Written By: Sonal Puri
Edited By: Damien Cheung
It’s no secret that in past seasons, the NBA Western Conference has been generally been significantly stronger than the East. However, with the way the start of the 2021-22 season has been going, there are clear improvements and additions to many Eastern Conference teams that could be concerning for the rest of the NBA.
So far, the biggest turnaround this season are the New York Knicks. They gave a preview of what they can do last year by making it to the playoffs as the fourth seed for the first time in ten years (albeit losing to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round). While there’s no doubt that Julius Randle had an amazing season last year, he had a difficult time offensively during their playoff round against the Hawks. The new question was: “Who's going to be there offensively if Julius Randle can't?”. The Knicks answered with the addition of Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier. Now, they can create a lot more shots and further solidify the Knicks offense with a more dependable backcourt aside from Derrick Rose. This was proven during the Knicks first few games, where they were able to hit more long-range shots, hitting ten three-pointers against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 26th. It is also very important for Mitchell Robinson to stay healthy to improve New York’s rim protection and defense. With Randle as the star player, Walker and Fournier doing what they do best offensively, R.J. Barrett continuing to grow, and having a veteran presence like Derrick Rose, the Knicks are bound to make some noise in the Eastern Conference this year.
The Chicago Bulls have been looking dangerous so far in the beginning of this season. Zach LaVine is taking the next step as a star player and Nikola Vucevic has been shooting amazingly behind the arc for the last three years and is an excellent all-around center. With four-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan’s productivity and Lonzo Ball’s improved shooting and point guard abilities, the Bulls seem to have taken themselves to the next level. Zach LaVine no longer needs to score 30+ points per game for the Bulls to win – the new additions can lift some of weight off his shoulders. LaVine can show off his athleticism by doing a lot more on the court than just shooting, and Ball can take his game to another level by being that facilitator that Zach needs. The Bulls now have a solid core and play with strong defensive tenacity. However, the team lacks depth on the bench and it’s yet to be seen just how far this team can go without depth. They have a long season ahead of them to prove themselves.
Last season’s Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball has started the season off strong continuing to wow with his charisma and energy for the Charlotte Hornets, especially his key role in their comeback win against the Pacers in his season debut scoring 31 points. He is truly emerging to be a young star. LaMelo has short-term memory when it comes to his game, he makes a mistake on the court and is able to quickly move past it to play even stronger. The Hornets also possess other offensive assets like Terry Rozier, though he’s been out for a few games. It is important to keep him healthy throughout the season as he's able to put up numbers and show up during big games as seen last season. Miles Bridges has been putting up big offensive numbers early on, averaging 26 points in the first five games of the season. With the absence of Rozier, he has really been stepping up and taking on a bigger role. This young team is coming right out the gate super confident and looking to make a playoff push this year. They’re playing like they have something to prove, and if they can keep up this style of play, they’ll definitely give the Eastern Conference teams a run for their money.
Even though the Miami Heat were looking like a solid team last season, they got swept by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. Jimmy Butler is coming out of the offseason strong, averaging 26 points in the first 5 games of the season (which is pretty on brand for him). Bam Adebayo is also off to a strong start, doing what he does best by playing by the rim and averaging 19 points and 12 rebounds. While Tyler Herro struggled last season, the addition of Kyle Lowry to the lineup has helped. Lowry is a great all-round player who can benefit the team on and off the stat sheet. He can draw offensive fouls and organize the court so that all his teammates are in position. Tyler Herro claimed in a post-game interview that the way Lowry facilitates the court has made it easier for his game. With Herro averaging 22 points and shooting 39.5% from behind the arc so far, the Lowry effect seems to be real.
Last season’s top Eastern Conference teams have been struggling to get going, with the Bucks losing games, the Boston Celtics showing poor defense and inconsistency, and of course the Brooklyn Nets are still missing Kyrie Irving. With the Heat, Hornets, Bulls, and Knicks developing, these top teams from last year are going to have a more difficult time this season. However, the season has just begun, and anything can still happen.
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