Eastern Conference

Why

1

New York Knicks

New York have added 2 elite 2-way wings in Butler and Kawhi through some savvy trading. 2-way wings were voted the most important pieces of any team in the recent GM survey. Already having a dominant rebounder/defender in Capela this team is set to rule the East and currently the favourite to come out of the Eastern conference.

2

Washington Wizards

This engine looks favourable to big men and Washington have arguably the most dominant Centre in 2k in Embiid. Add to that Washington have added a veteran 2-way floor general and boast some elite outside shooters ready for Embiid to kick out to off doubles. One of which is Desmond Bane voted favourite to win Most Improved in the GM Survey.�

3

Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte still has CP3 & Luka; and likely a higher ceiling than 3^rd�however being so dependent on the 1 player in Luka with a lack of quality depth and an elite 2k big, we have them slipping in the standings from their 1^st�place finish last season. Charlotte also swapped out 2-way wing Jerami Grant for yet another guard in FVV so will have a small backcourt which to this point hasn�t proved favourable in 2k.

4

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors made some big changes this off-season swapping out an aging core for a youthful core of Bam, Ingram, Zion, and D�Angelo Russell. A team average age of only 23 years old. I still think the Raptors core have some maturing to do and some 2k vetting before pushing the top teams of the conference. The mix of their core stars should still have good success.

5

Milwaukee Bucks

SGA and the improving Mobley. The Bucks this off-season also added DeRozan another elite mid-range and at the rim finisher who somehow has a 79 3pt rating off only 1.9 attempts per game. Cheers 2k� They will be a nightmare to keep out of the paint and will be sturdy on defence with Mobley and adding multi defensive team guard Matisse Thybulle.

6

Chicago Bulls

This position is solely based on the fact we think Chicago can retain their star guard in John Wall. If they do so, it will be the first time since the inaugural season that the big 3 in Chicago see the floor together. Why they�re 6^th�after previously finishing 1^st�and making the finals the last time they were healthy is they have a young supporting cast. Chicago will rise from here over the coming years.�

7

Detroit Pistons

Detroit completely changed their identity this year, being a defensive force and usually finishing at the top end of the conference and had 2 straight finals appearances. Having Kyrie, it's not always certain that he will suit up for every game so will likely miss time throughout the year. Robert Williams being out for potentially 12 weeks of the season won�t leave them enough time to make up the record to catch the rest of the playoff teams.

8

Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta made a big swing after a down year and swapped out their picks for a star pairing of Siakam and Damian Lillard. The 2 should complement each other well however with the rest of their team still young and developing we won�t see the best of Atlanta just yet.

9

Boston Celtics

I could have Boston as high as 5^th�however we never know how this team will play especially in a year with the likes of Wembanyama and Scoot in the draft pool, I settled for 9^th. Tatum and Garland are 2k stars already and they have the deepest talent pool of any NSL roster with up to 13 players you would see in any team�s 9�10-man rotation. If Boston take the approach of, �we�re 1 more year away� I think this as low as they could fall.

This is where the East gets tricky, the next 5 of 6 teams here all want to push to play playoff basketball, but the unfortunate reality is there is only 10 spots to have a shot with 6-10 still being the play in tournament with no guaranteed play-off berth. I have based these teams solely on the talent of their roster. Any number of crafty settings play, and team health could see�a shift in where these teams are placed. These teams I still see a real chance to win up to and upwards of 30 games, but the East is stacked with talented teams, and some will have to miss.��

10

Philadelphia�

Philly made some good moves this off-season however still lack elite offensive 2k talent. They swapped CJ back to Cleveland for Andrew Wiggins, Al Horford and Alex Caruso. All 2-way players that in 2k play at an elite level on defence. They will be a stingy defensive minded team and could finish higher than 10^th�if they get the best out of Fox and Wiggins on offense.�

11

Orlando

Orlando answered the question we were all asking, what are they planning to do with their 2-guard line-up. Swapping Dejounte Murray for Jarrett Allen was a great move. Getting in a real defensive anchor to protect the short comings on defence of their star Trae Young. I think their finish last season was deceptive having a very easy run home with the opposition win percentage at most around .300 and having 3 teams that would have finished above them have season ending injuries. I have those teams finishing above them this year if healthy pushing them back to the play in race.

12

Miami

Miami could finish anywhere from here to 10^th�with the return of Ben Simmons an elite passer and defender. Miami�s shortcomings however are in who will carry the offensive load to win them games. Brogdon is currently the guy but is often injured and the lack of an elite scorer it will see them struggle to win games in the clutch where finishing at the rim becomes tough

13

Cleveland

Cleveland shifted the entire team with a new GM. Cleveland made the playoffs in a similar way to Orlando with teams above them having season ending injuries and reached higher than expected because of that. Moving off an elite 2k big in Allen and an all-star 2-way wing in Wiggins, it could see them fall a bit, hopefully Gafford, Bridges can fill some of the void that will be left. Dejounte Murray is having his first 2k year after his first NBA All-star appearance so we�re yet to see just how good he will be. Cleveland has a nice core of CJ, Murray, and Bridges but the surrounding talent is young and won�t be that productive yet in 2k.

14

Brooklyn

Brooklyn will get Jamal Murray back, it�s an unknown how high they can climb also bringing in Khris Middleton. They have a great young core with some good veteran presence but as most of these teams need to go through a vetting process to raise their ceiling.

15

Indiana

Indiana while having KAT and breakout candidate Jordan Poole have a very young group surrounding them, they took JSJ with their most recent lottery pick. With Lonzo still hurt with no timetable to return I think Indy send off their veteran players including Kuzma and play the lottery game again this season.