The NBA season is moving right along and we are starting to get a clear picture of which teams are working and which teams aren’t.
Although we are just a couple of months into the NBA season, there is already a clear picture of who is in contention for a Finals run.
The Eastern Conference is more competitive than it has been in years and there are some surprising teams in the running to go all the way.
Everyone suspected the Milwaukee Bucks would once again be a powerhouse but which squads are doing better than expected?
3. Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls ended last season as the 11th seed in the East with a record of 31-41.
That’s definitely not how they’ll end this year.
The team has gotten much, much better in the offseason, and is now the second seed with an impressive 17-9 record.
So much of that is due to DeMar DeRozan, who is playing like a man on fire and is in the running for NBA MVP this season.
PUT SOME RESPECT ON DEMAR DEROZAN’S NAME. pic.twitter.com/SQUkIEgHF3
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 5, 2021
But it’s not just him: Zach LaVine can’t seem to miss, Alex Caruso leads the league in steals, Lonzo Ball has found his shot, and Nikola Vucevic is rejecting buckets left and right.
Altogether, the team has become a beast and it has seemingly happened overnight.
The Bulls are better than they have been in years and now only one question remains: is it enough to go all the way?
2. Miami Heat
After being in the Finals only two seasons ago, last year didn’t go smoothly for the Miami Heat.
They ended the season with a 40-32 record and were swept in the first round of the playoffs.
This year, they’re sitting at the fourth seed with a 15-11 record.
The Heat are once again proving what an outstanding team they can be.
A large part of that is because of Kyle Lowry, who has come from the Toronto Raptors last season and is leading the team in assists and has a record of 13.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 7.8 assists a game.
Kyle Lowry dropped 16 in the 3rd quarter 🔥
(via @BallyHEAT)pic.twitter.com/jlZcJNGlwJ
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) December 9, 2021
Lowry has breathed new life into the Heat and the entire team is more energized and ready to go all the way.
1. Brooklyn Nets
While it’s not surprising that the Brooklyn Nets are doing well, it’s surprising they are doing so well considering the offseason they had.
Remember, the Nets lost one of their most important players when Kyrie Irving was benched because of his COVID-19 vaccine stance.
Additionally, James Harden‘s season has gotten off to a very rocky start.
However, the team is still number one in the East and stands a very good chance at going to the Finals.
Of course, this is mostly because of Kevin Durant, who has been carrying the team on his shoulders.
Thankfully, he has been getting some help from vets like Patty Mills and LaMarcus Aldridge.
Hopefully, Harden continues to improve his game and the rest of the squad keeps stepping up.
Many people thought the Nets were completely out of the running when they lost Irving and started the season with Harden’s problems but that hasn’t been the case.
It’s surprising to see Brooklyn doing so well and it’s important to remember they could get a lot better.
NEXT: How The Suns Became A Perennial Contender