NBA Insider: Cavs, Knicks, Sixers have big expectations, bigger questions

October 16, 2026

The Cavaliers have spent years trying to establish themselves among the Eastern Conference’s elite. And according to one longtime NBA insider, they should be right there again this season.

But getting through the playoffs? Well, that’s another conversation.

John Hollinger of The Athletic has released his predictions for the Eastern Conference’s top eight teams, and he projects the Cavaliers to finish tied for second at 51-31. That’s good news for Cleveland, which has made no secret of its championship ambitions.

The catch is that Hollinger isn’t nearly as convinced the Cavs can translate those regular-season wins into a trip to the NBA Finals.

Cleveland, of course, isn’t alone in facing some rather significant questions. Hollinger also has the defending champion New York Knicks finishing fifth, the star-studded Philadelphia 76ers seventh and the Detroit Pistons winning the conference’s regular-season crown.

In other words, the East could be considerably more unpredictable than we’ve grown accustomed to seeing.

Cavs have plenty to prove

Cleveland has averaged 53 wins over the past four seasons, and Hollinger sees little reason to expect a major drop-off. With Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen leading the way, the Cavs have enough talent to beat most teams on most nights.

But Hollinger wonders whether that’s enough to beat the very best teams four times in a playoff series. The Cavs reached the Eastern Conference finals last season before being overwhelmed by New York. The previous spring, Indiana eliminated them in the second round.

Hollinger believes Cleveland’s best chance of changing that narrative may rest with forward Peyton Watson, acquired from Denver in a sign-and-trade. Watson provides the type of size, athleticism and defensive versatility that the Cavs have been seeking on the wing.

There’s also optimism surrounding younger contributors such as Jaylon Tyson and Nae’Qwan Tomlin, along with rookie Meleek Thomas.

Still, Hollinger points to Cleveland’s limited financial flexibility and lack of remaining draft assets as reasons the team may struggle to make further improvements. He’s also not convinced coach Kenny Atkinson will be immune from scrutiny if the Cavs stumble.

So while 51 wins would represent another successful regular season, the expectations in Cleveland have moved well beyond that. The Cavs aren’t trying to establish themselves anymore. They’re trying to finish the job.

Pistons projected to finish first

Perhaps the biggest surprise is Detroit. Hollinger projects the Pistons to finish 52-30, one game ahead of Cleveland and Toronto.

The Pistons won 60 games last season and has continued investing in a young core built around Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson. They also added shooting with Isaiah Joe and brought back Kevin Huerter, addressing one of their biggest weaknesses from last season.

The question is whether Detroit has enough offensive firepower to make another serious playoff run. But with Cunningham directing things and a young roster that should continue improving, Hollinger likes the Pistons’ chances of finishing atop the conference standings.

Toronto is another intriguing pick, projected to tie Cleveland at 51-31. The Raptors have reunited with Kawhi Leonard, pairing him with Scottie Barnes and an emerging collection of young defenders. Hollinger believes Toronto could be especially difficult to score against, although Leonard’s durability remains an obvious concern.

Boston rounds out the top four at 50-32, even after trading Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia.

Jayson Tatum is back, Paul George has joined the roster, and Hollinger expects the Celtics to remain a strong regular-season team. Whether they have enough to make another championship run is a different question.

Knicks, 76ers could be dangerous anyway

Here’s where Hollinger’s projections get especially interesting. He has the defending champion Knicks finishing fifth at 48-34. Yet he also considers New York perhaps the strongest candidate to emerge from the East in the playoffs.

That’s because the Knicks have already demonstrated they can win when the stakes are highest. Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and the rest of the core know what it takes, and Hollinger believes their strengths are particularly well suited for postseason basketball.

The regular season, however, could be another matter. New York has an aging roster, limited frontcourt depth and some potential contract complications ahead.

Orlando checks in sixth at 47-35, with Hollinger questioning whether Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner can develop the offensive chemistry necessary to get the Magic beyond the first round.

The Magic have invested heavily in their core, including Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs, but Hollinger believes the franchise may be approaching a point where simply being competitive won’t be good enough.

Then there’s the 76ers. They added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to a roster already featuring Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. That’s an awful lot of star power for a team projected to finish seventh at 46-36.

But Hollinger questions Embiid’s health, the team’s overall depth and how its offensive stars will adjust to sharing the ball. Interestingly, he also suggests Philadelphia could be more dangerous in the playoffs than its regular-season record indicates.

If everyone stays reasonably healthy, the Sixers certainly have enough talent to make some noise. Perhaps even really loud noise.

Crowded race in the East

Finally, Hollinger projects Atlanta to finish eighth at 41-41. The Hawks have improved defensively with the additions of Lu Dort and Aaron Wiggins, while Jalen Johnson remains a major part of their future.

But Hollinger sees Atlanta as another team that may need a significant move before becoming a legitimate contender.

And that’s what makes the East so interesting this season. Hollinger projects just six wins separating the conference’s top seven teams. That’s an incredibly narrow margin between finishing first and potentially having to survive the Play-In Tournament.

The Cavs should be firmly in that mix, and their regular-season outlook remains among the NBA’s strongest. But Cleveland knows better than most that winning 50 games doesn’t necessarily guarantee much once the playoffs begin.

Bottom line? For the Cavs, Knicks, Celtics, Pistons and several others, the regular-season standings may ultimately tell only part of the story. The real separation figures to come in April, May and, for one fortunate team, June.

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