The Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and New York Knicks are among the contenders in the highly competitive Eastern Conference. (Anthony Huang | Contributing Illustrator)

With the preseason coming to a close and the NBA season starting up on Oct. 22, we have made it to the moment all basketball fans have been waiting for. After months of blockbuster trades, head-scratching draft selections, and every fanbase believing that this is their season, NBA basketball is back.

This is the second article in a two-part series. You can find Student Life’s Western Conference predictions here.

After producing the league’s 2023-24 champion, the Eastern Conference looks to build on that momentum. The competition between the top eight teams will be fierce as last season when only four games separated the second and eighth seeds. 

With that being said, here are my Eastern Conference standings predictions for the 2024-2025 NBA season:

1. Boston Celtics (2023-24 Record: 64-18 ~ First Place)

After reaching the conference finals five of the past seven years, the Celtics got over the hump last year and won their first NBA championship since 2008. However, unlike most defending champions, Boston’s two top players come into this season with larger chips on their shoulders. This summer, last season’s NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) Jaylen Brown was snubbed by Team USA while superstar Jayson Tatum struggled to find the USA rotation in Paris. Expect these two to come into this season with vengeance. However, star Kristaps Porzingis will likely be out until December, and many other Eastern Conference teams loaded up this offseason. While the Celtics will still be elite, don’t expect them to be as dominant as they were last season.

2. New York Knicks (2023-24 Record: 50-32 ~ Second Place)

New York basketball is back! Last season, the Knicks won 50 games for the first time since the 2012-13 season. Even with unfortunate injury luck during the playoffs, the Knicks were still able to win a playoff series. Attempting to close the gap with Boston, New York attacked this offseason to get even stronger. Stars Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns join a strong core led by rising superstar Jalen Brunson and top role players OG Anunoby and Josh Hart. New York did lose a plethora of key contributors, but the Knicks have the stars to bring them right back to the top of the East. 

3. Philadelphia 76ers (2023-24 Record: 47-35 ~ Seventh Place)

Prior to his injury that limited him to 39 games in 2024, Joel Embiid was on pace to win consecutive MVP awards. Even with those injuries, Embiid joined Wilt Chamberlain, becoming one of only two players ever to score more points than minutes played (minimum 50 minutes played). In hopes of keeping their MVP healthy, the 76ers brought in Paul George to be a top-scoring option alongside Embiid and star Tyrese Maxey. Surrounding these three are a complementary blend of intriguing depth pieces such as Kelly Oubre Jr., Caleb Martin, and Andre Drummond. If Joel Embiid stays healthy, this team has all the makings to raise the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy come June. 

4. Milwaukee Bucks (2023-24 Record: 49-33 ~ Third Place)

After making a blockbuster trade for superstar Damian Lillard last training camp, the Bucks’ 2024 season disappointed many. While Lillard was an All-Star starter, Giannis Antetokounmpo enjoyed arguably the best season in his career, and the Bucks finished as the third seed, there was still much to be desired in Milwaukee. Defensively, this team took a massive step backward (from the NBA’s fourth-best defense in 2023 to 11th worst in 2024); plus, early on, there was dysfunction with former head coach Adrian Griffin and their two superstars. Coming into 2025, those issues should be fixed — Milwaukee was successful after the appointment of coach Doc Rivers midway through last season. Now that the team is healthy, the rest of the East should be worried. 

5. Indiana Pacers (2023-24 Record: 47-35 ~ Sixth Place)

By reaching the In-Season Tournament Finals and the Eastern Conference Finals (ECF) last season, Indiana reintroduced themselves to the top of the NBA world. This Pacers team is very intriguing and has the potential to make another long playoff run. Led by All-NBA players Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, Indiana had the league’s second-best offense (and second-best of all time) last season. With a strong rotation outside of Haliburton and Siakam in addition to the return of key sixth man Bennedict Mathurin, don’t be surprised if this team is right back in the ECF.

6. Orlando Magic (2023-24 Record: 47-35 ~ Fifth Place)

It’s rare for young teams to have clear identities, but in Orlando, these boys will defend! After being the 13th seed in 2023, the Magic shifted up eight spots in 2024 mainly due to their third-ranked defense. Led by two young stars, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, it’s safe to say that Orlando will be competitive for the foreseeable future. Though their scoring and playmaking struggled, they brought in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope during the offseason to help alleviate some of those issues. As the team attempts to take the next step, the progression of their two stars plus some of their younger role players will dictate how far they go. 

7. Cleveland Cavaliers (2023-24 Record: 48-34 ~ Fourth Place)

After a relatively successful season, the Cavaliers come into this year with a few pressing issues. Their biggest issue concerns their All-Star backcourt duo of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell. Both players are elite scorers and strong facilitators, however, the stats show that lineups with Darius Garland are less successful than lineups with Donovan Mitchell at the helm. Can Garland return to his All-Star form or will the Cavs look in a different direction? In addition, the Cavs’ depth and three-point shooting has been lackluster for the past few seasons, placing more pressure on their starters to be in sync. However, to jumpstart their offense, Cleveland hired coach Kenny Atkinson, who has been known to get the most out of his bench rotation. 

