Eastern Conference:
Atlanta Hawks (70%): The Atlanta Hawks have a 70% chance of making the playoffs this season, with Trae Young playing at his best and being surrounded by Dyson Daniels and Zaccharie Risacher. However, it was announced late in January that Jalen Johnson would be out for the remainder of the season. The Hawks are now in a situation where they are going to be fighting for the play-in spot.
Boston Celtics (100%): The Boston Celtics have already clinched their spot in the playoffs. With the Celtics looking at the #2 seed, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will find a way to contend for the Championship. However, a recurring problem for the Celtics is the health concerns for Kristaps Porzingis. When Porzingis does return from injury, the Celtics are most likely looking at a potential back-to-back championship. When Porzingis comes back healthy, the Celtics are easily the #1 starting 5 in
Brooklyn Nets (1%): The Brooklyn Nets are in a situation where they will no longer be contending for the playoffs but will be contending for the #1 pick. With the Nets having no clear answer on whether or not Cam Thomas will return, they will be hoping to get lucky in the lottery and land a young superstar. The Nets have a 10.5% chance of winning the lottery.
Charlotte Hornets (0%): There is only one word to describe the Hornets playoff chances. None. The Hornets are once again not making the playoffs; the last time the Hornets made the playoffs was in 2016, and they have not seen success in recent years. With the second-worst record in the East, the Hornets will once again get a high lottery pick and get a much-needed young superstar.
Chicago Bulls (20%): The Chicago Bulls have a pretty good chance of making the playoffs. With Josh Giddey playing his best basketball during his career, the Bulls should be a sleeper contender for the NBA playoffs. The Bulls are projected to finish the year with 34 wins and end the year with a hot streak.
Cleveland Cavaliers (100%): The Cleveland Cavaliers have easily been a Top 3 team in the NBA this year. The Cavs are hoping to cap off their amazing season with a potential Championship. The Cavs are going to have the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference and look to make a run to the finals. Donovan Mitchell has really been turning it up this year, and the Cavs bench is also insanely deep.
Detroit Pistons (99%): The Detroit Pistons went from the laughing-stock of the league to making the playoffs within a year. With Cade Cunningham balling out and J.B. Bickerstaff turning his coaching style around, the Pistons are now looking like the 5-6 seed and will most likely be the underdogs in their series. The Pistons, however, have been the underdogs all season.
Indiana Pacers (99%): The Pacers have been right in the middle of the playoff hunt all season long. Tyrese Haliburton has been a double-double threat in every game he has played. Last season, the Pacers were underdogs, and they made it to the Eastern Conference Finals. With Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner dominating the paint and Tyrese controlling the perimeter, there is no limit to how good the Pacers could be.
Miami Heat (60%): The Miami Heat are always on the verge of not making the playoffs, but the Heat always find a way to make the playoffs. The Heat have a really deep team and are looking at potentially pulling off a huge upset in the playoffs. For the first playoffs since 2019, the Miami Heat will not have Jimmy Butler lead them through the playoffs; instead, they will be relying on Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.
Milwaukee Bucks (100%): The Bucks have been a very underwhelming team with Giannis and Dame. Giannis and Dame are probably one of the best duos in the NBA, but the rest of the roster is very underwhelming. Even though the Bucks did clinch the postseason, they have played very mediocrely this season. However, if there was one team to pull off a huge upset and move on, it would most likely be the Bucks.
New York Knicks (100%): The Knicks have clinched the post-season and are most likely going to end up as the 3-seed. With the Knicks adding Mikal Bridges and Karl Anthony-Towns this season, they have been a very competitive team in the league. However, for the Knicks to contend they have to get over the hump. The Knicks have not been able to beat the Cavs or Celtics all year long, and they are hoping to change that for the playoffs.
Orlando Magic (50%): Last season, the Orlando Magic were the 5-seed and took the 4-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers to 7 games. However, after they lost that series, the team has not played the same. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are still doing their jobs, but without Mo Wagner in the paint, there is a clear weakness for this Magic team. The Magic will most likely get the 9-seed and will have to keep winning games in order for them to clinch the playoffs.
Philadelphia 76ers (0%): One of the worst falloffs in NBA history has to be the Philadelphia 76ers. At the beginning of the season, they were looking promising. They had a young all-star point guard, a rookie guard who dominated in college, an all-star veteran forward who averaged 20 points a game, a defensive forward who dominated for France in the Olympics, and an MVP-caliber center. However, the team took a downward spiral. Joel Embiid and Jared McCain went down with injuries that took them out for the year. Paul George is having his worst season ever by only averaging 16 points. The only good thing for the 76ers is Tyrese Maxey.
Toronto Raptors (1%): The Raptors have an extremely slim chance of making the playoffs, but do not underestimate them Raptors. They are led by Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes, but the rest of the roster is very mediocre. The Raptors have been playing very well in recent weeks, but there just is not enough time for them to leapfrog a ton of teams and make the playoffs.
Washington Wizards (0%): The Washington Wizards are clearly the worst team in the NBA this season. They traded Kyle Kuzma to the Bucks, and the rest of the roster is extremely young. However, the roster will continue to get younger as they will most likely land a high pick in the draft.