Ever since LeBron James took his talents to Los Angeles in 2018, the Eastern Conference has been up for grabs. This year is no exception. During the King's reigns in Miami and Cleveland, the race for the Eastern Conference crown seemed like a formality, but now it includes at least five teams that believe they can reach the NBA Finals this season -- with three more potential challengers on the periphery.
A quick look at Las Vegas futures via Caesars Sportsbook reveals the oddsmakers see three clear tiers of contenders two weeks into the young season. Let's dive into these tiers and the most interesting early trends.
Tier 1: The co-favorites
Milwaukee Bucks (+230)