The Eastern Conference enters the 2026-27 season as one of the league’s deepest in years, with the defending champion Knicks returning a core led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns after their title run, while the Pistons, Celtics, and Cavaliers project as top seeds based on prior 50-plus win campaigns. Offseason additions have intensified contention, including LeBron James joining the 76ers, Giannis Antetokounmpo bolstering the Heat, and potential Kawhi Leonard integration in Toronto, creating multiple teams with realistic paths to first-round series wins and advancement to the conference semifinals. Roster health, early-season form, and home-court advantage in a compressed playoff schedule will heavily influence which squads secure those berths amid a crowded field.