{"id":76948,"date":"2024-10-21T06:00:19","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T06:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/12c3b1971dcaf17e3d147b91"},"modified":"2024-10-21T06:00:19","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T06:00:19","slug":"nba-predictions-final-standings-playoff-projections-finals-pick-for-2024-25-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/nba-predictions-final-standings-playoff-projections-finals-pick-for-2024-25-season\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA predictions: Final standings, playoff projections, Finals pick for 2024-25 season"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Projecting the standings before a single game is even played is always a losing proposition. We’re doing it anyway, and it’s tougher than ever because of the parity throughout the league.<\/p>\n
The Celtics lapped the field last year, but only five games separated seeds 4 through 10 in the West and only four separated 2 through 8 in the East. It’s going to be jam-packed in the middle again this season.<\/p>\n
Given how thin the difference is between so many playoff teams, seeding will surely change this year. The 76ers and Grizzlies look like the biggest contenders to rise, while the Bucks and Nuggets could fall. <\/p>\n
Here are predictions for all 10 playoff and Play-In teams for each conference, along with Finals and championship picks. <\/p>\n
SN’s NBA HQ: Live NBA scores<\/span> | Updated NBA standings<\/span> | Full NBA schedule<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n *Play-In Tournament<\/em><\/p>\n The Celtics are still the best team in the East, but the gap between them and the field has shrunk. Kristaps Porzingis will miss the beginning of the season<\/span>, and that might hurt them record-wise. He was their second-best player for large chunks of last year. They don’t need him to dominate the conference, though, as evidenced by last year’s championship run. <\/p>\n The Knicks looked like the best team in the league with O.G. Anunoby<\/span>, going 20-3 with him in the lineup during the regular season. They doubled down on that strategy by acquiring Mikal Bridges, giving them another versatile defender and a third-shot creator to ease the pressure on Jalen Brunson. Karl-Anthony Towns is a four-time All-Star who gives them good shooting up and down the lineup. They’re a deep, well-coached team with star power up top. That is the same formula that the Celtics used last season. <\/p>\n The Sixers are the wild card in all of this. Joel Embiid was playing at a higher level than his MVP season before getting hurt, and the team couldn’t put the pieces together in time for the playoffs. That won’t be an issue this year because they’ve flipped most of their roster. Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George are the most talented Big Three in the East. And Daryl Morey is never afraid to make mid-season trades to make that group even better. They may not be a great regular season team given that they are planning on sitting Embiid and George out of most back-to-backs. But they have championship upside.<\/p>\n Those three are the true title contenders. Below them is a secondary tier of very good teams \u2014 the Bucks, Cavs, Magic and Pacers. <\/p>\n MORE: Why Knicks fans are worried about Mikal Bridges’ new shooting form<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\nNBA predictions 2024-25<\/h2>\n
Eastern Conference standings, playoff teams<\/h3>\n
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