A Look At Some Reasons To Be Optimistic For Every Eastern Conference Playoff Team
David Dow. Getty Images.Last week I blogged about some concerns for all teams heading to the play in/playoffs from both the East and the West, and I figured since it's Friday and the vibes are good while also considering we're now even closer to the action, it was time to look at the other side of the coin. You should know by now what the concerns are for all these teams heading in, but today I want to focus on why you should feel great about your favorite team heading into the postseason. Some are pretty obvious, some you may not know about a certain team because you don't watch them all that often. Just like last time we'll start with the East in the order in which the seedings stand as of now. Let's do it
Philadelphia 76ers
You have Joel Embiid and other teams do not. That's pretty much all you need to know. I know he just got put in absolute jail by Bam last night (2 points on 1-3 shooting on 18 possessions), but don't let that change the narrative about Embiid's season. He's been beyond dominant since the jump. Outside of Bam, a player the Sixers might never face, who exactly in the East do you feel good about guarding Embiid? The answer should probably be nobody.
We've seen a dominant Embiid in the past still come up short, I mean he averaged 30/12 last year and didn't win a single game, but I would argue this version of Embiid is completely different. For starters, he's become a much better 3P shooter, coming in at 37% on 3.1 attempts which is more than passable. We know he's a monster in the post, but what has helped Embiid take that MVP caliber leap is the work he's doing as a midrange shooter. To put it simply, it makes no sense.
Embiid is making 49.5% of his midrange shots on the season, which is up drastically from his 40.2% last year. So think about this for a second. You're not stopping Embiid in the post, you now can no longer give him space in the midrange….so what exactly is the plan? As long as he continues to be decent at finding open guys passing out of the post when doubled, I'm not exactly sure how you defend him over the course of a 7 game series. Even with questions about their overall offense or Ben Simmons in a playoff series, just knowing that you have maybe the most unstoppable force in the league should have ever Sixers fan optimistic. There's now no real hole in Embiid's game.
Brooklyn Nets
I'm sorry, did you see what James Harden looked like in his return?
No player in the league controls the game better right now than James Harden. What he's done as a Net has been truly awesome to watch. Now you add a healthy Durant and Kyrie to the mix and I'm not telling you anything you already didn't know.
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But you know why else you should feel optimistic as a Nets fan? Not only are your top 3 players all healthy at this time of year, but even their fringe moves have worked out. Jeff Green? Actually producing. How about Blake Griffin since April 16th? A nice 12/5/3 on 51/41% splits and he's dunking left and right.
There's a reason this team is the overwhelming favorite to come out of the East, and until someone shows they can stop their three headed monster, that's not going to change.
Milwaukee Bucks
You could make the same case for Giannis like you do for Embiid and the Sixers, but I'm going to go in a different direction. You know why you should be excited about the Bucks as a MIL fan heading into this postseason? There's no Eric Bledsoe. In 3 postseason appearances Bledsoe averaged 13 points a game on 41/25% shooting. That's now been replaced with Jrue Holiday. That's not just an upgrade defensively either. For his career, Holiday is a 17/4.5/5.5 guy in the playoffs shooting 45/38%. Considering this season he put up 17.7/4.5/6.0 on 50/39%, I'm not expecting that to change.
I know this time of year makes Bucks fans a little uneasy given how the last few years have gone, but remember, they went 2-1 vs BKN, 3-0 vs PHI, 1-1 vs MIA, and 2-1 against the Hawks. The only teams that gave them issues was BOS (1-2) and NYK (1-2). I don't think they're all that worried.
Atlanta Hawks
What a second half of the year it's been for the Hawks. Offensively they are just such a monster to handle. Trae Young probably won't make an All NBA team despite having the numbers and team success that other guys don't, but that's a topic for another blog. If I'm a Hawks fan, there are a lot of reasons I'm optimistic heading into the playoffs, but for me it all comes down to their health. As they got healthy and their normal rotation guys back in the lineup, they took off.
Most notably Bogdan Bogdanovic. He has been everything Hawks fans could have wanted and more. He came back for good on March 2nd, and since that date the Hawks are 26-11. That's the 3rd best record in the league, barely trailing DEN/PHX. They have a top 10 offense during that stretch as well, and Bogdan is a huge reason why. In the 35 games he's played, we're seeing Bogdanovic put up 18/3/3 on 48/45% splits with 3.6 3PM a night. He's the perfect secondary option next to Young.
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The way Trae Young commands so much attention, it's become a pick your poison offense. You over help on Young, he can just lob it to Capela/Collins. If you cheat defensively, he can find his shooter in Bogdanovic. I truly think that part of the Hawks slow start was the fact that Bogy simply wasn't in the lineup, because now that he is they look awesome. I don't think that's an accident.
