After the first brief look at what has happened and what we expect from the West groups, as well as the long-term choices that have emerged from it, it's time to see the corresponding piece of 15 teams of the East.
The Lebron flight for them Lakers, left the throne on which he sat for the last 8 years, when he won consecutively, either with the Cavs, or with Heat, the title of champion of the eastern region. So it is now certain that another team will be able to reach the finals this year and the truth is that the favorites are very specific.
First and best Boston Celtics, who after last year's overrun, who made a victory away from returning to the NBA finals, even playing without their two best players due to injuries, show this year ready to achieve their goal. The roster has not changed at all and with the return of Irving - Hayward, the Celts have every reason to be optimistic that early June will play for the championship. In the meantime, I think 1,90 is right to which we are offered to win the East, so I included it in my game.
Boston's two biggest competitors this season are expected to be Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers. The Canadians shook the waters by sending San Antonio to the favorite child of the fans and best player Demar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard's sake. This move in my eyes looks like a last all in the front office of Raptors in their effort to claim the title. The truth is that the 'model' with the team as it was, reached its 3 ceiling over the years and showed that it can not do anymore, so even though the links with DeRozan were very close, my point is that they did well. On the other hand, and with the condition that Kawhi is 100% healthy, they added to their already talented and full roster a top-3 and perhaps the top 2-way champion of the championship. Many, due to the past season when Leonard fought in just 9 games, they forget their value, and so do the companies doing so by offering us the line for their average points at 22,8. Personally, I appreciate that Kawhi, having much to prove, will return to his known standards, such as the 2016-2017 season, and will be close to 25-26 points per game. I do not even hide the fact that this choice is my most "warm" of all its long term. Unlike the Raptors who had an offseason with surprises, the other contenders at the top of the East, Philadelphia 76ers, had a rather quiet summer. The efforts made for a superstar to come to the team did not bear fruit, and in general the roster remained as it was, with the most significant losses of Belinelli-Iliasova giving experience and score from the bench. However, I expect them to be as good and more mature as last year, while I did not engage with them in the long run.
The fourth group that I think may be the leading player in the eastern region this year Bucks of Giannis Antetokounbo. There are four reasons. First, finally a serious coach, Mike Budenholzer, who knows how to get 100% from every player, having even given handwriting samples in the recent past leading the Hawks, without a superstar, to the top of the East during the regular season in 2015. Secondly, the even greater improvement of Giannis on an individual level and the addition of the shot to his repertoire. Thirdly, the good moves during the offseason and fourthly the new stadium. For all of the above reasons, I included in my game the possibility of the Bucks winning the Central Division, at odds of 2,05 on stoiximan. Their main opponent for the conquest of the sub-region, as well as for the 4th place and the home advantage in the first round of the playoffs, are the Pacers. After their last successful season, it's a bet to be able to take the step above, not having nearly hurt their roster and adding an extraordinary 6th man, Tyreke Evans. But I appreciate that they will be as good as last year, but it will be a step below Milwaukee.
From now on, Wizards and Heat they will logically go into the playoffs, but I will not risk long-term prediction. This leaves us 1 free for the post-season and 8 teams theoretically who can claim it. Hawks, Bulls, Knicks and Magic except that they do not have the roster to do it, they do not even want and will reasonably look to tanking to the next draft. More serious contenders think Pistons with Casey on their bench and Blake Griffin to lead on the parquet, but 1,50 that the companies give us for this particular event is very small. The Brooklyn Nets with their moves in the last 2 years, they started to remind themselves of an NBA organization and will definitely be a fun to watch this year. The Cavaliers, in the Lebron era, is a big question mark, but I think it will be very difficult for them to do something remarkable this year, Hornets they show me that every summer they take a step back to their evolution.
In summary, my long-term choices for the Eastern Regions are:
1) Boston Celtics - Eastern Conference Winner @ 1.90 stoiximan
2) Milwaukee Bucks - Central Divison Winner @ 2.05 stoiximan
3) Kawhi Leonard - ΟVER 22,8 points @ 1.87 stoiximan
