Here’s what the Boston Globe staff is predicting for the 2024 NBA season

Chad Finn

Celtics: 61-21, first seed in the East.

Eastern Conference: Celtics over Knicks in 5. With the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, the Knicks traded strength for talent. Don’t tell Spike Lee, but they won’t have enough to topple the Celtics.

Western Conference: Thunder over Nuggets in 5. Future MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and an OKC roster full of up-and-coming talent close Nikola Jokic’s championship window.

NBA Finals: Celtics over Thunder in 6. If the Celtics stay reasonably If healthy, they will become the first back-to-back champions since the Warriors in 2017 and 2018. But who will Adam Silver present the Larry O’Brien Trophy to?

Christopher L. Gasper

Celtics: 69-13, first seed in the East

Eastern Conference: Celtics over Knicks in 6. After setting a franchise record for wins, breaking the team’s mark of 1972-73, the “Three for All” Celtics do what that team couldn’t due to an unfortunate injury to John Havlicek. The Jays school Jalen Brunson and the Nova Knicks, who regrouped their team to defeat Boston.

Western Conference: Grizzlies over Nuggets in 7. Beale Street Basketball has everyone talking. Ja Morant is healthy and the Grizzlies are this year’s Timberwolves, except unlike Minnesota, they win in the conference finals. That’s probably because they have a consummate winner, and former Celtic Marcus Smart, who flopped in Memphis and launched himself 10 feet across the floor.

NBA Finals: Celtics over Grizzlies in 6. The Celtics become the first team to become NBA champions again since the Warriors in 2017-18, and Jayson Tatum takes home the NBA Finals MVP with a dominant performance. Old friend Smart shot 1 of 10 from three in the deciding game, but still maintains that the better team didn’t win the series.

Adam Himmelsbach

Celtics: 60-22, first seed in the East

Eastern Conference: Celtics over 76ers in 5. The Knicks are the popular choice here, but this is a bet, albeit a potentially risky one, that 76ers star Joel Embiid will be healthy when it matters most. Philadelphia also gets a talented two-way player in Paul George who can play alongside Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Still, that won’t be enough to defeat the Celtics, who have owned the 76ers over the years.

Western Conference: Thunder over Mavericks in 7. Oklahoma City wasn’t quite ready last season, but another year of experience for its young, talented core combined with new additions Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein is enough to put the Thunder over the top. Even though Dallas beefed up its offense with the acquisition of Klay Thompson, its best years are long behind it. There will be no return leg in the final.

NBA Finals: Celtics over Thunder in 5. The Celtics will be making their third Finals appearance in four years as this Thunder group takes the big stage for the first time, and the difference in experience will be reminiscent of 2022 when the veteran Warriors finally overwhelmed Boston. This time, Jayson Tatum silences skeptics by winning his first Finals MVP, and Boston becomes the first back-to-back champions since Golden State in the 2017-18 season.

Dan Shaughnessy

Celtics: 62-20, first seed in the East.

Eastern Conference: Celtics over Knicks in 7. Spike Lee sits courtside in a Steve Kerr mask and taunts Jayson Tatum. Tatum scores 50 points in Game 7. Joe Mazzulla sets a record by not taking a timeout in a seven-game series.

Western Conference: Nuggets over Mavericks in. 7 LeBron and Bronny dispute the results of the conference semifinal loss to Denver. In the conference finals, Nikola Jokic defeated Luca Doncic in the Battle of the NBA’s Dancing Bears.

NBA Finals: Celtics over Nuggets in 7. Incredibly, this is the first successful title defense by a Celtics team since Bill Russell’s old guys won back-to-back Finals against the Jerry West Lakers in 1968 and 1969. Metrics suggest this may be the best Celtics team of all time, but veterans insist it’s still the 1986 team that featured Bill Walton coming off the bench and Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale joined in the greatest frontcourt in history.

Gary Washburn

Celtics: 61-21, first seed in the East

Eastern Conference: Celtics over Knicks in 7. The Knicks will push the Celtics to the brink in an old-fashioned Atlantic Division clash, but Boston will prevail in Game 7 at TD Garden. The Celtics simply have too many weapons.

Western Conference: Timberwolves defeat Thunder in 6. Minnesota trade to bring in Julius Randle and Donte DiVicenzo for Karl-Anthony Towns increases toughness and unlocks Minnesota offense. The Timberwolves overcome a game, but the young OKC team.

NBA Finals: Celtics over Timberwolves in 6. With a rested and healthy Kristaps Porzingis back for the second half of the season, the Celtics are getting a big boost and they have enough skill to overcome a team that isn’t quite ready for the moment .

More Celtics/NBA coverage

• Stan Van Gundy likes the Celtics’ chances of repeat success in the NBA Finals

• Celtics waive Lonnie Walker and begin season with one open roster spot

• Jordan Walsh feels more connected to his Celtics teammates and could play a bigger role

• Shaughnessy: As Banner Night approaches, the Celtics appear to be in good shape

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Christopher L. Gasper is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @cgasper and on Instagram @cgaspersports. Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach. Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe. Chad Finn can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @GlobeChadFinn. Dan Shaughnessy is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @dan_shaughnessy.