14-05-2025
The NBA's Eastern Conference is more wide open than we thought -- this year and going forward
The NBA's Eastern Conference is more wide open than we thought -- this year and going forward
Welcome to Layup Lines, For the Win's basketball newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Have feedback for the Layup Lines Crew? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey. Now, here's Prince J. Grimes.
I owe the Indiana Pacers an apology. About a week ago, I more or less called them frauds, saying they weren't a real threat to win the East. Though I gave them a solid chance of advancing past the Cleveland Cavaliers, I didn't like their prospects after that.
Boy, was I wrong. Not only can the Pacers win the East, so can the New York Knicks.
Obviously, the sudden dire circumstances of the Boston Celtics help. Not only is Boston facing elimination, down 3-1 to the Knicks, they also lost Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles. They're no longer the threat they once were, and judging by the way that series was going, I'm not so sure they were going very far even at full strength. The defending champs just weren't as dangerous as a lot of us thought they were. If the Knicks didn't finish them off, the Pacers probably would have.
Now, New York's task gets a bit easier with Tatum out, and I fully expect the Knicks to prevail -- even if it isn't in tonight's Game 5 as 4.5-point underdogs. Eventually, they should win, which will set up a very nostalgic conference finals between the Knicks and Pacers. The winner of that series will have a very unexpected opportunity to win a title in what was shaping up to be another Celtics dynasty era.
THANKFUL: Tatum shared a heart-warming message from the hospital
Looking forward to next season, Tatum's injury leaves the Eastern Conference completely wide open. Maybe as wide open as it's been since LeBron James' first stint in Cleveland.
Assuming the Pacers, Knicks and Cavs keep their cores together, they'll all remain strong contenders. As long as the Celtics return all or some of their remaining stars -- Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis -- they'll be in the mix too. Teams like the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons should be better as well.
But none of those teams are head and shoulders above the others, which should make for a very Western Conference-like playoff race in the East next year. The caliber of teams aren't quite as good, but they'll be relatively close in competition, which hasn't always been the case during Boston's recent run and the run of James in Cleveland and Miami before that.
You hate to see a player like Tatum go down with any kind of injury, let alone something so devastating in the middle of his prime. Especially if you're a fan of the Celtics who, win or lose, usually retool and come back better the next year. Without Tatum, though, that retooling won't quite look the same. For fans of any other team in the conference, his injury just created an opportunity that hasn't been there in a really long time.
YOU GOT THAT RIGHT: Donovan Mitchell thinks everyone will write off the Cavs
Steph Curry is aiming for Game 6... if the Warriors survive
After suffering a strained hamstring in Game 1 of Golden State's series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Stephen Curry was cleared for shooting drills and on-court workouts Wednesday -- but he's not ready to return for Game 5. He'll be reevaluated on Saturday.
If the Warriors survive Wednesday night, Curry would have a chance to play in Game 6 on Sunday with three days between games, but that's a big if. The Warriors are 10.5 point road dogs for Game 5. They're going to have to dig deep to steal one from the Wolves.
Even if Curry does get a chance to return, this series is likely over regardless. The Warriors would be down 3-2 going into Game 6 and Curry wouldn't be 100%. It's hard to see the Minnesota losing three straight under those circumstances.
FINED: Draymond Green blew $50K behind the Game 3 spread
Shootaround
