NBA title contenders 2024-25: 5 greatest threats to knock off Boston Celtics
Just one crew — in its present configuration — has answered all the large questions going through it, together with the large one: “Are they ok to win a hoop?”
That is why everyone seems to be chasing the Boston Celtics — they answered each query final June and produce again the highest seven gamers from their championship rotation. For every other groups with title goals, Boston units the bar they need to clear.
Who’re these greatest threats to Boston? Let’s break it down.
Who’s the favourite to win 2025 NBA Finals?
The Boston Celtics and it isn’t shut. The Celtics will not be solely the betting favourite however almost half the worth of the subsequent crew on the board. Listed below are the highest 10 groups with the bottom odds, through our companions at Wager MGM.
Boston Celtics +325
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder +675
New York Knicks +700
Philadelphia 76ers +1000
Denver Nuggets +1100
Dallas Mavericks +1100
Minnesota Timberwolves +1100
Milwaukee Bucks +1400
Phoenix Suns +1500
Which Jap Convention crew is the most important risk to the Boston Celtics?
The New York Knicks
New York — which had the second-best report within the East final season and made the second spherical of the playoffs till accidents felled them — significantly upgraded this offseason in ways in which match up properly towards Boston.
First, they added Mikal Bridges (at the price of 5 first-round picks), a high quality two-way wing who is usually a secondary shot creator subsequent to Jalen Brunson and areas the ground. Extra importantly, Bridges is a powerful defender on the perimeter, and paired with OG Anunoby offers the Knicks nearly as good a matchup towards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as any crew within the league.
Then New York added Karl-Anthony Cities in a commerce that caught the league (and Cities) off guard. Cities supercharges the Knicks’ offense, and due to his capacity shoot the three and area the ground — New York can play five-out now — it would pull Kristaps Porzingis and the Celtics rim protectors out of the paint, opening driving lanes for Brunson.
There are reliable protection and depth questions this Knicks crew has to reply, however New York is healthier positioned than any crew within the convention to be a risk to Boston, each for the No. 1 seed and within the playoffs.
Which Western Convention crew is the most important risk to the Boston Celtics?
The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
This crew is second in championship odds for good cause, beginning with they’re the favourite to return out of the West and in that case then they get their invite to the large dance and an opportunity at Boston (or whoever comes out of the East).
The Thunder assault begins with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who averaged 30.2 factors, 6.2 assists and 5.2 rebounds a recreation final season. He’s surrounded by younger, enhancing gamers anticipated to take vital steps ahead this season in Jalen Williams on the wing and Chet Holmgren within the paint.
Whereas OKC completed with a top-five offense and protection final season, the playoffs confirmed some areas of weak point — and administration crammed it this summer time. The Thunder wanted extra guard depth, they acquired Alex Caruso, one other elite perimeter defender — Caruso and Lu Dort can match up with nearly anybody — who can knock down the three. The Thunder wanted extra bulk up entrance, they acquired Isaiah Hartenstein as a free agent, proper off his spectacular run with the Knicks within the postseason.
This crew realized playoff classes a season in the past and is able to take the subsequent step, and they’re one of many few groups that may match expertise with Boston.
Different groups which might be a risk to the Celtics
Three different groups make this record.
The Philadelphia 76ers
Daryl Morey’s large guess cashed on this summer time when he landed Paul George to play between MVP middle Joel Embiid and fast-rising All-Star level guard Tyrese Maxey. That makes as harmful a giant three as there may be within the league, and they’re a risk to Boston.
Morey did a very good job including depth round that core with what cash he had left with gamers akin to Caleb Martin, Eric Gordon, Kelly Oubre Jr. and Andre Drummond. There are two challenges, and the primary is for coach Nick Nurse to get all this expertise to mesh, which might take time.
The larger query is well being: Embiid and George have lengthy histories of playoff accidents and Philly has to get each of them to the postseason wholesome to have an opportunity. However, they’ve an opportunity.
The Dallas Mavericks
Final season’s Western Convention Finalists acquired higher with the addition of Klay Thompson to area the ground subsequent to Luka Doncic and Klay Thompson. Whereas there are defensive questions, coach Jason Kidd and Dallas are betting {that a} full season with facilities Dereck Vigorous II and Daniel Gafford on the 5 can clear loads of these points up. Do not sleep on the Naji Marshall pickup this summer time both, he might be big for them.
Dallas has been to the Finals and in the event that they take that step ahead possibly the result towards Boston is completely different this time.
The Denver Nuggets
It’s stylish in NBA previews to ask, “Has the Denver Nuggets window closed?” Have they let too many good position gamers depart to be a risk to win all of it (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope being the most recent)?
The Nuggets nonetheless have the most effective participant on the planet in Nikola Jokic, and arguably the most effective pick-and-roll tandem within the league in Jokic and Jamal Murray. There are nonetheless strong gamers round them akin to Aaron Gordon. Denver’s margin for error could also be smaller, but when Murray finds his groove once more this crew is a risk to beat anybody.
