By Bill Huan | Pounding The Rock (PtR), 2025-10-22 01:16:10
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
东部联盟向来是NBA中饱受诟病的分区，而本赛季或许是其实力孱弱最明显的例证。
如果2026年的总冠军出自东部球队，那将令人大跌眼镜，而且扬尼斯是东部赛区唯一排在联盟前6-7位的球员。
尽管如此，许多经历阵容调整的球队仍希望在本赛季走得更远，不过，位居榜首的依旧是那些我们熟悉的名字。
总决赛竞争者：有能力闯入总决赛，但不太可能夺冠的球队
克利夫兰骑士队与纽约尼克斯队
我们没有在这里列出任何“总冠军争夺者”级别的球队，这并非偶然。骑士队和尼克斯队或许能成为常规赛的巨无霸，战绩冲击60胜，但无论是杰伦·布伦森 (Jalen Brunson) 还是多诺万·米切尔 (Donovan Mitchell)，都不足以在可能的总决赛对决中击败掘金队或雷霆队。但在东部，这两支队伍无疑是最大热门，克利夫兰骑士队希望能证明自己不是纸老虎，而纽约尼克斯队则试图在迈克·布朗 (Mike Brown) 的执教下建立新的球队特色。
黑马梯队：若天时地利人和，便有望杀入分区决赛的球队
奥兰多魔术队与亚特兰大老鹰队
作为休赛期进步最显著的两支球队，魔术队和老鹰队有潜力与尼克斯队/骑士队一较高下，但他们的实力尚未得到充分证明。对魔术队而言，杰伦·萨格斯 (Jalen Suggs) 需要满血回归，而保罗和弗兰茨必须提升他们的得分效率。与此同时，老鹰队最大的障碍并非能力，而是球员的出勤率：杰伦·约翰逊 (Jalen Johnson) 和克里斯塔普斯·波尔津吉斯 (Kristaps Porzingis) 上赛季合计仅出战78场比赛，并且两人在前一个赛季的出场数也都没能超过60场。这两支球队中，会有一支迎来天时地利，届时东部顶端的竞争可能会呈现三强争霸的局面。
季后赛希望之师：有望竞争前六种子席位的球队
底特律活塞队、多伦多猛龙队、密尔沃基雄鹿队
作为去年的惊喜之师，活塞队即便在年轻球员成长停滞的情况下，仍将再次向季后赛席位发起冲击。失去马利克·比斯利 (Malik Beasley) 和小蒂姆·哈达威 (Tim Hardaway Jr.) 对这支投射能力本就是最大短板的球队来说是个沉重打击，但邓肯·罗宾逊 (Duncan Robinson) 的加盟以及奥萨尔·汤普森 (Ausar Thompson) 的内部成长，应能让底特律保持竞争力。在五大湖的另一边，多伦多猛龙队可能会带来惊喜，并以东部前六的战绩结束赛季。猛龙队的阵容存在一些技术特点上的重叠，但他们的天赋毋庸置疑，布兰登·英格拉姆 (Brandon Ingram) 和伊曼纽尔·奎克利 (Immanuel Quickley) 都将以健康状态开启新赛季。
当然，密尔沃基雄鹿队的成败完全系于扬尼斯一人。这位“希腊怪物”无疑是东部最佳球员，他超凡的个人能力足以将密尔沃基拖进季后赛。如果他缺席任何较长时间的比赛，那么，还是别去查雄鹿队的阵容深度表了。
附加赛级别：排名将在第7至第10区间的球队
迈阿密热火队、芝加哥公牛队、印第安纳步行者队、波士顿凯尔特人队
就公牛队和热火队而言，他们堪称东部（附加赛）的守门员。迈阿密在赛季初将缺少泰勒·希罗 (Tyler Herro)，但他们也不会再次在关键比赛中打出13胜23负的糟糕战绩，吉米·巴特勒也不会再次上演试图“拆散”球队的闹剧了。与此同时，公牛队将继续追逐他们自己的“总冠军”——连续第四个赛季取得38到40场胜利。
今年的变数在于印第安纳和波士顿的不确定性，这两支常年的季后赛球队都饱受伤病摧残。即使缺少了队内最好的球员，我仍然非常敬重这两支球队的建队体系和球队文化，因此不愿将他们排除在附加赛的讨论之外。塔图姆的潜在回归甚至可能让波士顿成为季后赛中的噩梦级对手，尽管现在预测此事发生还为时过早。
76人队：呃……相信过程？
费城76人队（不然呢？）
说真的，我们该如何评价费城76人队？他们既可能以东部前六的战绩收官，也可能在分区垫底，无论哪种结果都不会让我感到惊讶。乔尔·恩比德 (Joel Embiid) 和保罗·乔治 (Paul George) 单赛季出战60场以上比赛的日子已经一去不复返了，但如果两人都能出战40场，这支球队仍有可能直接锁定季后赛席位。上赛季的灾难也可能重演。并且，考虑到他们的争冠窗口已经关闭，对76人队而言，最重要的任务是培养年轻人，而不是关心他们日渐老化的“明星”们的健康状况。
摆烂大队：无需过多解释
布鲁克林篮网队、华盛顿奇才队、夏洛特黄蜂队
今年谁的赢场数会更多：是篮网、奇才和黄蜂三队之和，还是单单一支雷霆队？如果非要我选，我会选后者。
尽管如此，这几支球队也依然有值得关注之处。篮网队和奇才队阵中拥有一些可能在交易截止日前被摆上货架的球员，例如CJ·麦科勒姆 (CJ McCollum)、小迈克尔·波特 (MPJ)、卡姆·托马斯 (Cam Thomas) 和尼克·克拉克斯顿 (Nic Claxton)。此外，夏洛特黄蜂队仍在评估拉梅洛是否是一位能带队赢球的球员，而如果布兰登·米勒 (Brandon Miller) 实现了全明星级别的飞跃，黄蜂队在最终决定是否交易“三球”这件事上可能会更加犹豫。
点击查看原文：2025-26 NBA season preview: Eastern Conference tiers
2025-26 NBA season preview: Eastern Conference tiers
The East has always been the NBA’s maligned conference, and this season might be the most obvious example of that.
