2. Milwaukee will win the East
The Milwaukee Bucks had a solid season in 2018-19 by several metrics. They were a top-five team in both offense and defense. The Bucks also finished with the best record in the league.
All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was voted Most Valuable Player after putting up career highs in points (27.7) rebounds (12.5) and assists (5.9). Giannis also shot a career best 57.8 percent from the field. Furthermore, Mike Budenholzer was named Coach of the Year.
The Bucks coasted through the first two rounds of the playoffs, posting an 8-1 record. They even won the first two games against the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference finals.
Unfortunately for Milwaukee, the Raptors went on to win the series in six games and eventually defeated a short-handed Golden State Warriors squad in six games to win their first-ever NBA title.
For the second straight offseason, an MVP-caliber player has departed from the Eastern Conference to head out West. In 2018, it was LeBron James. This offseason, it was none other than two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, who opted to sign with the LA Clippers.
Since Leonard played in key role in limiting Antetokounmpo in the remaining four games of the conference finals, the Bucks should be favorites to win the East on the heels of an offseason in which they retained most of their key players.