The basketball being played in the tri-state area has been the best it has ever been. The Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and surprisingly the New York Knicks are legitimately balling out. Every team has an identity as the NBA playoffs begin to loom into the picture.
The favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference are the Nets, who are stacked to their shoulders with talent. They have Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving, who just so happen to be three of the greatest offensive superstars in NBA history, and continued to add talent by signing all-star big man Blake Griffin.
The Nets might have one of the most talented teams in NBA history, along with the Big Three Miami Heat and the Golden State Warriors’ death lineup. But so far in this season, they are the second best team in the East. The best team has to go to the Philadelphia 76ers.
What the 76ers lack in a lineup stacked with first-ballot Hall of Famers, they make up with quality basketball, good role play, and defense. Players like stars Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Tobias Harris have been the mainstays to the team’s success. NBA good luck charm Danny Green has returned to form at the 3-point line and continues to play good defense. Seth Curry has had a breakout year, becoming a consistent starter and consistently shooting well from the 3-point line.
One could argue that the 76ers should be the favorites to come out of the East. Despite the Nets talents, they have not yet passed them in the standings and recently lost to them head-to-head.
The Nets have also been dealing with injuries and other drama that could impact a playoff push. Durant and Harden have been banged up throughout the season. They just suffered a major blow by losing yet another all-star Lamarcus Aldridge to retirement. Then, there is Kyrie. No one can ever know where Kyrie Irving’s head will be at any certain time. If he bails out on the team when the postseason arrives, the Nets will not win the East, no matter what talent they have.
Now let us talk about the real heroes of the 2020-2021 NBA season; the New York Knicks.
The basketball and management at Madison Square Garden has not been dysfunctional this year. Julius Randle has finally broken out and is now a legitimate superstar. Derrick Rose has been consistent. Head coach Tom Thibodeau has been magnificent. Then, there is that defense. The Knicks have not played elite defense in decades, even when Carmelo Anthony was sending them to the playoffs early last decade.
The Knicks are not yet ready to compete for a championship, but if they add an additional star or two in the offseason, they will be. Nevertheless, elite defense can make a team pull upsets in the playoffs. Just ask last year’s Miami Heat.
Whoever comes out on top, this has been the best basketball among these three teams in decades.
The Craftsports 
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