It would be shocking if the 2026 champs came from one of these teams, and Giannis is the only top 6-7 player that resides on this side of the bracket.
Still, many revamped teams are hoping to make a deep run this season, although the names at the top remain familiar.
Finals contenders: teams that can make the finals but are unlikely to win it all
Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks
It’s not an accident that there are no championship contenders listed here. The Cavs and Knicks could be regular-season juggernauts that flirt with 60 wins, but neither Jalen Brunson nor Donovan Mitchell are good enough to beat Denver or OKC in a potential finals matchup. In the East, though, these are clearly the two favorites, with Cleveland looking to prove that they’re not paper tigers while New York tries to create a new identity under Mike Brown.
The dark horses: teams that could make the conference finals if everything breaks right
Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks
Two of the most improved teams from the offseason, the Magic and Hawks have the potential to hang with NY/Cleveland but are less proven. For Orlando, Jalen Suggs needs to make a full comeback, and Paolo and Franz must improve their scoring efficiency. Meanwhile, the Hawks’ biggest hurdle isn’t ability, but rather availability: Jalen Johnson and Kristaps Porzingis combined to play just 78 games last season and both failed to exceed 60 games the previous campaign. One of these teams will have everything break right for them, and the East could be a 3 horse race at the top.
Playoff hopefuls: teams in contention for a top 6 seed
Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks
Last year’s feel-good story, the Pistons will be in the hunt for another playoff berth even if their development stagnates. Losing Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. hurts a team whose biggest flaw is shooting, but the addition of Duncan Robinson and internal improvement from Ausar Thompson should keep Detroit competitive. On the other side of the Great Lakes, Toronto could surprise and finish with a top-6 seed. The Raptors have some skill redundancies, but their talent is undeniable, with both Brandon Ingram and Immanuel Quickley healthy to start the season.
Of course, the Milwaukee Antetokounmpos Bucks live and die with Giannis. The Greek Freak is undeniably the best player in the conference and his singular greatness should drag Milwaukee into the playoffs. If he misses any extended time, well, just don’t search up the Bucks’ depth chart.
Play-in fodder: teams who will finish in the 7-10 range
Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics
As far as the Bulls and Heat are concerned, the East (play-ins) run through them. Miami is without Tyler Herro to start the season, but they also won’t go 13-23 in clutch games again, nor will they have Jimmy Buckets try to dismantle the entire organization. The Bulls, meanwhile, will continue trying to chase their personal championship, which is to finish with 38-40 wins for a fourth consecutive season.
What’s changed this year is the uncertainty surrounding Indiana and Boston, two perennial playoff teams that’s been ravaged by injury. Even without their best players, I respect the infrastructure and culture of both organizations too much to drop them out of the play-in mix. A potential Tatum return could even make Boston a nightmare postseason matchup, although it’s too early to predict that happening.
The Sixers: umm… trust the process?
Philadelphia 76ers (duh)
Seriously, what are we supposed to do with Philly? They could finish in the top-6 or be at the bottom of the conference, and neither result would shock me. The days of Joel Embiid and Paul George playing 60+ games are over, but if both suit up for 40, this team could still make the playoffs outright. Last year’s disaster could also repeat itself, and given that their title window is closed, the Sixers’ most important development is of their young guys rather than the health of their aging “stars.”
Tankapalooza: pretty self-explanatory
Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets
Who will win more games this year: the Nets, Wizards, and Hornets combined, or just the Thunder? If I had to pick, it would be the latter.
Still, there are things to monitor with each of these teams. Brooklyn and Washington could have players who could be dangled at the deadline, such as CJ McCollum, MPJ, Cam Thomas, and Nic Claxton. Charlotte is also still figuring out if LaMelo is a winning player, and if Brandon Miller makes an All-Star leap, the Hornets could be more reticent on finally moving the youngest Ball brother.
By Bill Huan, via Pounding The Rock