Miami Heat
You should feel great as a Heat fan right now because your team is probably the most feared team in the conference outside the top 3. Jimmy Butler is about that life. Bam Adebayo is a two way monster. They have the shooting and great coaching to thrive at this time of year. We just saw them do it. Look at what they did to the Sixers last night in a game that mattered for both sides.
If there's one thing we know, it's that this team embraces and thrives in the underdog role. It's why you know deep down there's no way the Sixers want the Heat to end up in that 4/5 if they finish the 1 seed. There's a pretty gigantic difference in potentially playing MIA in the second round compared to either NYK/ATL. You're not intimidating anyone on this Heat team and if you fall asleep for even a second defensively you look up and Duncan Robinson has made 6 threes in your eyeball.
The question was if the Heat could turn things around down the stretch, they got healthy and have done just that.
New York Knicks
The Knicks are playing with house money. They've had an awesome season from start to finish. So the fact that they are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2013 should be enough to have every Knicks fan feeling good, but if you're looking for even more reasons to feel confident I'll happy provide them.
This might sound crazy, but the Knicks have the ability to play a guy that could be the best overall player in a playoff series. That's how good Julius Randle is this year. It's been a while since they've been able to say that, but it's the truth. Randle can go blow for blow with any star in the East, I truly believe that. Add in the fact that the Knicks have a top 5 defense, and that's a formula that has proven to be successful in the postseason. If you're a bitch to score against on one end, and then you also have the best player in a series, you have life.
Things get tougher for them if they have to face MIL in round 1, but if they somehow get the ATL matchup? Is it crazy to assume they'll be favored, even if it's as the 5 seed? I don't think so.
Boston Celtics
We all know what this season has been for the Celts. Horrendous. Pathetic. Embarrassing. You choose the word, it fits. But, if you need any sign of hope, it's this. Kemba Walker looks great. Fully healthy, producing at a high level offensively, that's huge. Tatum has the talent to be the best player in a series. If Rob is healthy, they are like 10-2 in games he starts. Evan Fournier has come around and looks awesome.
But as we also know, this team has shown no ability to do anything positive on a consistent basis. Could they maybe play well for a game? Sure. But with no Jaylen, nobody can tell you they'll be able to put 4 consistent games together. They do have this underdog role now heading into the playoffs which has worked out in the past, and who knows, they could be feisty if Kemba plays at the All Star level we're seeing.
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If it's me, I tank the play in and try and get the 8 seed. It's the lesser of two evils in my opinion. This Celts perimeter defense is not containing the BKN Big 3. You take your chances with Embiid dropping 40 and limiting his surrounding options.
Charlotte Hornets
If the Hornets make it out of the play in, you're pumped as a CHA fan because most likely you're getting Gordon Hayward back. He's been out for a while so maybe you forgot what he was doing as a Hornet, but it was basically everything every Celtics fan hoped he would do in Boston. Add that to LaMelo being back and Terry Rozier being one of the best clutch guards in the league, and who knows there's potentially enough talent on that roster for them to be a bitch to play. Maybe take a game or two in a series.
The Hornets surprised pretty much everyone by being way better than expected, and we've seen they aren't really afraid of anyone. Between Rozier and Graham, they have a ton of irrational confidence guys that can get hot in any given game, plus they are just super fun to watch. As a Hornets fan, I'd be pumped that they are even participating.
Indiana Pacers
It's tough right now for the Pacers. Both with what's going on behind the scenes and when you take a look at their injury report. Their best players are getting crushed. But if I were to choose something to be optimistic about, it would be how good Caris LeVert has looked down the stretch. How's this look for the past month?
24.7 points / 4.9 rebounds / 4.9 assists / 46% shooting / 34% 3P% with 2.0 3PM
He's been awesome. Maybe they can get some guys back if they make the actual top 8, but at the very least LeVert has shown the ability to take over a game and be the best player on the floor. In what has mostly been a cursed and unfortunate season, he's definitely a bright spot.
Washington Wizards
Are the Wizards the most dangerous 10 seed in NBA history? They have to be. Not just because they've been legit good for over a month now, but their top end talent is about as elite as it gets. You have Bradley Beal in the convo for the scoring title, Russell Westbrook is playing some of the most dominant basketball from the guard position in the entire league. They have shooting. Daniel Gafford is actually making a real impact. They play hard. You add it all up and that has the profile of a team that's ready to fuck some shit up in the postseason.
You think they are going to be afraid of someone like BKN? They've already beat them twice. Russell Westbrook isn't scared of anything on this planet. If they can somehow keep defending at a respectable level like they have been for the last few months, they can be a potential annoyance for someone. Given where this season started for Wizards fans, it's hard to not be excited with this new opportunity. Especially with Westbrook playing at this level.