Trav’s Top 5 Eastern Conference Teams for the New Season
It’s official! The NBA is back, and the regular season begins on Tuesday, October 22nd. The Boston Celtics hoisted up their 18th championship trophy after defeating the Dallas Mavericks in five games. Boston will have plenty of competition as they look to repeat. The New York Knicks revamped their squad with hopes of making a run. They dealt with injuries in the playoffs that prevented them from advancing further. The Cavs, Bucks, and 76ers have all dealt with their fair share of injuries. Will this year be any different? Will an Eastern Conference team pull an Indiana this season? Check out my top 5 Eastern Conference teams for the new season.
Boston Celtics
Can the Boston Celtics repeat as the NBA champions this season? Boston is keeping their championship team together for this season. The core will be together for a long time. Jaylen Brown signed a monumental contract a year ago to keep him around throughout his prime. This offseason, the Celtics signed Jayson Tatum to the largest contract in NBA history. They also signed Derrick White to a long-term extension before he hit free agency after the season. The health of Kristaps Porzingis will always be a concern for the Celtics. Porzingis has dealt with his fair share of injuries throughout his career and missed time in the playoffs also. Boston is my favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference again this season.
New York Knicks
Jalen Brunson had a season for the ages last year with the Knicks. If Brunson would’ve wanted a max extension, he would’ve more than deserved it. Instead, he took far less than that so the Knicks can build a championship contender. In the offseason, New York traded for his college teammate Mikal Bridges. Bridges can score, but he’s also one of the best defenders in the league. That could’ve been enough to propel the Knicks, but they made a blockbuster deal about three weeks ago. The Knicks traded Julius Randle to Minnesota for Karl Anthony-Towns in a three team deal. KAT will bring scoring to New York, but he’s a liability on defense. Either way, this Knicks team is positioned themselves as the biggest threat to the Celtics.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland is keeping their core together for the 2024-2025 season. The Cavs were able to sign Donovan Mitchell to a 3-year extension. Mitchell will remain the cornerstone of the franchise for the foreseeable future. They made a coaching change by bringing in Kenny Atkinson. Atkinson is a great hire and one of the great minds in the league. Evan Mobley is expected to ascend as one of the skilled big men in the league. Cleveland rewarded him by inking him to a 5-year max deal. Jarrett Allen also signed a 3-year extension to remain with the team. There were rumors that they would move Allen, but instead chose to re-sign him. Will Atkinson find a way to use Allen and Mobley better? Will Darius Garland be on the move this season? The Cavs have a lot of potential, which is why they’re my third best team in the Eastern Conference.
Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee has dealt with a lot of injuries ever since winning the championship in 2021. Giannis continues to be one of the best players in the league, but the bug has hit him also. Khris Middleton has been hit the hardest with multiple leg injuries. Middleton is expected to miss the season opener due to his offseason ankle surgery. Milwaukee is being cautious with Middleton, but the signing of Taurean Prince proves vital. Prince will should fit in nicely in the starting lineup. Damian Lillard had a great offseason and looking to have a healthy season. The additions of Delon Wright and Gary Trent Jr. could prove to be good for this team. At the end of the day, it all depends on the health of Giannis. Milwaukee is a team with some aging veterans, and this could hurt them this season.
Philadelphia 76ers
Last, we have the Philadelphia 76ers. If we talk about a team with health issues, then the Sixers is that team. They have enough to compete with the Celtics and Knicks for the Eastern Conference crown. Joel Embiid is arguably the best player in the league. Embiid has stated he won’t play back-to-back games to be ready when playoff time comes. Tyrese Maxey is becoming one of the best point guards in the NBA. Paul George signed a huge contract to become the third option. George hyperextended his knee in preseason and his health has been an issue in the last few years. They drafted Jared McCain out of Duke, and he’ll be a quality backup. Eric Gordon and Andre Drummond were also signed to the team, which are good moves. Caleb Martin leaving Miami to go to the Sixers is an underrated move. They could finish higher.
Here are my top 5 teams in the Eastern Conference for the new season. Indiana, Miami, Orlando, and possibly Atlanta are my next four squads. What do you think about my top 5 Eastern Conference teams? Who are your top 5 teams from the Eastern Conference? Leave some feedback below about the top 5 Eastern Conference teams.
