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Just one workforce — in its present configuration — has answered all the massive questions dealing with it, together with the massive 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 convey again the highest seven gamers from their championship rotation. For another groups with title goals, Boston units the bar they should 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 should not solely the betting favourite however practically half the worth of the subsequent workforce on the board. Listed below are the highest 10 groups with the bottom odds, via our partners at Bet 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 Japanese Convention workforce is the most important menace to the Boston Celtics?
The New York Knicks
New York — which had the second-best file within the East final season and made the second spherical of the playoffs till accidents felled them — critically upgraded this offseason in ways in which match up nicely in opposition to Boston.
First, they added Mikal Bridges (at the price of 5 first-round picks), a high quality two-way wing who generally is a secondary shot creator subsequent to Jalen Brunson and areas the ground. Extra importantly, Bridges is a robust defender on the perimeter, and paired with OG Anunoby offers the Knicks nearly as good a matchup in opposition to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown as any workforce 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 means shoot the three and house 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 legit protection and depth questions this Knicks workforce has to reply, however New York is healthier positioned than any workforce within the convention to be a menace to Boston, each for the No. 1 seed and within the playoffs.
Which Western Convention workforce is the most important menace to the Boston Celtics?
The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder
This workforce is second in championship odds for good purpose, beginning with they’re the favourite to come back out of the West and if that’s the case then they get their invite to the massive 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 sport final season. He’s surrounded by younger, bettering gamers anticipated to take important 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 spot — and administration crammed it this summer season. 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 workforce 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 can be a menace to the Celtics
Three different groups make this record.
The Philadelphia 76ers
Daryl Morey’s huge guess cashed on this summer season when he landed Paul George to play between MVP heart Joel Embiid and fast-rising All-Star level guard Tyrese Maxey. That makes as harmful an enormous three as there may be within the league, and they’re a menace to Boston.
Morey did an excellent 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 house 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 a whole lot of these points up. Do not sleep on the Naji Marshall pickup this summer season both, he may very well be large for them.
Dallas has been to the Finals and in the event that they take that step ahead possibly the end result in opposition to Boston is completely different this time.
The Denver Nuggets
It’s fashionable in NBA previews to ask, “Has the Denver Nuggets window closed?” Have they let too many good position gamers go away to be a menace to win all of it (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope being the newest)?
The Nuggets nonetheless have the very best participant on the planet in Nikola Jokic, and arguably the very best 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 workforce is a menace to beat anybody.
