Are the Milwaukee Bucks favorites to win the Eastern Conference?
By Jacob Nett
The power balance in the NBA has shifted from the Western Conference to the Eastern Conference in the past few years, the Milwaukee Bucks have been a part of that. As have the Brooklyn Nets since Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving teamed up with James Harden.
The Eastern Conference has gotten a real face lift over the past couple years and has had a different champion each of the last four seasons. The ascension of Jayson Tatum has brought the Celtics back to the NBA Finals and the Miami Heat have been perennial contenders. The Philadelphia 76ers have been in the conversation as well. Let’s see where the Milwaukee Bucks stack up in the Eastern Conference for the 2022-23 NBA Season.
Milwaukee Bucks Eastern Conference competition: Boston Celtics
The defending champion Boston Celtics have improved this off season, adding Malcolm Brogdon, acquiring him from the Pacers in exchange for five players: Daniel Theis, Aaron Nesmith, Nik Stauskas, Juwan Morgan and Malik Fitts. That made room on the roster to add more, they used that opportunity to sign Danilo Gallinari. Their biggest issue last season was ball handling and depth, they fixed both issues by getting the players they did, Brogdon is also a great off ball shooter so he will fit in perfectly next to Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. News of a torn ACL for Gallinari is a big blow to Boston’s plans, and the recent drama surrounding head coach Ime Udoka is going to be tough to overcome, he has been suspended for the entire 2022-23 season, and this situation could potentially get much worse.
The Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics will be a game with some drama surrounding it when they match up on Christmas day.
There are certainly some other teams to keep an eye on in the Eastern Conference as well, the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers who recently acquired Donovan Mitchell and Atlanta Hawks with their acquisition of Dejounte Murray could all be looking to ascend in the Eastern Conference.