The Conferences Have Changed

Last year, the Eastern Conference was a lot worse all around, and the standings showed that. This year, however, the East has gotten much better. The top teams are still in the Western Conference, but the teams in the middle of the standings are better in the East. It's those teams that have made the East more exciting this year.

The Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, and Atlanta Hawks are all very likely to make the postseason. It's the next 6-7 teams that have made the Eastern Conference playoff race very interesting. Here are my thoughts on those teams:

Kyle Lowry has improved off of his excellent season last year, and the Toronto Raptors have been right in the middle of the playoffs. The Raptors have a good shot at making the postseason, not only because of Lowry, but also because of DeMar DeRozan.

The Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, and Boston Celtics are the teams most likely to end up fighting for the seventh and eighth seeds in April. Of the the four, the Pistons might have the best chance to get there. They're led by Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond, both of whom are making strong cases to be on the all-star team. The Magic, meanwhile, are having a surprisingly good season given how young the roster is. Next year, they could be a top team in the East. The Celtics have one of the best coaches in the league in Brad Stevens, so it wouldn't be shocking if they snagged one of the lower seeds in the East despite the fact that their roster needs work. And the Hornets' decision to trade for Nicolas Batum is paying off as he's having a great season as a key part of the team.

The New York Knicks are close to the eighth seed, but might not have enough to get there. If they go on a big winning streak and another team fighting for the playoffs slips, the Knicks could get the eighth spot. And Kristaps Porzingis is awesome.

The eight best teams in the Western Conference are starting to look clear. The Warriors and Spurs are clearly leading the way, but the other teams are not looking as strong. The Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, and Houston Rockets will all probably make the playoffs. None of the teams on the outside appear strong enough to get to the postseason. The Portland Trail Blazers and Minnesota Timberwolves are too young, while the Phoenix Suns don't have enough talent in the frontcourt to get there.

It would be very interesting if the New Orleans Pelicans get closer to the playoffs. After starting off slowly, they have picked up some quality wins against good teams. It's improbable that they will be in the playoffs, but it sure would be nice to see Anthony Davis showcase his talent in the postseason again.