Written by:
Christian Jope
Fact-checked by:
James Whitelock
Updated October 7, 2024
9 min read
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The Boston Celtics are the favorite to win the East in 2025!
The top contender to win the East is the New York Knicks.
Last year's Eastern Conference Champions were the Boston Celtics.
The 2024-25 NBA regular season is just a few weeks away, and the competition in the Eastern Conference is among the best in the league's history! Home of the 2024 NBA Champions, the East's top teams have retooled to claim the conference crown for themselves. At WSN, we're locked in on the race for the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Winner, offering the latest odds, predictions, and analyses for the 2024-25 NBA season!
For the best NBA Futures bets, WSN has you covered with betting picks and tips every day throughout the 2024-25 NBA season and playoffs! New sports bettors can use the top NBA promos and bonuses before their favorite team tips off!
As expected, the reigning 2024 NBA Champion Boston Celtics are the favorite to take home the Eastern Conference crown this coming season. However, after an aggressive summer of restructuring, the New York Knicks are ready to win the East for the Big Apple! However, after a season of injury, the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks are prepared to get back in contention for the Eastern Conference crown.
Let's check out the bets!
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook, as of June 20. Head to FanDuel to place your bets on the NBA Eastern Conference Champion! Check out our list of the best NBA betting sites for more betting opportunities.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | +165 BET HERE |
| New York Knicks | +300 BET HERE |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +470 BET HERE |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +850 BET HERE |
| Orlando Magic | +1800 BET HERE |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | +1800 BET HERE |
| Miami Heat | +2100 BET HERE |
| Indiana Pacers | +2100 BET HERE |
| Atlanta Hawks | +15000 BET HERE |
| Charlotte Hornets | +50000 BET HERE |
| Washington Wizards | +50000 BET HERE |
| Detroit Pistons | +50000 BET HERE |
| Brooklyn Nets | +50000 BET HERE |
| Chicago Bulls | +50000 BET HERE |
| Toronto Raptors | +50000 BET HERE |
For now, it isn’t easy to bet against the reigning champion Boston Celtics. They maintain one of the best teams in NBA history going into this season, led by two stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. While they won’t intrigue anyone with their offseason moves, the Celtics are as capable as ever. It’s up to their conference rivals to show they can reach their level.
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| Year | Record | Finish | Off Rtg | Def Rtg | Pace | PPG | Opp PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 64-18 | 1st in NBA Eastern Conference | 123.2 (1st of 30) | 111.6 (3rd of 30) | 97.2 (23rd of 30) | 120.6 (2nd of 30) | 109.2 (5th of 30) |
Head Coach: Joe Mazzulla
Key Players: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday
Key Additions: Lonnie Walker
Key Losses: Oshae Brissett
2024 NBA Playoffs:
NBA Finals: BOS defeated DAL 4-1
The reigning 2024 NBA Champion Boston Celtics are the standard going into the 2024-25 regular season. After winning 64 games and losing only three times en route to their 18th NBA Championship, the Celtics have much to live up to going into their title defense. Their roster remains familiar, as the franchise hopes continuity can help them overcome their much-improved rivals.
The Boston Celtics have a massive amount dedicated to the starting five of Holiday, White, Brown, Tatum, and Porzingis. Due to that, they are severely limited in what they can accomplish on the free agent market. A deep team that maximizes the value of players on low-value contracts, Boston’s offseason was focused on securing Tatum’s long-term future while experimenting with some lesser-known contributors.
The Boston Celtics are undoubtedly focused on defending their NBA Championship and winning a title for the second consecutive year. They were near-perfect last season, even with starting center Kristaps Porzingis missing significant time. Their starting five can compete with any in the NBA, so it’s up to their focus and health to stay on top.
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| Year | Record | Finish | Off Rtg | Def Rtg | Pace | PPG | Opp PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 50-32 | 2nd in NBA Eastern Conference | 118.2 (7th of 30) | 113.4 (10th of 30) | 95.2 (30th of 30) | 112.8 (19th of 30) | 108.2 (2nd of 30) |
Head Coach: Tom Thibodeau
Key Players: Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges
Key Additions: Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, Cameron Payne
Key Losses: Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Isaiah Hartenstein
2024 NBA Playoffs:
East Semifinals: IND def. NYK 3-4
The New York Knicks are coming off a successful season in which they reintroduced themselves to the top of the Eastern Conference. While they fell short in the NBA Playoffs due to injuries amongst the squad, the standard was set for the Knicks' future, and the outlook is bright.
