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From time to time, NBA.com’s writers will share their takes on the biggest storylines and trends around the league.

Cast your early forecast: how will the Eastern Conference standings take shape by season’s end?

Steve Aschburner

Cleveland

New York

Orlando

Atlanta

Detroit

Milwaukee

Miami

Indiana

Boston

Philadelphia

It feels weird to list the NBA champions from 16 months ago and the East’s Finals representative in June so far down in the standings. But that’s the sort of havoc a couple of ruptured Achilles tendons can wreak on a conference. Boston’s and Indiana’s subtractions aren’t limited to Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton , either. Their big guys, Kristaps Porziņģis and Myles Turner, will likely shine elsewhere in the East and look down at

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