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.