New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) calls out to teammates as he is guarded by Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin (16) during the first half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series, Friday, May 12, 2023, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
We are just over two weeks away from the ball being tipped in the 2023-24 NBA season. The Eastern Conference is shaping up to be a daunting gauntlet for whoever is brave enough to survive.
Superstar, Damian Lillard has shifted the dynamic, the Boston Celtics have kept their core intact, and the Miami Heat show no signs of slowing down now. Top powers in the East aren’t the only teams to focus on though. Teams in the top tier like the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers are looking to take the next step as a franchise and weasel their way into the conference finals.Â
Just where do these teams stack up in our current Eastern Conference power rankings? Let’s take a look at that now.Â
The Lottery Hopefuls: Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards  Â
While some teams in the Eastern Conference made big moves this offseason to bolster their team for a title this year, some teams did not. The Wizards were one of those. They moved Kristaps Porzingis to the Celtics as Washington continues to try and stack assets as a rebuilding team. While the Wizards may not win a lot of games this year, they will have a very entertaining team that scores a lot of points behind Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole.
Michael Jordan is now out as Hornets owner and a new era has begun in Charlotte. All-Star LaMelo Ball, coming off ankle surgery, and number two pick Brandon Miller will look to be the beacons of hope for a Hornets team with low expectations. Considering the assets they have moving forward, Charlotte will be a scrappy team night in and night out but will be lucky to see the play-in.
The Chicago Bulls are perhaps in the worst spot out of every team in the Eastern Conference given the uncertainty with…
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