NBA Predictions: Final Standings, Playoff Predictions, Final Picks for 2024-25 Season

Predicting the score before a single game is even played is always a loss. We do it anyway, and the parity in the league makes it harder than ever.

The Celtics reached round-robin finishes last year, but only five games separated the 4th through 10th seeds in the West and just four games separated the 2nd through 8th seeds in the East. The center will be crowded again this season.

Considering how small the difference is between so many playoff teams, the seedings are sure to change this year. The 76ers and Grizzlies appear to be the biggest contenders for promotion, while the Bucks and Nuggets could fall.

Here you’ll find predictions for all 10 playoff and play-in teams for each conference, as well as finals and championship picks.

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NBA Predictions 2024-25

Eastern Conference standings, playoff teams

1. Boston Celtics
2. New York Knicks
3. Milwaukee Bucks
4. Cleveland Cavaliers
5. Philadelphia 76ers
6. Indiana Pacers
7. Orlando Magic*
8. Miami Heat*
9. Atlanta Hawks*
10. Toronto Raptors*

*Play-In Tournament

The Celtics are still the best team in the East, but the gap between them and the field has narrowed. Kristaps Porzingis will miss the start of the season, and that could hurt their record. He was their second-best player for much of last year. However, they don’t need him to dominate the conference, as last year’s championship run proves.

The Knicks appeared to be the best team in the league with OG Anunoby, posting a 20-3 regular season record with him. They doubled down on that strategy by acquiring Mikal Bridges, giving them another versatile defender and third-shot creator to ease the pressure on Jalen Brunson. Karl-Anthony Towns is a four-time All-Star who gives them good shooting throughout the lineup. They are a strong, well-coached team with star power at the top. This is the same formula the Celtics used last season.

The Sixers are the wild card in all of this. Joel Embiid was playing at a higher level than he was in his MVP season before he got injured, and the team couldn’t put the pieces together in time for the playoffs. That won’t be a problem this year since they swapped 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 a midseason move to make this group even better. They may not be a great team for the regular season considering they plan on sitting out Embiid and George in most consecutive games. But they have championship potential.

These three are the real title contenders. Below that is a second league with very good teams – the Bucks, Cavs, Magic and Pacers.

MORE: Why Knicks fans are concerned about Mikal Bridges’ new shooting form

Milwaukee should be better as Doc Rivers and Damian Lillard are better prepared for training camp, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is still one of the top five players in the league. The problem is that Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez are already in decline and the Bucks are relying on them to make big contributions.

The Cavs showed for much of last year that they were capable of playing like the best team in the East, but they weren’t consistent. They will rely on the same squad and hope a change of coach with Kenny Atkinson can make the difference. Given the success Atkinson has had previously and the obvious talent in the squad, this isn’t a bad choice.

Indiana had the best offense in NBA history for much of last season, and now it gets a full year of Pascal Siakam. Will teams be better prepared for the Pacers’ high pace, similar to what happened with the Kings last year?

Orlando is a good young team on the rise with tremendous depth and tenacious defenders. Adding Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will improve the Magic’s shooting, but they still need more advantage creators.

There is a significant decline after this team level. Can the Heat get better with a full year of Terry Rozier? The Hawks looked about the same in games without Dejounte Murray last year. Trae Young should be good enough to keep them in play-in territory, which will be a low bar this year. The Raptors had a miserable end to their 2023-24 season. If they’re fully healthy, they should have enough top talent to secure the 10th seed in the East.

POSITIONAL RANKING: PG | SG | SF | PF | C

Western Conference standings, playoff teams

1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Dallas Mavericks
3. Minnesota Timberwolves
4. Denver Nuggets
5. Phoenix Suns
6. Memphis Grizzlies
7. Sacramento Kings*
8. New Orleans Pelicans*
9. Golden State Warriors*
10. Los Angeles Lakers*

*Play-In Tournament

The Thunder finished last season as No. 1 and improved significantly. Isaiah Hartenstein gives them the big body they’ve been missing, and Alex Caruso is the best defensive player in the league. You will win a lot of games.

The Mavericks should advance from their fifth spot. They were a far more competitive team after last year’s trade deadline and made even more progress in the offseason by bringing in Klay Thompson, Quentin Grimes, Naji Marshall and Spencer Dinwiddie. These four give Luka Doncic the shooters he has been missing.

