5 Potential Eastern Conference Champions Not Named the Bulls or Heat
Just about everyone and their mother have the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat slated to match up in the Eastern Conference finals.
Both teams have looked dominant at different points during the season. However, both teams have also had their weaknesses exposed.
Derrick Rose is often times left alone on an island when his inconsistent big man Carlos Boozer doesn't show up, mostly due to battling injuries all season long.
In Miami, they still lack point guard leadership and have one of the poorest big man rotations in the league.
That being said, the East is full of good teams with the potential to compete and knock both of these teams out come playoff time. Yet, they are often times overlooked.
I'm here to tell you why there are plenty of other teams besides the Bulls and Heat who have a chance of coming out of Eastern Conference.
Boston Celtics
1 of 5The Boston Celtics are old. We all know that. But they will still be a very tough out come playoff time.
If the playoffs started today, the Celtics and Heat would match up in the first round. That would have to be one of the most competitive first round matchups the NBA has ever seen.
When it comes to playoffs it's about experience, controlling the tempo and defense.
The Celtics have all of that.
Rondo always gives the Heat trouble and Boston will be looking to make one last push before their championship window completely closes.
Kevin Garnett is a still a force on the defensive end. Ray Allen is still a sharpshooter. Paul Pierce is still a closer. Rondo is still one of the elite point guards in the NBA.
Boston still has a chance—I wouldn't count the Celtics out just yet.
Philadelphia 76ers
2 of 5Why is everyone overlooking this young, talented 76ers team?
It seems as though people are very hesitant to label this squad the real deal. But, I am a believer for a few reasons.
The number one reason being Andre Iguodala.
Iggy is impressive on both ends of the floor, but what I really admire about him is his defense. He is one of the most underrated defensive stoppers in the league due to his superstar label. Yet, he consistently guards the opposing team's best player.
Not to mention Jrue Holiday, Thaddeus Young, and even Elton Brand has been a walking double-double this season. Although the Heat easily beat the 76ers in five games in last year's playoffs, Philadelphia played Miami very well and has only improved.
The 76ers will be a tough out and consider themselves contenders no matter what the media has to say.
New York Knicks
3 of 5No, I'm not crazy.
I have seen the decline of the Knicks since Melo's return. But when I take a look at New York's roster, the potential just jumps off the page at me.
If the Knicks can right their ship sometime soon here and squeeze into the playoffs, they will have the opportunity to compete for a championship—what every team plays for.
Melo is still a scoring machine.
He may be going through a rough patch, but Melo can drop 40 any night. Amar'e Stoudemire is a force inside who may not be putting up gaudy numbers that he did with the Suns, but is still an elite big man.
With the addition of J.R. Smith, the emergence of Jeremy Lin, and the rookie Iman Shumpert's stellar play, the Knicks perimeter play from top to bottom is solid.
Tyson Chandler holds down the paint with the best of them and Steve Novak is one of the best shooters in the league.
If the Knicks can put all this together, and that's a big if, New York could make a run come playoff time and ride the momentum to the top.
Indiana Pacers
4 of 5The Pacers played the Bulls surprisingly well last season and have only gotten better since then.
They have one of the tallest lineups in the league, which often times gives their opposition problems.
Darren Collison is doing a great job running the offense through their superstar Danny Granger. But, it was their big man Roy Hibbert who made the All-Star team and has shown signs of brilliance all season long.
Paul George is the team's best defender and has the potential to be an NBA superstar in the future. He's got the shot, athleticism, and body type.
Lastly, David West has been a consistent contributor for the Pacers and players like Dahntay Jones come off the bench and give the team a lift.
As Indiana tries to make the jump from a good team to a contender, look for them to try and make a statement in this years playoffs no matter who they play.
Orlando Magic (With Dwight Howard)
5 of 5The Orlando Magic are a very good team when Dwight Howard is on the floor.
When the Trade Deadline passes Thursday, and Howard is still on the Magic's roster (at least for the rest of this season), Orlando can focus on competing for the title rather than for Howard's heart.
Yesterday, the Magic were able to down the Heat—a team that people are so sure will win the championship this year.
The fact is Dwight Howard is the most dominate big man in the game today (Bynum might have something to say about that) and not many teams have a player that can match up with him.
The Heat's center, Joel Anthony is listed as 6'9". Although Joakim Noah produces a lot more than Anthony on both ends of the floor, he still undersized and simply bullied by Howard.
If Orlando's streaky shooters can get hot during the playoffs the East better watch out for the Magic.
