The Eastern Conference is, arguably, the most competitive it has been in years. There are currently 4 teams, any of which could conceivably win the Eastern Conference and head to the NBA Finals. But one anonymous Western Conference scout does not believe the conference is as strong as people suggest, with two teams being better than the rest.
One anonymous Western Conference scout noted that he does not expect the new-look Brooklyn Nets with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Ben Simmons, and the 76ers with Joel Embiid and James Harden, could not win 4 games against the Miami Heat or the Milwaukee Bucks in an NBA playoff series.
“I don’t see Brooklyn or Philly winning four games in a series against Miami or Milwaukee.”
– Anonymous Western Conference scout
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— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 22, 2022
“I don’t see Brooklyn or Philly winning four games in a series against Miami or Milwaukee.”
This admission is truly surprising, given how strong the Nets and the 76ers’ new rosters are. Ben Simmons provides elite defense to the Nets, and he has the type of floor spacing options in Brooklyn that he did not have in Philly. As for the 76ers, Joel Embiid is playing at an MVP level, and the addition of James Harden could create the best duo in the league.
The Milwaukee Bucks are the reigning NBA champions and have a big three of their own with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday. The trio hasn’t played too much together this season, but whenever they have taken the court together, they have looked extremely strong.
As for the Miami Heat, the addition of Kyle Lowry has transformed them into a solid contender. Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Lowry have been working very well together, and the facet of their team that makes them so strong is their defensive. They have one of the best coaches in the NBA in Erik Spoelstra and can outplay any team on the NBA on any given day.
