Another NBA season is in the books, as both Eastern and Western Conference teams are ready to lock in prior to the start of the 2023-2024 season playoffs. The NBA play-in will take place first, which will feature the Miami Heat vs the Philadelphia 76ers for the 7/8 matchup and the Chicago Bulls vs the Atlanta Hawks for the 9/10 matchup in the East.
The winner of the 7/8 game will go on to face the second seed New York Knicks, as the loser will face the winner of the 9/10 game. Whoever wins that one, will go on to the face the leauge’s number one overall seed Boston Celtics.
Despite the official standings being finalized, let’s look into a power rankings of the team’s that are rocking with the best vibes heading into the final stretch of the season. This could include both on-court and off-court team chemistry, along with the team’s that could pose the biggest threat to reach the NBA Finals.
1. Boston Celtics
It is difficult to not have the Boston Celtics at the top of any East power rankings, considering they own the league’s best record at 63-18. Although Boston has shown in games that they are beatable, this is the deepest they have ever looked over the years. Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis have been the most absolute perfect fit, and it has elevated the Celtics.
Time will tell if their recent playoff struggles will happen this season, but their on-court chemistry and vibes have been masterful.
2. New York Knicks
Similar to the Celtics, the New York Knicks have looked the strongest they have in years as well. They are relatively unproven in the playoffs over the last decade aside from last year when they reached the Eastern Conference semi’s. But Jalen Brunson has reached a higher level in his individual game.
Brunson has injected new life to the franchise, averaging a career-high 28.6 points. He also has close relationships with core teammates Josh Hart and acquired Donte Divencenzo over last summer; both of whom he went to college with. The Knicks earned the second seed in a tight Eastern Conference and picked up some huge wins down the strecth of the regular season in the process, despite losing Julius Randle to season-ending shoulder surgery.
Could this be the year that leadership and chemistry from Brunson can lead New York over the hump?
3. Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers struggled when Joel Embiid went down with a knee injury a few months back. They saw themselves drop as low as the eighth seed as it was clear they missed their MVP. However, Embiid is back in the picture and the 76ers have won eight games in a row to conclude the regular season.
The team is also just 15-27 in games that he hasn’t played and are 30-8 in ones that he has. It’s been a tale of two versions of this Philadelphia group throughout the season. All that matters is Embiid is back just in time for a potential playoff run, and vibes are surely higher than it was a few weeks back.
4. Milwaukee Bucks
After ending this regular season struggling to find consistency, the Milwaukee Bucks have a lot to prove. Vibes can’t be too low considering they finished near the top of the Eastern Conference standings, but their recent play has led to the team dropping from the second to third seed. Giannis Antetokounmpo is dealing with injury concerns and Damian Lillard has had a down year from what he is used to.
Not to mention that since parting with coach Adrian Griffin, the Bucks picked up Doc Rivers to fill that vacancy. Rivers does not have a good track record in the postseason over the last decade. Coming off a season where Milwaukee was eliminated from the eighth seed Miami Heat in the first round, this team is in desperate need of a bounce back run.
Let’s see if newly acquired Lillard can be the difference maker for them in a playoff setting.
5. Miami Heat
Speaking of the Miami Heat, they have followed up an eight seed season by finding themselves in the same exact seeding a year later. A lot of unfortunate circumstances led to this, but this core has been running it back for years and has enough experience to shock the world again. The Heat are a play-in team with an underwhelming 46-36 record as the reigning Eastern Conference champions.
However, their chemistry and cohesion has surely been building as the seasons have gone by. They have great veteran leaders in Jimmy Butler and Kevin Love. Development was also shown once again from guys like Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo. Newly acquired Terry Rozier was playing great basketball during the last few weeks.
This team has the talent, depth and coaching to surely make one last push headlong into the playoffs.
Miami may not statistically be a top-five East team, but they have earned a reputation to never be counted out once April comes around. “Playoff Jimmy” is defrosting and ready to prove he has another historical individual run left in him. With all the Heat postseason success from both Butler and the Heat over the years, they have shown that they can be trusted to turn that switch, unless proven otherwise.
With two Finals and one Eastern Conference finals appearance over the last four years, this roster has always been built for the playoffs. And they are more than capable of making a final push down the stretch.