The NBA — which sees its 2024-25 season tip off Tuesday evening — was essentially the most predictable of all main sports activities leagues by way of which groups had a respectable shot to contend for, or definitely win, the title. Not anymore. Within the Western Convention, you may blindly throw a dart and have a fairly good probability at touchdown on not less than a fringe contender below the appropriate circumstances.
No fewer than 12 of the 15 West groups count on to make the playoffs and not less than six have each proper to imagine they will win the convention. 4 actually good groups are going to be relegated to the play-in match. Two good groups are going to finish up within the lottery.
The East is a bit clearer by way of playoff groups, although the seeding is just about simply as broad open 1-8. Cheap minds can disagree on how it will play out, and if there’s one factor we’ve got loads of on our CBS Sports activities NBA staff, it is cheap minds!
And so, listed below are our predictions for a way the entire regular-season standings will shake out in each conferences in addition to our Finals and championship predictions (yow will discover our awards picks right here). The picks had been made by CBSSports.com NBA writers Brad Botkin, James Herbert, Sam Quinn, Colin Ward-Henninger and Jasmyn Wimbish, CBS Sports activities NBA insider Invoice Reiter and CBS Sports activities HQ analysts Avery Johnson and Ashley Nicole Moss.
NBA predictions: Jap Convention standings
|
No. 1 |
Celtics |
Celtics |
Celtics |
Celtics |
Celtics |
Knicks |
Celtics |
Celtics |
Celtics |
|
No. 2 |
Knicks |
Cavaliers |
Knicks |
Cavaliers |
Knicks |
Celtics |
Knicks |
Knicks |
Knicks |
|
No. 3 |
76ers |
76ers |
76ers |
Knicks |
76ers |
76ers |
76ers |
76ers |
Cavaliers |
|
No. 4 |
Cavaliers |
Knicks |
Bucks |
76ers |
Magic |
Cavaliers |
Bucks |
Bucks |
Bucks |
|
No. 5 |
Bucks |
Bucks |
Pacers |
Bucks |
Bucks |
Pacers |
Cavaliers |
Cavaliers |
76ers |
|
No. 6 |
Magic |
Magic |
Cavaliers |
Pacers |
Cavaliers |
Bucks |
Pacers |
Pacers |
Magic |
|
No. 7 |
Pacers |
Pacers |
Magic |
Magic |
Pacers |
Magic |
Magic |
Magic |
Pacers |
|
No. 8 |
Warmth |
Warmth |
Warmth |
Warmth |
Warmth |
Warmth |
Warmth |
Warmth |
Warmth |
|
No. 9 |
Hawks |
Hawks |
Pistons |
Hawks |
Nets |
Raptors |
Bulls |
Bulls |
Hawks |
|
No. 10 |
Hornets |
Raptors |
Hawks |
Bulls |
Bulls |
Hawks |
Hawks |
Hawks |
Raptors |
|
No. 11 |
Bulls |
Pistons |
Raptors |
Raptors |
Hawks |
Hornets |
Raptors |
Pistons |
Pistons |
|
No. 12 |
Raptors |
Hornets |
Bulls |
Hornets |
Hornets |
Bulls |
Hornets |
Raptors |
Hornets |
|
No. 13 |
Pistons |
Bulls |
Hornets |
Pistons |
Raptors |
Pistons |
Pistons |
Nets |
Bulls |
|
No. 14 |
Wizards |
Nets |
Nets |
Nets |
Pistons |
Nets |
Wizards |
Hornets |
Nets |
|
No. 15 |
Nets |
Wizards |
Wizards |
Wizards |
Wizards |
Wizards |
Nets |
Wizards |
Wizards |
In order that’s practically a clear sweep for the reigning champion Celtics to complete because the No. 1 seed within the East (once more). The Knicks and 76ers are seen as Boston’s largest threats on the high of the standings, and if there’s one factor everybody right here can agree on, it is that the Miami Warmth are going to be No. 8 within the East.
