Eastern Conference Preseason Rankings (2022)
Oct 14, 2022 13:41:04 GMT -5
Nets GM (Cameron), Bulls GM (Sean), and 1 more like this
Post by Hawks GM (Connor) on Oct 14, 2022 13:41:04 GMT -5
Atlantic Division
Brooklyn, Toronto, & Philadelphia all have well rounded rosters, but BKN (Ball/Williams) & PHI (Irving/Leonard) have question marks about availability for some of their top players. They should all be in playoff race regardless, while the Knicks are the heavy favorite to finish with the league's worst record. Boston has very little depth outside their big three of Young/Booker/Davis, which will likely keep them out of the postseason race in a deep Eastern Conference.
(1) Brooklyn Nets ( Nets GM (Cameron) )
(2) Toronto Raptors ( Raptors GM (Nate) )
(3) Philadelphia 76ers ( 76ers GM (Remy) )
(4) Boston Celtics ( Celtics GM (Josh) )
(5) New York Knicks ( @gmknicks )
Central Division
This looks like the strongest division in the league once again, with Indiana joining the others at the top of the rankings in 2022. The Pacers big offseason helped them leapfrog the entire division, while Detroit / Chicago / Milwaukee all made moves to maintain their playoff caliber rosters. Cleveland had a quiet offseason but still have 4 of the top 7 players in the division. The bottom third of their roster is completely empty though, and that's the main reason they are a tier below the rest of the group.
(1) Indiana Pacers ( Pacers GM (DeVo) )
(2) Detroit Pistons ( Pistons GM (Kevin) )
(3) Chicago Bulls ( Bulls GM (Sean) )
(4) Milwaukee Bucks ( Bucks GM (Ahmed) )
(5) Cleveland Cavaliers ( Cavaliers GM (Brandon) )
Southwest Division
Probably the toughest division to project, as Charlotte / Atlanta / Orlando all made big acquisitions this offseason but each are still floating somewhere between top 6 seed and contending for a play-in spot. Miami, meanwhile, made very few moves this offseason and still sit right near the three teams above them. Like Cleveland, the Heat would see a big boost if they added players to their 5 empty roster spots. Washington seems to be in a transition period, and doesn't project to be in this race.
(1) Charlotte Hornets ( @terence )
(2) Atlanta Hawks ( Hawks GM (Connor) )
(3) Orlando Magic ( Magic GM (Pete) )
(5) Washington Wizards ( Wizards GM (Kevin) )
Brooklyn, Toronto, & Philadelphia all have well rounded rosters, but BKN (Ball/Williams) & PHI (Irving/Leonard) have question marks about availability for some of their top players. They should all be in playoff race regardless, while the Knicks are the heavy favorite to finish with the league's worst record. Boston has very little depth outside their big three of Young/Booker/Davis, which will likely keep them out of the postseason race in a deep Eastern Conference.
(1) Brooklyn Nets ( Nets GM (Cameron) )
- #5 Overall, #3 in East
- 2022 Projection: Playoff Lock (Top 10)
(2) Toronto Raptors ( Raptors GM (Nate) )
- #11 Overall, #7 in East
- 2022 Projection: Playoff Lock (Top 10)
(3) Philadelphia 76ers ( 76ers GM (Remy) )
- #13 Overall, #9 in East
- 2022 Projection: Play-In Contender (4 appearances in 5 seasons, missed 2022)
(4) Boston Celtics ( Celtics GM (Josh) )
- #22 Overall, #13 in East
- 2022 Projection: Miss Playoffs (haven't missed postseason since 2019)
(5) New York Knicks ( @gmknicks )
- #30 Overall, #15 in East
- 2022 Projection: Miss Playoffs (last postseason appearance in 2019)
Central Division
This looks like the strongest division in the league once again, with Indiana joining the others at the top of the rankings in 2022. The Pacers big offseason helped them leapfrog the entire division, while Detroit / Chicago / Milwaukee all made moves to maintain their playoff caliber rosters. Cleveland had a quiet offseason but still have 4 of the top 7 players in the division. The bottom third of their roster is completely empty though, and that's the main reason they are a tier below the rest of the group.
(1) Indiana Pacers ( Pacers GM (DeVo) )
- #2 Overall, #1 in East
- 2022 Projection: Playoff Lock, ECF Contender
(2) Detroit Pistons ( Pistons GM (Kevin) )
- #4 Overall, #2 in East
- 2022 Projection: Playoff Lock, ECF Contender
(3) Chicago Bulls ( Bulls GM (Sean) )
- #7 Overall, #4 in East
- 2022 Projection: Play-In Lock (Top 10)
(4) Milwaukee Bucks ( Bucks GM (Ahmed) )
- #10 Overall, #6 in East
- 2022 Projection: Play-In Lock (Top 10)
(5) Cleveland Cavaliers ( Cavaliers GM (Brandon) )
- #18 Overall, #12 in East
- 2022 Projection: Play-In Contender (#1 seed last three seasons)
Southwest Division
Probably the toughest division to project, as Charlotte / Atlanta / Orlando all made big acquisitions this offseason but each are still floating somewhere between top 6 seed and contending for a play-in spot. Miami, meanwhile, made very few moves this offseason and still sit right near the three teams above them. Like Cleveland, the Heat would see a big boost if they added players to their 5 empty roster spots. Washington seems to be in a transition period, and doesn't project to be in this race.
(1) Charlotte Hornets ( @terence )
- #9 Overall, #5 in East
- 2022 Projection: Playoff Lock (Top 10)
(2) Atlanta Hawks ( Hawks GM (Connor) )
- #12 Overall, #8 in East
- 2022 Projection: Play-In Contender (last postseason appearance in 2020)
(3) Orlando Magic ( Magic GM (Pete) )
- #14 Overall, #10 in East
- 2022 Projection: Play-In Contender (4 appearances in 5 seasons, missed 2022)
(4) Miami Heat ( Heat GM (Dom) )
- #16 Overall, #11 in East
- 2022 Projection: Play-In Contender (made postseason in 2021, missed previous two seasons)
(5) Washington Wizards ( Wizards GM (Kevin) )
- #27 Overall, #14 in East
- 2022 Projection: Miss Playoffs (missed four times in five seasons)