44.2), tied for 23rd in threes per game (10.9) and 25th in three-point shooting (34.1) this year. Nikola Vucevic (19.5 ppg, 11 rpg), Evan Fournier (18.8 ppg) and Terrence Ross (14.8 ppg) are the top options, though Aaron Gordon (14.4 ppg, 7.6 rpg) can be a factor when he isn’t settling for bad shots. Fultz arrived in Orlando Wednesday and is in quarantine: once he tests negative twice, he’ll be able to practice. Giannis Antetokounmpo0 after being out after contracting COVID-19 previously. Isaac’s status is up in the air as Steve Clifford said it could be two to three weeks before they determine if he’ll be able to play.
Biggest Concern: This is a two-fold concern for the Magic. They either have to find a way to improve their offensive efficiency to become a more cohesive threat. If that doesn’t take place, Orlando is going to have to maintain their suffocating defense. They were fourth in scoring defense (107.3 ppg) despite being tied for 17th in field goal percentage defense (46.3) and 24th in three-point field goal percentage defense (37) on the year. If the Magic gets in a series with a run and gun type of team, they could find themselves in trouble.
Washington Wizards
Record: 24-40 SU, 32-30-2 ATS, 37-26-1 O/U
Standings Location: 3rd in Southeast Division, 16.5 games behind Miami, 9th in Eastern Conference, 28.5 games behind Milwaukee, 5.5 games behind 8th-seeded Orlando
Key Injuries/Missing Personnel: Bradley Beal (shoulder), John Wall (Achilles) and Davis Bertans (personal) are out. Thomas Bryant (illness) and Gary Payton II (illness) are questionable
NBA Finals Odds: N/A
Much like Brooklyn, Washington is a team that is wrecked coming into the restart. The Wizards are without Wall, which is to be expected seeing how he hadn’t played all season, but losing Beal, who was second in the league in scoring this season, is a massive blow. Bertans was a threat from the outside as he averaged 15.4 ppg while shooting 42.4 percent from beyond the arc. Bryant is recovering from testing positive for COVID-19 and has not arrived in Orlando yet, nor has Payton II. Washington’s defense was a disaster this season, ranking 29th in scoring defense (119.7 ppg), 28th in three-point field goal percentage defense (37.8) and 29th in field goal percentage defense (49) on the year. Without Beal and Bertans, Rui Hachimura is the team’s leading scorer with 13.4 ppg. Washington can shoot well from the outside but it’s tough sledding without your top two options on the floor.
Biggest Concern: Will any of the guys stepping in be able to have a Cinderella run and carry the Wizards to relevance? They need to make up two games on Orlando to try and set up a play-in tournament but without their big guns, it’s going to be an uphill climb, especially given the defensive issues that the team has. Could Washington find a way to tighten up on that end since their key weapons are missing?
