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The Underdog · Wednesday · 29 min

487: NBA Eastern Conference Preview

The Underdog previews the entire NBA Eastern Conference for the 2026–27 season, breaking down all 15 teams, every major offseason move, the numbers behind each roster, and the biggest questions heading into opening night. Chris Horwedel starts in the Atlantic, where the defending champion **New York Knicks** face a radically reshaped landscape. Philadelphia adds LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, Toronto brings Kawhi Leonard back to Canada, Boston adjusts without Brown and Brooklyn continues building around a mix of veterans and young talent. The Central features a 60-win Detroit team, James Harden alongside Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland, Tyrese Haliburton’s return in Indiana and Milwaukee beginning life after Giannis Antetokounmpo. Chicago’s young frontcourt and roster overhaul also get a closer look. In the Southeast, **Giannis joins Bam Adebayo in Miami**, Atlanta moves forward without Trae Young, Charlotte begins replacing LaMelo Ball’s creation, Orlando tries to turn strong shot quality into better offense, and Washington builds around Trae Young, Anthony Davis and No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa. The episode closes by weighing the contenders, challengers, rebound candidates and development teams before making division and Eastern Conference predictions for the new season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The Underdog previews the entire NBA Eastern Conference for the 2026–27 season, breaking down all 15 teams, every major offseason move, the numbers behind each roster, and the biggest questions heading into opening night.


Chris Horwedel starts in the Atlantic, where the defending champion **New York Knicks** face a radically reshaped landscape. Philadelphia adds LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, Toronto brings Kawhi Leonard back to Canada, Boston adjusts without Brown and Brooklyn continues building around a mix of veterans and young talent.


The Central features a 60-win Detroit team, James Harden alongside Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland, Tyrese Haliburton’s return in Indiana and Milwaukee beginning life after Giannis Antetokounmpo. Chicago’s young frontcourt and roster overhaul also get a closer look.


In the Southeast, **Giannis joins Bam Adebayo in Miami**, Atlanta moves forward without Trae Young, Charlotte begins replacing LaMelo Ball’s creation, Orlando tries to turn strong shot quality into better offense, and Washington builds around Trae Young, Anthony Davis and No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa.


The episode closes by weighing the contenders, challengers, rebound candidates and development teams before making division and Eastern Conference predictions for the new season.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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