The Eastern Conference is arguably the most stacked it's been in years with loads of talent throughout. Five teams are currently within two and a half games of each other. With roughly twenty four games left in the regular season, any team that gets hot and goes on a run could take home the number one seed. The teams that have a chance to take the number one seed and make it to the finals are the Heat, Bulls, 76ers, Bucks, and Nets. Let’s break down why each team has what it takes to make the finals. 

Heat

The Heat have the best record in the Eastern Conference at 37-20. The addition of Kyle Lowry in the offseason has been a great piece for this team to go alongside top tier performers Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Tyler Herro is arguably the best bench player in the league and provides another explosive weapon offensively for this team. With tons of playoff experience throughout the Heat, they could be trouble for any team they encounter along the way. Head Coach Erik Spoelstra has been to five finals and knows what it takes to get a team there. One thing that could hurt the Heat’s chances is if Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo stay cold from behind the arc. We’ve seen in past seasons with players like Giannis Antetokounmpo that if your star players can’t shoot a solid percentage, winning a playoff series becomes challenging. 

Bulls

Demar Derozan is the best thing that's happened to this team as he’s playing at an MVP level, leading the Bulls to second place in the Eastern Conference. The foursome of Derozan, Lavine, Ball, and Caruso is among the best in the league and can compete with any team. Although they haven’t all played together in a while due to assorted injuries and Covid protocols, we’ve seen flashes of great chemistry earlier in the season guaranteeing the up-and-coming Bulls a solid seed in the playoffs. In order for the Bulls to make it through conference play they’ll have to eliminate dominant big men like Embiid, Giannis, and Durant. There isn’t a great rim protector on this team which may be their achilles heel in the playoffs. 

76ers

What did an elite team do at the trade deadline led by MVP frontrunner Joel Embiid? Just acquire one of the most prolific scorers the game of basketball has ever seen in James Harden. This blockbuster trade may be the final piece the 76ers need to raise a championship banner. The pick and roll between Harden and Embiid seems unstoppable once they get more familiar with each other. Despite giving up Seth Curry in the deal, they held onto key role players like Tyrese Maxey and Matisse Thybulle. This is the best team Embiid has ever been a part of and with veteran Head Coach Doc Rivers, the Sixers look like the team to beat in the east. This is an important stretch for Harden who has a real chance to silence the narrative that he’s a “choker” in the playoffs because historically he’s performed well below his regular season stats and often vanished in crunch time.  

Bucks

The defending champions are on track for another great season as they’re just one and a half games back from first place. Giannis, Middleton, and Holiday are a great trio with plenty of experience to take this team back to another finals. When you’re the defending champs, every team on the schedule brings their A game so the Bucks need to stay hungry against the other great teams in the east or they may head home early. As with every one of these five teams, the Bucks need to stay healthy and the absence of Brook Lopez hurts them defensively as long as he continues to miss time. 

Nets

Any team with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving has a chance to make a deep playoff run. Pair this dynamic duo with Ben Simmons and Seth Curry and the Nets are ready to make a push for a championship. Admittedly, they’ve been struggling lately with Durant missing numerous games the last month and Kyrie Irving only able to play in away games. If Durant is healthy and Irving can stay on the court in every game come playoffs, the Nets have all the tools to make it to the finals. However, if Kyrie is still only able to play in away games, his decision to remain unvaxxed could very well cost Brooklyn down the stretch. The up and down Nets have boom or bust potential written all over them. 

These five Eastern Conference teams all have what it takes to make a deep run. Representing the conference in the Finals comes down to experience and which teams and which players step up in the big moments. Grab your popcorn and enjoy the show because the NBA playoffs will be must-see-TV come April.