The NBA season inches closer, and after an offseason of big moves, there are a number of teams fighting for a championship. Some of the league’s best teams are in a better position than last season, and while the defending champion is the team to beat, there are some teams who could potentially dethrone them. But only time will tell. Here are three teams to watch in the Eastern Conference.
1.) Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics won a championship for the first time since 2008 last season. The young duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have made the Celtics a championship contender for a few years now, and after years of hard work, last season was their year. The Boston Celtics now have 18 championships in their franchise history, and with Brown and Tatum leading the way, they are going for another. The Celtics are standing pat, as their offseason focused on signing players to extensions. Tatum signed an extension of five years and $315 million. This is the biggest deal in NBA history, with Tatum’s teammate Brown having the highest the year before. The Celtics are locked in on their star duo, and they want to keep their supporting cast as well. Repeating is difficult for any team, but as the champions, the Celtics remain in the conversation of being the top team in the East.
2.) Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers made one of the biggest moves in the offseason, as they brought in Paul George. For the past few years, the Sixers have been a contender, but come playoff time, they fall to teams like the Celtics or the New York Knicks. The Sixers have tried different things in terms of having help around Joel Embiid. Whether it was Jimmy Butler or James Harden, the Sixers have tried to pair another star with Embiid. But Philadelphia has not gotten over the hump. The addition of George could be what the Sixers need, and with a young player like Tyrese Maxey, who signed an extension this summer, Philadelphia may be on the cusp of a championship. The Sixers are a team to keep an eye on, and if things go well, this could be the year they win it all.
3.) New York Knicks
The New York Knicks were busy this offseason. They signed Jalen Brunson to an extension. They brought in Mikal Bridges through a trade with the Brooklyn Nets. Then, they made another surprising move, as they recently acquired Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves. They gave up Julius Randle. The Knicks had an impressive 2023-24 season. They were second in the East with a record of 50-32 and they reached the second round of the playoffs for their second consecutive season. The future looks bright for the Knicks, and while time will tell if they are true contenders, they have to be in the conversations for now.
The Eastern Conference is improving. While teams like Boston, Philadelphia and New York are arguably the top teams, teams like Cleveland, Indiana and Milwaukee are also in the mix. The East will be an exciting race, and as the season progresses, fans will get an idea of who are the true contenders.
NBA season, Eastern Conference, teams to watch, championship, defending champion
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