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The 2021-22 NBA season is all set to begin on October 19. The upcoming season will see the league return to the 82-game format after conducting only 72 games during the 2020-21 season. After the regular season, the playoffs will commence on April 16, 2022.
NBA teams likely to miss the playoffs from the Eastern Conference
After the trades and drafts, teams' rosters are beginning to take shape ahead of the new NBA season. On that note, here's a look at the five NBA teams from the Eastern Conference that are most likely to miss the playoffs.
The teams have been ranked based on their roster strength and previous performances. Without further ado, let's get started:
#5 Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards were the eighth NBA Eastern Conference seed in the 2020-21 season. Their star players Bradley Beal and the now LA Lakers point guard Russell Westbrook carried the team to the first round of the playoffs. However, they were ousted by the Joel Embiid led Philadelphia 76ers.
After losing three straight games, the Wizards won the fourth game, but their comeback was cut short in the next. The team suffered a brutal thrashing despite having exceptional scorer Bradley Beal and Mr Triple Double on their roster.
Now that Westbrook has moved to the NBA's Western Conference to join the Lakers, it will be tough for the Wizards to reach the playoffs.
There are many reasons for predicting the same. First, Brodie was the main ball feeder and rebounder as well as the second-best scorer in the team. His ability to run on-court plays will now have to be executed by Beal and Thomas Bryant, the prime feeders on the roster now.
Even with the addition of Spencer Dinwiddie and Aaron Holiday as the team's point guards, their low numbers on both stats and points could bring no respite to the vacuum left by Russ' exit.
With Kyle Kuzma's addition, the team now has a reliable perimeter shooter and a decent rebounder. However, Kuzma's history of unreliable performances under pressure could possibly become another hindrance in the Wizards' NBA playoffs aspirations.
#4 Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers have not played in a single playoff game since their NBA Finals loss at the hands of the Golden State Warriors. With LeBron James moving to the West in the 2018-19 season, the Cavs have maintained their position at the bottom of the seedings for three consecutive seasons.
In fact, their 2020-21 13th seeding was their best performance in the last three seasons. Despite bringing Ricky Rubio onboard as a playmaker, the Cavs could improve their win-loss percentage. But it is unlikely to confirm their berth in the 2021-22 NBA playoffs.
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#3 Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors stand third on our prediction for NBA teams that may not make it to the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Raptors were one of only two teams to have beaten the seemingly unbeatable Warriors squad in 2018-19. The Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam duo proved too much to handle for the Steph Curry-led squad.
Even after Leonard moved to the LA Clippers in 2019, the Raptors maintained their hold over the conference, and were seeded second. Their fall from grace in 2020-21 led Kyle Lowry to leave the team like a sailor abandoning a sinking ship.
The only Canadian team in the NBA has made many additions to their roster since then. They picked Scottie Barnes, a promising rookie, as the fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft. However, Lowry's move to Miami has left playmaking and scoring voids in the Raptors' ranks.
They are voids unlikely to be filled by a rookie. That essentially means the Toronto Raptors could remain at the bottom of the 2021-22 NBA Eastern Conference seedings and may not even make the play-in tournament.
#2 Orlando Magic
There were only two other teams in the entire league that won fewer games than the Orlando Magic in the 2020-21 NBA regular season.
In the last decade, the Magic team has appeared in only three playoffs, and never reached the second round. Their most recent playoffs appearance came in 2019-20. However, their subsequent drop from eighth seed to 14th has pushed the team back to the drawing board.
The team's three prime scorers - Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon - have moved to different teams in search of better opportunities. Their 21-51 win-loss record was one of the worst in the entire league last season. For them to make a comeback and reach the NBA playoffs in the upcoming campaign looks next to impossible.
#1 Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are one of nine teams to have won an NBA Finals series in the 21st century. Their stronghold over the East has since dwindled, and they are now at the absolute bottom.
Their tally of 20 wins and 52 losses ranks only above the Houston Rockets' 17-55 win-loss record in the entire league.
Even though the Pistons have signed one of the most promising youngsters, Cade Cunningham, their chances of even reaching the play-in tournament are as low as Team USA not winning a basketball medal in the Olympics.
Guess the Lakers players!
