Power Ranking All the NBA Teams in the Eastern Conference

After years of the Western Conference being the dominant half of the NBA, the Eastern Conference is suddenly returning to prominence, as shown with the Miami Heat's victory in the NBA Finals a year ago.

Not every team in the conference is going to be competing for a playoff spot, but there are still some solid teams as you look down the conference standings.

Most teams have improved over the offseason, some more dramatically than others, and this could lead to a shake-up across the board.

With the bulk of the offseason now behind us, it's time to take a look at where each team stands, and power rank the entire conference heading into next season.

15. Charlotte Bobcats

There may be a new head coach and some nice new uniforms in Charlotte, but there'll be nothing new about the struggles Michael Jordan's team will face in 2012-13.

This team simply isn't very good, and though Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is in town now, the Bobcats will remain as one of the league's worst teams.

There are definitely some nice foundational pieces in North Carolina, but when Ben Gordon and Tyrus Thomas are set to play big roles, things aren't going to go very well.

14. Detroit Pistons

Despite drafting a guy with a lot of potential in Andre Drummond, the Detroit Pistons look set for more of the same problems going into next season.

Corey Maggette will likely be a lot more useful than Ben Gordon, but that won't be enough to turn around the Pistons' fortunes.

The additions of Khris Middleton and Kim English in the draft were also nice pick-ups, but again, they aren't difference-makers that are going to right the ship.

Ultimately, the Pistons are a high lottery pick away from making any noise in the Eastern Conference again, but thankfully they should get a shot at that in next year's draft.

13. Cleveland Cavaliers

In Kyrie Irving, the Cleveland Cavs have one of the NBA's best young stars, and in his second year, the strides he makes could reflect in an improved record for the team.

But without much of a supporting cast around him—especially after letting go of Antawn Jamison—Irving will struggle to carry this weak squad.

The transition of Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller into the NBA will be what really shape the Cavs' season, but it's unlikely that they'll do enough to vault this team very far up the Eastern Conference.

12. Washington Wizards

Last season, the Washington Wizards' inexperience and maturity problems really showed, but after ridding themselves of Nick Young and JaVale McGee, this team is ready to improve.

Trevor Ariza, Emeka Okafor, Nene and Bradley Beal are a number of the new faces that will help John Wall out, and with a supporting cast like that, the former Kentucky Wildcat will have a chance to do some big things in the East.

The playoffs are probably a stretch, but don't be surprised if the Wizards are only a few games away from that eighth spot.

11. Toronto Raptors

Steve Nash may not be on his way back to Canada, but the Toronto Raptors still very much improved this offseason.

Adding a borderline All-Star in Kyle Lowry to what was already a talented young roster will go a long way to improving this team over last year, especially considering how little they gave up for him.

The Raptors didn't lose anyone important in free agency either, and though they overpaid for Landry Fields, he's still a player who can help out tremendously now that he'll get to play his natural small-forward position.

Terrence Ross and 2011 draft pick Jonas Valanciunas will also join the team, and this new Raptors squad could surprise some people and even compete for a playoff spot in 2012.

10. Orlando Magic

The biggest question for the Orlando Magic is whether Dwight Howard will still be in town come the regular season.

Despite hiring a new head coach and not doing too much this offseason, the presence of Howard will be enough to make the Magic a competitive team, even if his imminent departure hangs over the locker room.

By the trade deadline, you'd expect Howard to have been traded away somewhere, and the Magic's success will depend on who they get in return for him.

With a new head coach and likely a new roster at that point, it's hard to see it all coming together in time for them to make the playoffs above some of the Eastern Conference's stronger teams.

9. Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers aren't a bad team by any means, but when you look at this roster, they don't really stack up to the other playoff teams in the Eastern Conference.

What the Sixers do have is a lot of solid wing players, which may lead them to trade away Andre Iguodala in order to strengthen a position which they have more of a need for.

