With NBA training camp and preseason vastly approaching, now is the time to start identifying the contenders for each conference.
People have notoriously regarded the Eastern Conference as the weaker conference. However, the Eastern Conference vastly improved this offseason, with multiple teams gearing up to dethrone the current NBA champion Boston Celtics. The most significant moves we saw included Paul George signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, the New York Knicks trading for Mikal Bridges, and the Orlando Magic signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
All the moves are leading up to what should be a compelling season. Let’s check out the top five teams in the Eastern Conference heading into the 2024-25 NBA season.
5. Indiana Pacers
One could argue the Pacers had one of the most successful seasons out of the 30 NBA teams last year. Trading for Pascal Siakam gave them a second star to pair with Tyrese Haliburton, which certainly paid dividends as they advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 2014. Despite being swept by the Celtics, one could argue they played the reigning champs the toughest out of the Celtics’ other playoff opponents, with three of the four matchups being decided by five points or less.
On paper, the Pacers play fast, they’re deep, and they can score with ease. Haliburton is only going to get better. Indiana gets its first full season with Siakam in a Pacers uniform. Myles Turner remains a top-15 big man in the league. The emergence of Andrew Nembhard adds another playmaker to their starting lineup.
The biggest question for Indiana this year is their defense. Per NBA.com, the Pacers’ defense ranked 24th out of 30 teams in the league last season with a defensive rating of 117.6. In the postseason, they ranked 13th out of 16 teams with a 118.8 defensive rating. If the Pacers want any chance of finding more postseason success versus the Eastern Conference’s top four teams, they will have to find consistency defensively.
4. Milwaukee Bucks
Trading for Damian Lillard did not go as planned for Milwaukee last season.
Many analysts projected Milwaukee to be a juggernaut last year, right next to Boston. They started the season with a 30-13 record, but after a controversial mid-season firing of former head coach Adrian Griffin, the Bucks lost their groove. They lost their defensive identity with Griffin as coach (a 118.0 defensive rating), and after his firing, Milwaukee brought in Doc Rivers, who cleaned up their defense slightly (114.7 under Rivers).
Despite the improved defense, they finished a mere 19-20 with Rivers at the helm, and a late-season injury to Giannis Antetokounmpo spelled an end to their disappointing campaign, losing in six games in the first round to the Pacers.
Now appears to be a make-or-break season for the Bucks. Damian Lillard is 34 and many question how much he enjoys Milwaukee. Khris Middleton is 33 and is recovering from arthroscopic surgeries on both ankles. Brook Lopez is 36 and isn’t getting any younger. And rumors are speculating whether Antetokounmpo will want out if the team fails to exceed expectations again.
For the Bucks to be successful, they must improve defensively and stay healthy. When healthy, the Bucks’ starting five of Lillard, Middleton, Taurean Prince, Antetokounmpo, and Lopez can contend with any team at their peak. With Bobby Portis Jr. and the newly acquired Gary Trent Jr. coming off the bench, there’s still good reason to fear the deer.
Damian Lillard and Giannis 2 Man Game: pic.twitter.com/Q7IUYjadK1
— Follow GiannisArchive (@giannisarchive) August 8, 2024
3. New York Knicks
What started out as a surprisingly fun season for New York came to a bitter end with postseason injuries derailing their chances.
The Knicks were led by Jalen Brunson, who solidified himself as one of the best players in the East last season, averaging a career-high 28.7 points on 48 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent from three. His postseason heroics helped the Knicks advance to the second round where they eventually lost in seven games to the Pacers.
To strengthen their core, the Knicks traded for Mikal Bridges in a blockbuster move with the Brooklyn Nets in June. Bridges is set to be the missing piece the Knicks needed to complement Brunson and Julius Randle. Bridges never misses games – not only did the Knicks acquire an elite two-way player, but he is arguably the most durable player in the league.
The Knicks will be a threat in the East this season as long as they stay healthy. Brunson, Bridges, OG Anunoby, Randle, and Mitchell Robinson form one of the most complete starting fives in the league, and they have their eyes set on Boston and Philadelphia. The defensive wing duo of Bridges and Anunoby is definitely causing a problem for Boston’s Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and Philadelphia’s Paul George this year.
2. Philadelphia 76ers
It’s championship or bust for Philadelphia, plain and simple.
Since Joel Embiid has worn a Sixers uniform, the team has yet to make it past the second round of the playoffs – and he’s played eight seasons for them now.
Embiid is a top-five player in the league. There’s no question about that. He’s one of the most dominant bigs the league has ever seen. However, his talent has yet to translate to winning when it matters most. Blaming these struggles on postseason injury history only gets you so far. Philadelphia knows his prime is ticking since he turns 31 this upcoming March.
Signing Paul George shows the Sixers are committed to their culture and keeping Embiid happy. George is the ancillary piece Embiid and Tyrese Maxey both desperately needed with his scoring ability and defensive prowess. They also added Caleb Martin, a secondary playmaker with deep postseason experience.
Addressing the issues of finding a secondary star and depth were both checked off this summer for Philly. Now is the time to prove they can win at a high level and contend for a championship. They are ranked slightly above New York solely since their offensive ceiling is higher from their big three of Maxey, George, and Embiid.
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Joel Embiid getting some shots up with his son ❤️
(via @sixers) pic.twitter.com/uZVKbaLJIr
— NBA UK (@NBAUK) September 23, 2024
1. Boston Celtics
There is no question the Celtics deserve to be the highest-ranked team in the Eastern Conference.
Fresh off a summer of winning their 18th title, now is the time to defend it.
Not only is Boston bringing back their championship roster, but they also made significant moves in drafting sharpshooter Baylor Scheierman and signing Lonnie Walker IV for guard depth. Everywhere you look on the Celtics’ roster, there is significant talent and depth.
Jayson Tatum is a top-five player and is ready to prove that the league hasn’t seen the best version of him. Jaylen Brown is the reigning NBA Finals MVP and is motivated to play even better after not being selected to join Team USA for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Jrue Holiday and Derrick White both fill their roles perfectly with their defensive and playmaking abilities. And the team is projecting to have Kristaps Porzingis back by late December.
Regardless of whether the Celtics’ path was easy this past year, a championship is a championship. Boston can prove to the league why their title is no fluke and should welcome any challenge thrown at them. They have the ability to do it.
The Celtics can shoot and play elite defense, have the best superstar duo in the league, and demonstrate excellent coaching. Until anyone proves otherwise, there isn’t a single team in the East that can beat the Celtics four out of seven times.
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