The East is back, even if it was hardly ever here. LeBron James’ return to the conference he once dominated is only part of its rise.On Friday, James announced he would join the Philadelphia 76ers, the fourth and, he says, final organization of his career. And yet, the Sixers are hardly automatic favorites to go to the NBA Finals or even the conference finals — and not just because James is 41 years old or because of Joel Embiid’s unfortunate injury history.The makeup of the conference is not the same as it was when James frolicked to eight consecutive finals berths before heading to Los Angeles in 2018. The path for Sixers — whose healthy starting lineup is now loaded with two reigning All-NBA performers in Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown, a talented up-and-comer in VJ Edgecombe and two former MVPs in Embiid and James — is littered with obstacles.The largest one, of course, is the New York Knicks, a franchise that lived in the cellar for most of James’ stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat but just roared to one of the most convincing rings in NBA history. The Knicks aren’t just champs; they’re definitive ones that reeled off 13 consecutive playoff wins and set the all-time record for postseason point differential.Why LeBron James chose the Philadelphia 76ersJoe Vardon and Jeshua KiddAllegations of a weak Eastern Conference were levied against the Knicks only a couple of months ago, when they wrecked the Atlanta Hawks, 76ers and Cavaliers in three playoff series. After disposing of the San Antonio Spurs in only five games, that perspective changed. New York remains the team to beat.And beyond the Knicks, the conference is deeper than in decades past.Sure, the Boston Celtics turned Jaylen Brown into Paul George, the most controversial transaction of the summer, but they also just won 56 games during a season in which they barely had their best player, Jayson Tatum. This time, Tatum will be healthy. Derrick White is bound to shoot better than he did a season ago, when his jump shot declined. The Celtics can deploy a more reliable center rotation after signing Mitchell Robinson. Maybe Boston doesn’t win as many games this year, but the Celtics have a system and roster that pump out victories.