Whether they do or not, the Sixers will definitely be in the race for a playoff spot, but with the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks emerging, there must to be two teams from last year's playoffs that won't make it back this year.

8. Atlanta Hawks

After years of doing much of the same in the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks realised this offseason that they had to go backwards in order to go forwards, and did so by letting go of Joe Johnson in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets.

Al Horford, Josh Smith and a much deeper supporting cast should still be a playoff team, and depending on whether the latter is traded, the Hawks may not drop off quite as badly as some expect.

7. Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee may not have made the playoffs last year, but for a while there after acquiring Monta Ellis, they were looking very dangerous indeed.

Now heading into their first full season together, Ellis and Brandon Jennings could develop into one of the Eastern Conference's elite backcourts, which will really help with the playoff push this time round.

The addition of Samuel Dalembert and the development of Ersan Ilyasova should help what is a relatively weak frontcourt, and get the Bucks back in the playoffs after a few years of waiting. 

6. Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers were the surprise team in the Eastern Conference last year, finishing third in the regular season and advancing to the second round in the playoffs.

Adding D.J. Augustin and Gerald Green will help the Pacers, but with a number of the teams in the conference making even bigger strides, it's hard to picture them having the same success in 2012-13.

Barring any major injuries, the Pacers will absolutely be a playoff team, but it won't be surprising to seem them fall down a few spots from last season.

5. Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets have made some fantastic strides this offseason and are very much a playoff team, but we should be hesitant to anoint them a top four team just yet.

With the Celtics and Knicks alongside them, the Nets are in a very tough division, which could hurt their chances to make a lot of noise in the regular season.

So many new players have been added to this roster, and even those who were there beforehand—like Gerald Wallace and Brook Lopez—haven't had too much time to gel due to injury.

Though talented, growing pains will impact the Nets early on, allowing a number of superior teams to push ahead of them in the Eastern Conference.

4. Chicago Bulls

Despite injuries to Derrick Rose, the Chicago Bulls still managed to finish the season atop the Eastern Conference in 2011-12.

In 2012-13 the Bulls will be without Rose for quite a while yet again, but what they'll also be without is the bulk of the depth that helped cover for their star point guard last year.

With C.J. Watson, John Lucas III, Kyle Korver and Omer Asik all leaving, the Bulls roster is looking very thin going into next season.

The Bulls' next best player—Luol Deng—will be missing time too, as he'll be having delayed back surgery after representing Great Britain in the Olympics.

The return of Kirk Hinrich and the coaching of Tom Thibodeau—as well as the hope of a late-season run once Rose returns—should be enough to keep the Bulls in the top four, but it will be a struggle to say the least.

3. New York Knicks

Since acquiring Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks have not quite lived up to the expectations some had for them, leading to two consecutive first-round exits in the playoffs. But with some continuity now with their head coach, and three point guards on the roster capable of running the offense, things should change next season.

The loss of Jeremy Lin is what people will focus on, but with Raymond Felton, Marcus Camby and Jason Kidd, the Knicks are still a better team than they were last year.

The big difference for the Knicks, though, will be the return to health of their two superstars, who will finally have their first full training camp and 82-game season to iron out their chemistry issues.

People will sleep on the Knicks based on what we've seen so far from them, but if they click, big things could happen for them in the Eastern Conference.

2. Boston Celtics

No one came closer to stopping the Miami Heat than the Boston Celtics last season, and though they're another year older, they're still the next-best team in the East.

Kicked off by a great draft night, the Celtics have had a fantastic offseason, and despite the loss of Ray Allen have improved across the board, primarily with youth.

The Celtics are a team whose core is built for the postseason, but with plenty of younger players on their roster too, a strong regular season is to be expected.

1. Miami Heat

As the reigning Eastern Conference and NBA champions, the Miami Heat are undoubtedly the team to beat in the East. They may not have the deepest bench, but what they do have is the very best player in the entire league and a fantastic defense.

Miami was dominant last season, and with the offseason additions of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, it's hard to see them slowing down any time soon.