Don’t be shocked if these East contenders fail to make the NBA playoffs

Eastern Conference Team #3: The Boston Celtics

Some would say it is ludicrous to say that the reigning Eastern Conference champions would even sniff missing the postseason. After all, many NBA sites even gave them high praise for their off-season moves. How can a contending team that kept its core roster intact and improved by adding quality players possibly miss the playoffs? Many of these grades were given before a number of shocking and disastrous events occurred for the club in Boston.

The most recent and prevalent is the scandal surrounding head coach Ime Udoka. Udoka will be suspended for a year after being investigated in regard to a relationship he had with a staff member. Some might say this absence isn’t quite a big deal, as Udoka’s staff will still be present and their systems are still in play. Those same people might also forget how disastrous this team looked up until January of 2022. Udoka was a galvanizing figure for the team and brought them out of a rut and into championship contention.

The injury bug has also begun to take its toll on the Celtics. Barely after signing, Danilo Gallinari will be out for the year with a torn ACL suffered in Eurobasket. Robert Williams will not be able to return to basketball activities for 8–12 weeks after having surgery on his knee. The Celtics’ big man depth is heavily depleted, and they should be unsettled at having to rely on 36-year-old Al Horford to shore up the center spot.

The Celtics definitely still have tremendous star power and solid role players around them, but it may be hard for them to find that galvanizing force to run it back this season. The addition of Malcolm Brogdon should definitely be a great help under the shaky assumption of his health being solid. But without the head coach, whom many of the group grew attached to, along with the depleted depth, this team is in danger of falling out of the 8 seed.

Which other Eastern Conference teams are at risk of missing the NBA Playoffs?

Aside from the Bucks and 76ers, every team in the East has a high variance in their landing spots. Miami, off the back of their “most disrespected 1 seed” season, is older and missing some defensive toughness. Brooklyn is a concoction of drama waiting for an explosion or series of explosions throughout the season.

The Cavaliers have a tremendous top 4, but the roster quality after that falls off sharply while many have called into question the fit between Trae Young and Dejounte Murray in Atlanta. The rest of the conference seems to be a piece away from even contending for one of these spots.

Though there is a sense of urgency for most of these teams, the three featured have the highest danger of falling out of the playoff race. It will be interesting to see how they adjust to the changes they have endured and the changes their adversaries have undergone.