The Eastern Conference has just one team with a clinched NBA playoff berth, and that is the Boston Celtics. Boston is the first of 8 teams that will participate in the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs, with the remaining playoff berths being clinched in the coming weeks. While they haven’t clinched yet, the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, and New York Knicks all have -10000 odds to qualify for the postseason, so it is extremely likely we will be seeing them in the upcoming NBA Eastern Conference playoff bracket.
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What Teams are in the Eastern Conference NBA?
There are a total of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference, all battling for the lone Eastern Conference position in the NBA Finals. The top 6 teams secure an automatic playoff berth, while the teams ranked 7th through 10th battle out for the final 2 playoff spots. Teams ranked 11th through 15th have nothing to play for, and are often more concerned about their draft position than winning basketball games.
How Many Teams from the Eastern Conference Make the NBA Playoffs?
A total of 8 teams will qualify for the Eastern Conference NBA playoffs. The first six seeds are in automatically, while the play-in tournament decides the final two seeds. As of now, the 7th and 8th place teams, the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers, would square off in a single game, with the winner claiming the 7th seed and the play-off berth that goes with it. The loser of that game takes on the winner of the 9th and 10th seeds, currently the Chicago Bulls and Atlanta Hawks, with the 8th seed and the final playoff spot on the line. The 7th and 8th seeds need to win just one of two possible play-in games to qualify, while the 9th and 10th seeds need to win back-to-back games to secure a playoff berth.
When Do the 2024 NBA Playoffs Start?
The 2024 NBA Playoffs start on April 20th, 2024, with the 3rd through 6th seeds squaring off in the Eastern Conference. While the playoffs may only start on April 20th, the play-in games will take place on April 16th and 17th before they wrap up on April 19th. These trio of games will be crucial in determining the final Eastern Conference NBA playoff teams and will be the final pieces in solidifying the NBA Eastern Conference playoff bracket.
Eastern Conference Playoff Seeding
The seeding in the Eastern Conference is not yet locked in, as none of the 11 teams still in playoff contention have solidified their seed. The Boston Celtics are a whopping 11 games ahead of the second place Bucks, so they need just one more victory to confirm the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The Eastern Conference NBA playoff teams will be ranked 1st through 8th, with the top seed playing the bottom seed, 2nd playing 7th, and so on. After the first round, the NBA Eastern Conference playoff bracket will be reset, ensuring the top seed gets the easiest matchup throughout the NBA playoffs.
NBA Eastern Conference Playoff Bracket
It’s too early to make any accurate predictions regarding the Eastern Conference playoff bracket, as the playoff teams and seeds have not yet been confirmed. As the season winds down the playoff picture will become clearer.
Who is Favored to Win the NBA Eastern Conference?
There are 5 Eastern Conference NBA playoff teams with +1100 odds or shorter to win the conference. It is still a wide open playoff race, and there has never been a better time to make NBA predictions for the upcoming championship.
Boston Celtics -125
The Celtics are the clear favorites to win the Eastern Conference, as their complete lineup is being given negative odds of making the NBA Finals. They have managed to stay healthy for the majority of the season and have been playing complete basketball on both ends of the court. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown continue to improve, and their contributions on the offensive end have propelled the Celtics to the best-rated NBA offense. On the defensive end, elite wing defender Jrue Holiday has transformed the Celtic’s defense into a true juggernaut, and it will take a Herculean effort to overcome the Celtics in a seven-game series. Boston has solid coaching, the best offense in the league, and the second-best defense. They’ve been atop the Eastern Conference since November 14th, and will be the team to beat in the NBA Eastern Conference playoff bracket. Once you factor in the fact they will have home-court advantage for the entire postseason, with a 32-3 home record, it’s hard to look past Boston at this stage of the season.
Milwaukee Bucks +295
The Bucks have emerged as the most obvious challenger for the Celtics, as they possess a duo of future Hall of Famers that are more than capable of taking over an NBA game. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to a 2021 championship, and the current edition of the Bucks is an arguably better team. Antetokounmpo is entering his prime, and now that his free throws have improved, there are very few holes in his game on either end of the court. The Bucks went out and signed Damian Lillard in the offseason, who is desperate to add playoff accolades to his storied NBA career. Lillard gives the Bucks an offensive spark from the outside, and with defense-ive minded coach Doc Rivers at the helm, Milwaukee will be hoping that Lillard’s defensive lapses can be overcome.
New York Knicks +1100
The Knicks have everything they need to make waves in the Eastern Conference playoffs, and it will come down to whether or not they are healthy enough to compete. OG Anunoby and Julius Randle have been on the sidelines for months, and even if they make recoveries for the postseason, a lack of chemistry will cost New York. On the bright side, the Knicks have gone 13-11 since the duo went down with injuries on January 27th, as the rest of their team has stepped up in a big way. Jalen Brunson will always give the Knicks a fighting chance, and now that the rest of their rotation has been chiselled by the extra minutes the injuries have given them, New York has a suddenly deep, reliable lineup. If their stars don’t come back, they won’t stand a chance, but juicy odds on a Knicks title run are available if their All-Stars can get back on the court.
Cleveland Cavaliers +1200
The Cavaliers have been underestimated in the past, and despite their top 3 seed, they are being counted out once again. The Cavaliers have a young, sturdy lineup, and the only reason they have these odds is the lack of previous playoff success. Donovan Mitchell was unable to give the Cavaliers their first playoff series win since the LeBron James era last year, and it seems unlikely they will be able to go all the way this year. They have the defensive unit needed to make a playoff run, but getting past their first-round opponent, before what will likely be the Bucks and Celtics, is a tall task.
Miami Heat +1300
The Heat once again find themselves on track for an 8th seed, but that didn’t stop them from winning the Eastern Conference last season. Jimmy Butler turns into a different player when the postseason rolls around, and it would be unwise to count out Miami at this stage of the season. Butler’s midrange game is virtually unstoppable, and a strong defensive core for the Heat ensures it doesn’t take 120+ points to get a win for the Heat. Head Coach Erik Spoelstra is the best in the business, and the Heat are always ready to cause another playoff upset.
