The NBA Eastern Conference is stronger than ever. Who are the Toronto Raptors strongest Eastern opponents for this upcoming season?
The Toronto Raptors indubitably took a step back in free agency. Re-signing Fred VanVleet was a huge move for this organizations future. The losses of Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol, on the other hand, will surely be felt. On and off the court.
The rest of the Eastern Conference meanwhile has gotten stronger. Through free agency, trades and players getting healthy. For several years, the Western Conference has been known as the juggernaut. That could be slowly changing. More parity in the league would be a great thing for the NBA and this season could prove as a step in that direction.
Who are the Toronto Raptors biggest Eastern Conference adversaries for the 2021 season?
Honourable Mention – Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are maybe one of the sneakiest big winners of the NBA offseason so far. Starting off the court, they got a coach who is a proven winner in Doc Rivers and an aggressive executive in new president Daryl Morey. They didn’t make any blockbuster additions in free agency or via trade but added some really solid depth options in champion big man Dwight Howard and sharpshooter Seth Curry.
Honourable Mention – Boston Celtics
Why I oughta. The team that knocked out the Toronto Raptors this offseason remains one of the Eastern Conference’s strongest rosters. Their biggest move this offseason centred around trading Gordon Hayward. The Celtics also added big man Tristan Thompson to help with their rebounding struggles. Brad Steven’s favourite guard Jeff Teague was also added.
3. Miami Heat
The team that represented the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals was not a fluke. This is a team full of skill, but one where the stars aren’t afraid to get gritty and grind out wins. They’re your classic Pat Riley team.
The Miami Heat were able to re-sign guard Goran Dragic who was monumental in Miami’s finals run this past postseason. Dragic was the Heat’s leading scorer before his foot injury in the finals. They also re-signed big man Meyers Leonard.
The Miami Heat signed champion guard Avery Bradley to a two-year deal in what was probably their biggest outside addition of the offseason. A great defensive player who is a consistent shooter, Bradley brings the energy this Heat requires from all of their players.
The biggest loss for this Miami team is the departure of forward Jae Crowder. Crowder left for a role with the Phoenix Suns in free agency. Crowder was an underrated player during the Miami Heat’s finals run and will be missed on this roster.
2. Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets biggest goal this offseason (after maybe swinging for the fences for a third star) was to re-sign sharpshooter Joe Harris. Harris narrowed in quickly and signed a four-year deal to stay with the Nets.
Obviously, the biggest roster additions for next season will be a healthy Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Those two generational talents combined with one of the deepest rosters in the league could create an immediate Eastern Conference juggernaut. This is not the team the Toronto Raptors swept in the first round.
Brooklyn has also compiled a coaching all-star team of sorts. First-time coach Steve Nash is surrounded with great basketball minds such as Mike D’Antoni, Jacque Vaughn and Ime Udoka.
The only reason this team shouldn’t be number one in the East is that the mix of personalities might be too much to contain. Durant and Irving are superstar talents but are also both known to have some personality issues that have led to problems with past teammates and organizations as a whole.
1. Milwaukee Bucks
The team that handily came first in the Eastern Conference standings last season should still be the favourites to lead the way for the one upcoming.
The Bucks traded for one of the great guards in the league in Jrue Holiday. Holiday is known for his defensive acumen with stars like Kevin Durant calling him “the best defender in the league at the guard position“. A definite upgrade from Eric Bledsoe.
Milwaukee had a significant blunder in attempting to trade for Bogdan Bogdanovic. After allegedly “jumping the gun” on negotiations, rival teams started making tampering allegations. This put an end to the possibility of Bogdanovic joining the Bucks organization.
The Milwaukee Bucks certainly still improved this offseason and should still be that favourites to win the East.
The Toronto Raptors will have their hands full in 2021 with a depleted roster and a strengthening Eastern Conference. The Raptors have always been a ‘prove em’ team though and should be competitive with all of these franchises this season.
Don’t be surprised if a few of these teams are behind Toronto in the standings when all is said and done.