How many NBA teams have a real chance to win the Eastern Conference?

The Eastern Conference appears to be wide open through the first third of the 2020-21 NBA season. How many teams have a legitimate shot to win it?

The Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz are quickly cementing themselves as the cream of the crop in the Western Conference.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference looks to be the NBA’s version of rock-paper-scissors.

A number of contenders have a conceivable path to the NBA Finals, but there isn’t much separation among them. One injury or trade-deadline acquisition could shuffle the hierarchy atop the conference.

As the Miami Heat proved last year, regular-season records become relatively meaningless once the playoffs roll around. Although this year’s postseason isn’t expected to take place inside the Walt Disney World bubble, teams aren’t likely to have their typical home-court advantage because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

That could open the door to some unexpected results.

With roughly one-third of the season now complete, the following teams look like the best bets to win the East.