8. Miami Heat (2023-24 Record: 46-36 ~ Eighth Place)

Two years on from a run to the 2022 NBA Finals, could this be the end of the Miami Heat as we know it? Last season, the Heat finished as the eighth seed and lost in the first round in an uncompetitive five games. Coming into this season after a relatively quiet offseason compared to their Eastern Conference opponents, it’s hard to see the Heat any higher than eighth to end the regular season. However, this team still has Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, boasts one of the league’s better defenses, and is led by Erik Spoelstra, who has been one of the league’s best coaches throughout his 16 seasons as the team’s head coach. They are only one season removed from a ECF run and two removed from a Finals run. Truly anything is possible in Miami.

9. Toronto Raptors (2023-24 Record: 25-57 ~ 12th Place)

While the Raptors finished in 12th place last season, this team has significantly more talent than their record suggests. Led by Scottie Barnes, who blossomed into an All-Star last year, the Raptors’ starting lineup also boasts two other 20-point scorers, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. Outside of these three, Toronto has a good blend of youth and experience in their rotation that will help them win more than 25 games this season. In a conference where there’s a clear dropoff in talent after the top-eight teams, someone has to make the Play-In Tournament. There’s no reason to believe that the Raptors can’t make it with this roster. 

10. Charlotte Hornets (2023-24 Record: 21-61 ~ 13th Place)

My boldest prediction in the East is my belief in the Charlotte Hornets. If their star LaMelo Ball stays healthy, he is one of the league’s very best point guards. Running alongside LaMelo is Brandon Miller, who enjoyed an elite rookie season. His three-level scoring ability, ball-handling, and great length resemble his idol, Paul George, and he has the skills to be a top wing this season. In addition to these two, Charlotte has other legitimate talent with Miles Bridges and Mark Williams. Led by new head coach Charles Lee, a former Boston assistant, look for the Hornets to be well-improved as they fight for their first playoff berth since 2016.

11. Atlanta Hawks (2023-24 Record: 36-46 ~ 10th Place)

This offseason brought significant change to Atlanta as they traded star guard Dejounte Murray to New Orleans for a handful of assets, including Dyson Daniels and two future first-round picks. This leaves a team led by Trae Young and Jalen Johnson, who both are incredibly talented. However, the talent around these two aren’t up to the level of the teams ahead of them. Their X factor this season will be first overall pick Zaccharie Risacher, who has the traits to be a solid starter. The Hawks will need him to be effective immediately in his first season if they want to compete for the playoffs. 

12. Detroit Pistons (2023-24 Record: 14-68 ~ 15th Place)

After winning an NBA-low 14 games and sustaining an NBA record 28 consecutive losses last season, the Pistons want to forget 2023-24. This offseason, Detroit hired a new general manager and head coach and signed veterans Tobias Harris and Malik Beasley to steady this ship. Led by star guard Cade Cunningham, the Pistons have many intriguing young pieces. Good seasons from a combination of Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren, and top-five pick Ron Holland could lead to a much improved Pistons season. After all, there isn’t anywhere else to go but up in Detroit. 

13. Chicago Bulls (2023-24 Record: 39-43 ~ Ninth Place)

Potentially a few seasons too late, the Chicago Bulls are finally embracing the tank. DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso aren’t on the roster anymore as the Bulls brought in more youth to rebuild their lineup. This offseason they traded for Josh Giddey, signed Jalen Smith, and drafted Matas Buzelis. Re-joining this roster from injury are Lonzo Ball and Zach LaVine who both have immense talent. With solid pieces still in place, the Bulls could have a fun season even as they tank for the first-overall pick.

14. Brooklyn Nets (2023-24 Record: 32-50 ~ 11th Place)

After receiving their first-round pick back in the Mikal Bridges trade, it is officially rebuilding time in Brooklyn. Even as they embrace their rebuild, the Nets already have some talent on this roster. Savvy scorer Cam Thomas will receive the reins to this offense after finishing last season averaging 22.5 points per game. Around Cam Thomas, the Nets have a couple of veterans who can help Brooklyn to be functional on the court. Come the trade deadline in February, I would expect the Nets to be heavy sellers and add to their four first-round picks in next year’s draft. 

15. Washington Wizards (2023-24 Record: 15-67 ~ 14th Place)

The 2024-25 Washington Wizards might be one of the weirdest teams I’ve seen in recent history. After starting their rebuild last season, the Wizards had a questionable offseason, bringing in a mix of established veterans (Malcolm Brogdon and Jonas Valanciunas) and project rookies (Alex Sarr and Bub Carrington). The lineup will be run through Jordan Poole, who struggled as a main scoring option last season, leaving few optimistic about his future as their lead guard. The Wizards will be dysfunctional on the court, but it will lead to many entertaining moments as they stumble their way to the worst record in the league. 

Eastern Conference Champion Prediction: Boston Celtics