The Wolves were the other top dog in the West a year ago. Anthony Edwards will continue to improve as he gets more reps in the face of intense defensive pressure, but things are looking worse after trading Towns for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.

While the other teams at the top of the West got better, the Nuggets got worse. Replacing Caldwell-Pope with Christian Braun is a major downgrade, Russell Westbrook is an odd fit in the lineup, and Jamal Murray hasn’t looked like himself in a while. Nikola Jokic will be good enough to win a lot of games, but he has shown in recent years that he cannot take Denver to the top of the table on his own.

The Suns should also be better than last year. They solved their point guard problems with Tyus Jones and Monte Morris. Mike Budenholzer is one of the greatest regular season coaches in NBA history. He will help Phoenix to an improved balance sheet.

The rest of the West could proceed in any order. The Grizzlies won 51 games the last time they were relatively healthy. The Pelicans added Dejounte Murray, but their season will always depend on the health of Zion Williamson. The Kings added clutch shooting and reliable offense in DeMar DeRozan. The Warriors’ backup ensemble for Klay Thompson might be better than him. JJ Redick isn’t enough to make much of a difference compared to last year’s Lakers play-in team.

RANKING THE NBA’S BEST DEFENSEMEN: 100-11 | 10-1

Eastern Conference Champions: Celtics

The Celtics bring back the same team that wasn’t really challenged in last year’s championship run. Joe Mazzulla has proven to be a great coach who just keeps getting better. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are still in their prime. Boston has one of the deepest top-six units in league history.

We never saw the Knicks play the Celtics as they were sidelined by the wave of injuries. This will be an interesting game, but last year the Celtics dominated them 4-1. The Knicks won’t be able to hide Brunson and Towns defensively because the Celtics can score from every position.

The Sixers are another top contender and another team that the Celtics dominated last year, losing to them 3-1. This is a new Philadelphia team with better shot creation, but Boston is able to look at Joel Embiid from so many different angles. The Celtics also have good size to guard Embiid, and Paul George can’t guard both Tatum and Brown.

Mazzulla said the Pacers were the Celtics’ toughest challenger in the playoffs last year. That may well be true, but that series ended 4-0. There isn’t a team at Boston’s level in the East.

MORE: Expert NBA awards predictions for the 2024-25 season

Western Conference Champion: Thunder

The Thunder were too young last year and were missing one final piece. They have since resolved these issues. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged as a two-way force and MVP candidate. He has experience in big games from the Play-In Tournament, the Olympics and now the NBA Playoffs.

Hartenstein gives the Thunder a different style of play and great passing from the center position. Caruso is an NBA champion and has a knack for delivering great defensive performances in the biggest moments. He can also defend his position and give the Thunder two stoppers in Lu Dort to keep up with some of the West’s best scorers.

Of course, these two will come in handy when the Thunder face the Mavericks again. Oklahoma City will have two players who can use him at the end of the games in Doncic and Kyrie Irving. The Thunder will also be able to shoot much better than Josh Giddey, who ended up being a liability.

Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren give the Thunder the opportunity to play big against some of the big frontfields in the West like the Wolves and Nuggets. Holmgren is unique in the way he can stretch defenses while providing excellent rim protection. And Hartenstein is a killer offensive rebounder who puts pressure on defensive centers.

SGA and Jalen Williams are literally the driving forces of the Thunder and should be primed for a better playoff run. Oklahoma City’s offense is so difficult to stop because these two fearlessly attack the rim. With the Thunder being able to shoot better this season, they will be tough to beat.

MORE: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander predicted to be MVP in 2024-25 GM poll

NBA Champion: Celtics

The Celtics taking on the Thunder would be a worthy final game. Two of the youngest and brightest coaches would face the league’s strongest squads. There would be many ways to play and it would lead to the best chess game in the league.

The Celtics would have great perimeter defenders in Jrue Holiday and Derrick White to help neutralize Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams. Caruso and Dort can guard Tatum and Brown and anyone else in the league. Hartenstein is big enough to keep up with Porzingis. Holmgren and Al Horford can both stretch the floor.

On paper they are two equal teams. However, the experience factor must play a role. Brown and Tatum have each played well over 100 playoff games. They know what it takes to win it all. This Thunder team still hasn’t made it past the second round and Caruso is the only player with championship experience.

Championship teams usually need a few teams to bang their heads against the wall before they can break through. The Thunder are good enough to win. They would have the best player in the series in Gilgeous-Alexander. But it still feels like they’re just a year away from winning it all.