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The Eastern Conference is a mess (it’s not just the Orlando Magic)

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Feb 26, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Langston Galloway (2) drives to the basket past Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks defeated the Magic 108-95. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Langston Galloway (2) drives to the basket past Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks defeated the Magic 108-95. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Langston Galloway, New York Knicks, Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic
Feb 26, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks guard Langston Galloway (2) drives to the basket past Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks defeated the Magic 108-95. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orlando Magic have a lot of major questions about them as they enter the season. The rest of the Eastern Conference is not short of their own issues.

The Eastern Conference is not a pretty place these days.

It has not been a pretty place for nearly a decade it seems. The conference since Michael Jordan retired has seen one team seemingly dominate for the most part. Except for the Detroit Pistons’ run, fending off the New Jersey Nets and the Miami Heat, and except for the late 20000s grouping of the Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics, one team has lorded over the finals appearances.

Or one man, being LeBron James. He has been to six straight NBA Finals (with two teams). Having James is a pretty good indicator that team is going play for a championship in June.

This year feels no different.

The Toronto Raptors made their push to the Eastern Conference Finals but do not feel like a serious threat to challenge the Cavaliers. The Celtics seem ready to take a step up to the plate among the Eastern Conference’s elite after acquiring Al Horford in free agency.

After that? After that, the Eastern Conference figures to be a complete mess.

There are teams on the rise — like the Detroit Pistons — that could look to take a leap up and fight for home-court advantage. There are veteran-laden teams like the Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers that could potentially strike it rich. And there are Playoff holdovers like the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets that still have plenty of talent and ability.

And then there are those teams from last year just on the outside how need the right breaks to get in. The Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks added veterans. The Milwaukee Bucks have another year of growth under their belts. The Washington Wizards have to make good on expectations from last year.

Sitting in the questions and the uncertainty surrounding the Orlando Magic season, just about every team in the Eastern Conference has their own questions to answer. It is not just the Magic.

Predicting the Eastern Conference will be very difficult.

Every team fighting for Playoff spots has as many questions as the Magic.

The questions surrounding the Magic — whether the team can score any points and whether the young players can take a step up — are similar to big questions surrounding just about every team in the Easter Conference.

Outside of Brooklyn and Philadelphia, every team in the East has legitimate belief it can make the Playoffs. That will not happen, of course, there are only eight spots to fill.

So like the Magic, each team on the bubble in the East faces a big question.

Next: The rising storm