The 2024 offseason saw the Knicks as the most aggressive team in the trade market. While they were impressive last season, General Manager Gersson Rosas has taken the chance to win the Knicks an NBA Championship. Out are Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, and in are Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges—all while retaining the services of star guard Jalen Brunson and Defensive Player of the Year candidate OG Anunoby.
The Knicks are stacked, and given their roster's salary commitment and quality, New York projects to be a team that will challenge for the Eastern Conference. However, such drastic changes rarely pay dividends immediately, so how Tom Thibodeau utilizes his squad will be crucial this season.
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| Year | Record | Finish | Off Rtg | Def Rtg | Pace | PPG | Opp PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 47-35 | 7th in NBA Eastern Conference | 116.9 (14th of 30) | 113.8 (11th of 30) | 97.5 (18th of 30) | 114.6 (15th of 30) | 111.5 (9th of 30) |
Head Coach: Nick Nurse
Key Players: Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George
Key Additions: Paul George, Caleb Martin, Reggie Jackson
Key Losses: Tobias Harris, Buddy Hield, Nicolas Batum
2024 NBA Playoffs:
East First Round: NYK def. PHI 4-2
The Philadelphia 76ers had high aspirations last season, especially after bringing in former Coach of the Year and NBA Champion Nick Nurse to lead a Sixers team fresh from Joel Embiid’s first NBA MVP season. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for the Sixers, as Embiid suffered an injury and missed most of the season, returning for the playoffs but never being 100%
The first step for the Sixers this offseason was to shore up their lineup with quality options in case of an Embiid injury. They made a splash by bringing in Paul George from the LA Clippers and acquiring valuable role players in Reggie Jackson and Caleb Martin. The significant burden on Tyrese Maxey should be alleviated after Philly’s offseason moves and their new depth has reignited thoughts of making the NBA Finals.
There’s no doubt that Joel Embiid is an MVP-level talent and could carry the Sixers to a fantastic regular-season finish. This year, the Sixers have made savvy moves to make up for his expected absences, which bodes well for their attempts to win the East. Fans and bettors will likely see many different Sixers lineups whose quality and depth are among the best in the conference.
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| Year | Record | Finish | Off Rtg | Def Rtg | Pace | PPG | Opp PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 49-33 | 3rd in NBA Eastern Conference | 118.4 (6th of 30) | 115.8 (19th of 30) | 99.9 (7th of 30) | 119.0 (4th of 30) | 116.4 (21st of 30) |
Head Coach: Doc Rivers
Key Players: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton
Key Additions: Gary Trent Jr., Delon Wright, Taurean Prince
Key Losses: Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jae Crowder
2024 NBA Playoffs:
East First Round: IND def. MIL 4-2
The Milwaukee Bucks have not met the mark since their 2021 NBA Championship. Injury has stopped their core from reaching their full potential, but there's promise behind their Antetokounmpo-Lillard star partnership. They fell to the Pacers in the First Round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, which sparked their strategy of reinforcing their roster with economical veteran contracts.
While the Bucks could not retain sharpshooter Malik Beasley's services, they have made up for it with a triple-scoop of capable veterans in Trent Jr., Wright, and Prince. The Bucks' game plan will always center around Antetokounmpo's dominance, so bringing in experienced shooters and playmakers will buoy the Bucks' chances in the East.
Milwaukee will have an entire offseason and training camp with Doc Rivers at the helm. The circumstances of his hiring remain controversial, but he still brings a championship pedigree and experience craved by top squads. If the Bucks' best players can stay on the court, expect them to be right back in the race for the conference crown.
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/1666344578/christian-jope.png "Christian jope")
Christian Jope
NBA Betting Analyst
| Email: | [email protected] |
|---|---|
| Nationality: | Canadian |
| Education: | Bachelor of Arts (Applied Economics) |
| Favourite Sportsbook: | FanDuel Sportsbook |
| Favourite Casino: | BetMGM Casino |
| Experience: | 6 years |
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