NBA predictions: Western Convention standings
|
No. 1 |
Thunder |
Thunder |
Thunder |
Thunder |
Thunder |
Thunder |
Thunder |
Nuggets |
Thunder |
|
No. 2 |
Mavericks |
Wolves |
Mavericks |
Wolves |
Wolves |
Mavericks |
Nuggets |
Mavericks |
Nuggets |
|
No. 3 |
Wolves |
Suns |
Wolves |
Nuggets |
Mavericks |
Grizzlies |
Grizzlies |
Thunder |
Mavericks |
|
No. 4 |
Suns |
Nuggets |
Suns |
Suns |
Nuggets |
Nuggets |
Wolves |
Wolves |
Wolves |
|
No. 5 |
Grizzlies |
Grizzlies |
Nuggets |
Mavericks |
Grizzlies |
Wolves |
Pelicans |
Pelicans |
Suns |
|
No. 6 |
Nuggets |
Mavericks |
Rockets |
Pelicans |
Suns |
Pelicans |
Mavericks |
Suns |
Grizzlies |
|
No. 7 |
Warriors |
Warriors |
Pelicans |
Grizzlies |
Kings |
Suns |
Suns |
Grizzlies |
Pelicans |
|
No. 8 |
Kings |
Pelicans |
Warriors |
Rockets |
Lakers |
Kings |
Kings |
Warriors |
Kings |
|
No. 9 |
Pelicans |
Rockets |
Lakers |
Kings |
Rockets |
Rockets |
Warriors |
Kings |
Warriors |
|
No. 10 |
Rockets |
Kings |
Grizzlies |
Warriors |
Warriors |
Lakers |
Rockets |
Lakers |
Rockets |
|
No. 11 |
Lakers |
Lakers |
Spurs |
Lakers |
Clippers |
Warriors |
Lakers |
Rockets |
Lakers |
|
No. 12 |
Spurs |
Clippers |
Kings |
Clippers |
Pelicans |
Spurs |
Spurs |
Clippers |
Spurs |
|
No. 13 |
Clippers |
Spurs |
Jazz |
Jazz |
Spurs |
Clippers |
Clippers |
Spurs |
Clippers |
|
No. 14 |
Jazz |
Jazz |
Clippers |
Spurs |
Jazz |
Jazz |
Jazz |
Jazz |
Jazz |
|
No. 15 |
Blazers |
Blazers |
Blazers |
Blazers |
Blazers |
Blazers |
Blazers |
Blazers |
Blazers |
Just like the Celtics within the East, practically everybody right here thinks the Thunder will seize the No. 1 seed within the West, identical to they did a season in the past. However there’s way more variance within the West. Now we have the Nuggets ending as excessive as first and as little as sixth. Between the 9 of us, we’ve got six completely different decisions for who will end third.
NBA title predictions
In order that’s 5 out of 9 of us selecting the Celtics to win all of it, with the opposite 4 votes break up between the Thunder, Knicks and Nuggets. We even have the identical quantity of consultants selecting the Thunder to win the West (seven) because the Celtics to win the East. However whereas there’s a consensus of the Celtics assembly both the Knicks or 76ers within the Jap Convention finals, we’ve got 5 completely different picks for who will make the Western Convention finals.
2024 NBA championship odds
With our consultants break up on who will elevate the Larry O’Brien trophy in 2025, what do the betting websites assume? The Celtics are the favorites to win it subsequent June and grow to be the primary back-to-back NBA champions because the Warriors gained in 2017 and 2018. DraftKings lists Boston with +310 odds because the C’s open their season on Tuesday evening towards the Knicks.
The Thunder (+650) have the second-shortest odds to win all of it at DraftKings sportsbook, with the Knicks (+800), Nuggets (+950), Timberwolves (+1000), 76ers (+1000) and Mavericks (+1000) not far behind.