The Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat are the clear favorites to emerge from the Eastern Conference, according to BetMGM. No other team has better than 11/1 odds to make the NBA Finals. Yet, they are a tiebreaker away from all meeting each other on the same side of the bracket.
The Nets are currently in eighth place, in real danger of needing to survive the play-in tournament. Facing Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons, surrounded by shooters and former All-Stars, could be the prize for the Heat or Chicago Bulls, should they navigate their own injury issues to capture the top seeds.