Jeff Teague is sticking with the Miami Heat as his pick in the Eastern Conference race, and he’s not shy about why.
The former All-Star guard believes Miami has stacked enough talent to stand above the Philadelphia 76ers, even after Philadelphia’s own massive summer moves. The 76ers added LeBron James and traded for Jaylen Brown, but Teague still sees the Heat as the better bet, especially after their latest addition of Klay Thompson.
The conversation gets even messier when the New York Knicks enter the picture. As the defending champions, they’ve earned the kind of respect that usually puts them near the front of the line. Teague acknowledged that, but he still landed on Miami as his top choice in the East.
The 76ers, in Teague’s view, still have some chemistry work to do as the group figures out usage and fit. That’s part of why he’s leaning toward the Heat, who now have Giannis Antetokounmpo and Thompson alongside a deep supporting cast.
"I told y’all the Heat was gonna be better than the Sixers. We got Bam, Giannis, Klay, Wiggs, Mitchell, THJ off the pine, Portis off the pine. We got a nice 7," Teague said about the Heat's title contender status on Club 520.
Miami’s case is clear enough from Teague’s angle: star power, depth, and Erik Spoelstra on the sideline. The two-time champion coach now has Antetokounmpo and Thompson to work with, and Teague believes that puts the Heat in position to go toe-to-toe with the rest of the conference.
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