With the NBA season right around the corner, who are the NBA odds makers favoring in the Eastern Conference? Can the Miami Heat pull off hte repeat or will someone else step up to dethrone the reigning champions?

Believe it or not, we are just over two months away from the tip off of the NBA season, I know; it seems like just yesterday that the Heat won the title, but with the Olympics breaking up the offseason for NBA bettors, we are just seven weeks away from the start of the preseason. Wow, let’s take a look at which teams I think will shape out the playoffs for 2012-2013.

  1. Miami Heat

Miami HeatAny surprises here? The Heat were the title favorites until the Dwight Howard trade, but either way, there is no other team in the East that should be favored over the Heat. Miami returns almost their entire roster, and brought in Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. The Heat will be number one in the East by at least five or six games.

  1. Boston Celtics

The Celtics were one win away from a return to the NBA Finals last season, but they were just too hurt and too tired to beat the Heat one last time. During the offseason, the Celtics have stocked up on great players, and with the Bulls being down this season, the Celtics will be right there at number two.

  1. Philadelphia 76ers

Even before the Andrew Bynum trade, I had the Sixers here with the Bulls being down. Now, there is no doubt that Philadelphia will be in the top three of the East. With their young core and Bynum, dare I say they are a threat to knock off the Heat or Celtics?

  1. Chicago Bulls

It’s been really hard to be a Bulls fan for the past three months. Derrick Rose tore his ACL, the front office gutted their bench (which I actually agree with believe it or not) and the Bulls basically are the Mavs of last season, they are taking the year off in hopes to reload in 2013-2014. However, I still think with the players they have and Tom Thibodeau’s defensive system, they will be a home court advantage team this season in the playoffs.

  1. Brooklyn Nets

With all the players the Nets have been bringing in, they are surely a playoff team, and I have them at number five. They still have to shape up their bench, but with their starting five, this team will be dangerous. They are in my opinion; they are better than their newly found cross town rivals.

  1. New York Knicks

Carmelo AnthonyThe Knicks really underperformed last season, and even after all the controversy with Jeremy Lin this offseason, they still have a pretty good team. They have gotten pretty old, but I doubt they are better than the Nets. They could surprise, but #6 is as high as I see them at this point in the offseason.

  1. Indiana Pacers

The Pacers were a nice surprise last season, and even though their epic amount of trash talking couldn’t get them past the Heat in the second round, this is definitely an up and coming team in the East. However, the East is up and coming as well. They may jump up or down a spot, but they will be a damn good 7th seed if indeed that’s where they end up.

  1. Washington Wizards

Yes, you are reading this correctly; I think the Wizards are a playoff team. I had the pleasure of watching this team live a few times last season, and with the super star potential of John Wall, along with the new guys they have brought in, I like them to grab the 8th spot. Their young guys got a lot of experience, and with the addition of Bradley Beal, Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafur, this team is very dangerous.