So here we are with the 2024-25 NBA season and I would think that it’s safe to say that the vast majority of fans can probably see who the best teams are at this point of the season. We’re going to dig in as to who are the 2 best in the East and who are the 2 best in the West. Who do we think will be playing in the championship this year?
Now, we all know that a team that’s sitting low on the radar can make that special run and make it to the big game.
We saw in 2018 with Toronto, but let’s be honest, these are not common scenarios. Usually by this time of the year, you can clearly see who really are the best teams.
So we’ll start off first in the East.
The two best teams are the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
We’ll start with Cleveland and we’ll take a look and see what makes them one of the best. Firstly, they can play some defense. This is not necessarily a purely defensive team that has to win by keeping teams off the scoreboard – they can put points on the board also, as they’re averaging 115ppg. But, they really do have that great defense, giving up only 110 ppg as they are terrifying opponents and keep teams struggling shooting as teams are only hitting 45% from the field on the year. Including 27 games of giving up 105 points or less.
Of course it’s easy to say Boston is one of the best in the East. They have won an average of 54 games /season since 2021 and have gotten to at least the ECF 3 times over the last 4 years, but let’s put that on the back burner. We have become so accustomed to watching great games, especially being led by Jayson Tatum at SF, that I think we have expectations for them. And they have a young 2nd year coach in Joe Mazzulla, who has been successful even though catching some complaints from fans – but more importantly, they still have 25 yr old Tatum at SF. And that means something.
And then in the West we have the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Either of these 2 will likely be the teams to get into the title game.
Minnesota has Anthony Edwards. I think it’s apparent as we’ve seen their ability to light up scoreboards. But, I’ll tell you the biggest reason they’re one of the top 2. And the culprit is their stifling defense. It has yet to be stopped. If it’s late in the game, they’re making stops and they’re getting turnovers, and those are key for winning teams. And it’s demoralizing for a team to know it’s coming and not being able to stop it. If they’re pressing – you might as well chalk up a lost possession because it’s happening, and that is a hard reality check for any opponent facing them.
Oklahoma City on the other hand has really been one of the most dominant teams I’ve seen play over the last couple of years. They’re loaded with talent across the court, on both offense and defense. Between their underrated ball movement, and the offensive game with their 25 year old SG, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who’s picking up 31 ppg and has cracked 30 or more points and dished 8+ assists on 12 occasions, he is the ultimate weapon for this unit.He can obviously score at will, and he’s dangerous as a catalyst on offense, and that’s before we even get to their 3p shooting. Which is tops in the NBA at almost 40%. A group of deep ball assassins anchored with Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe and Chet Holmgren – all hitting 39% or better from downtown and all putting up 4 or more 3p shots /game. There’s no team who looks at those 3p threats and feels very confident. They’ve been slaughtering teams all year long, winning by an average of +8.0 ppg – you’re not safe anywhere from this group.
When all is said the Vegas Oddsmakers like the Boston Celtics with their experience and incredible production from the frontcourt. And on the other side of the wall, give me the Thunder and their wicked ability to bury it from deep with their sneaky good ball movement to make it from the other side.