There’s nothing better than being in the Eastern Conference this NBA season.
The Western Conference is much tougher, top to bottom, so I wanted to rank the Eastern teams that I think are real contenders.
Most of these teams are realistic, but a few Eastern teams are still quite real.
#1 Detroit Pistons: Contenders
This Detroit team is a great watch; However, I find it hard to believe that anyone actually thinks this team is ready to make the playoffs. Cade Cunningham is one of the best players in the sport, and Jalen Duren has taken a big step forward by playing at an All-Star level. That doesn’t change the fact that this roster is poorly constructed for playoff success.
Cunningham is only shooting 31 percent from outside, and Duren’s style of play won’t be extremely effective in the playoffs. Then, on the other end of the court, since you desperately need spacing, Duncan Robinson will need significant playoff minutes, and if he’s not a flamethrower on offense, having defenses pick him up may not even be worth playing him.
I hope Detroit tries to add another superstar to this roster to take it to the next level. I know he won’t help you with spacing issues, but if you could find a cheap way to take on Ja Morant from a desperate Grizzlies front office, I’d be willing to believe you guys are actually contenders.
#2 Chicago Bulls: Contenders
The Bulls are not contenders in the same way as the Pistons. I actually think this Bulls team is better than people give it credit for. Billy Donovan once again shows why he is one of the best coaches in the league.
That’s not to say the Bulls don’t have a chance to get closer to the Finals. Between Josh Giddey, Nikola Vucevic, Ayo Dosunmu and Matas Buzelis, the Bulls honestly have an interesting core. This team plays at a good pace and can surprise good teams with its hyper offensive threat.
However, if they come up against a team with an inside threat on defense, I think they will really be slowed down on offense. Additionally, I would be interested to see how their offense translates in the playoffs, where the pace of play usually slows down.
#3 Cleveland Cavaliers: Contenders
November 7, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, United States; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots the ball against the Washington Wizards in the second half during an Emirates Cup NBA game at Capital One Arena. Mandatory credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images The main argument against this Cavaliers team has been their inability to translate regular season success into playoff success – that, of course, and their dual lineup of small guards and big men.
However, if you’ve watched this team since Kenny Atkinson took over, I don’t know how you couldn’t believe it at least a little. When the entire team is healthy, their offense can reach historic levels.
It cost them a bit on the other end, but that doesn’t worry me as much because of Evan Mobley’s game-changing presence on defense. Outside of Victor Wembenyama, there is no one more defensively influential in the league. I believe the injuries this team has suffered in the playoffs over the past few seasons have been hit and miss, and this is the year they at least reach the Eastern Conference Finals.
#4 Milwaukee Bucks: Contenders
It’s that simple. If Giannis Antetokounmpo is on your basketball team, chances are he’s the best player on the court, especially in the Eastern Conference.
The team around him, unfortunately, isn’t great, but I still think Giannis has at least one more historic playoff run while he’s still guaranteed to be in Milwaukee.
The good thing is that I think this year’s supporting cast is more ready to compete than in previous years. Brook Lopez’s loss is addition by subtraction. People love to hate Myles Turner, but he’s definitely an improvement over Lopez from last season.
Ryan Rollins is currently making an absolutely shocking jump this year and could give Giannis at least one more player he can lean on to get a basket without the offense thrown at them. Giannis is one of the few players in the league who can be counted on at any time to take over an entire game, or even a series.
#5 New York Knicks: Contenders
November 2, 2025; New York, New York, United States; New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) drives to the basket against Chicago Bulls forward Isaac Okoro (35) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images This Knicks team can obviously win a series, but I think there’s just something wrong with this Knicks team this year. Aside from the fact that Jalen Brunson turns into an animal in the playoffs, what will be the identity of this New York team?
I just can’t trust Karl-Anthony Towns to play smart enough defense in the playoffs to consistently avoid fouls that would allow me to think this team can make the Finals.
I don’t like the other parts they have either. If Mike Brown can find a way to get someone else to hit consistently in the playoffs, I’ll believe it in New York. For now, I still feel like Tibs was able to squeeze a little more out of this list. This prediction is rather interesting, because I’m not really a Mike Brown supporter. He’s never been able to completely fix a team at any point in his career, and I don’t think this team is talented enough to do that for him.
#6 Philadelphia 76ers: Contenders
This pick is the opposite of my Knicks prediction. It also revolves around the health of Joel Embiid and finding a way to return to a player who looks a lot like the one who won the MVP in 2023.
This team is already much better than the one we saw crumble due to injuries last year. Kelly Oubre and Quentin Grimes are playing at the best level of their careers, VJ Edgecomb has already shown he’s NBA ready in just eight games, and they (potentially) have some solid reinforcements on the way in Jared McCain and Paul George.
But let’s call it what it is. Joel Embiid needs to be significantly better. This team is going like Embiid. I think he’s capable of getting back to at least an All-Star level, and I hope he can lean on what could be a deep core around him to make things happen in the East.
