Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

2024-25 opening night: Experts' picks for East, West and NBA champs

Written by 
Published in Breaking News
Tuesday, 22 October 2024 12:53

The 2024-25 NBA season is officially here!

The Boston Celtics begin their quest for back-to-back titles against the New York Knicks to kick off the NBA season (7:30 p.m. ET). After a dominant run through the playoffs, the Celtics enter this season as the favorites, but the depth of competition in the league won't make it easy for Boston to repeat.

The Knicks' busy offseason, which included bringing in Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, has title hopes high in New York, while the Philadelphia 76ers signed Paul George this offseason to maximize the prime of 2022-23 MVP Joel Embiid. Will either contender have enough star power to dethrone the Celtics in the Eastern Conference race?

In the Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder will try to build off of a memorable 2023-24 campaign during which they became the youngest No. 1 seed in NBA history. And OKC didn't stand pat, adding key players in Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein to bolster one of the deepest rosters in the league. The Minnesota Timberwolves, who face the Los Angeles Lakers on opening night (10 p.m. ET), also are among teams with eyes on the Larry O'Brien Trophy after Anthony Edwards took a giant leap last season. And despite the talent at the top of the conference, the Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets could all make noise in the crowded West race.

Will it be Oklahoma City-Boston in the Finals? Which other teams could crash the party? And which are most likely to be involved in trades? Our NBA experts make their picks.

MORE: 30-team preview | NBA Rank 100-51 | 50-11 | 10-1

Eastern Conference finals picks

Kendra Andrews: Celtics over Knicks in 6

Tim Bontemps: Celtics over 76ers in 6

Jamal Collier: 76ers over Celtics in 7

Chris Herring: Celtics over Knicks in 6

Baxter Holmes: Celtics over Knicks in 7

Tim MacMahon: Celtics over Bucks in 6

Bobby Marks: Celtics over Knicks in 6

Dave McMenamin: Celtics over Knicks in 6

Kevin Pelton: Celtics over 76ers in 6

Ramona Shelburne: Celtics over Sixers in 7

André Snellings: Celtics over 76ers in 7

Marc Spears: Celtics over Knicks in 6

Michael Wright: Celtics over Bucks in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk: Knicks over Celtics in 7


Final tally (East champs): Celtics 12, Knicks 1, 76ers 1

Western Conference finals picks

Andrews: Thunder over Mavericks in 6

Bontemps: Thunder over Nuggets in 6

Collier: Thunder over Mavericks in 6

Herring: Thunder over Wolves in 7

Holmes: Thunder over Timberwolves in 7

MacMahon: Thunder over Mavericks in 7

Marks: Suns over Thunder in 7

McMenamin: Timberwolves over Thunder in 6

Pelton: Thunder over Suns in 6

Shelburne: Thunder over Nuggets in 7

Snellings: Timberwolves over Thunder in 6

Spears: Thunder over Suns in 7

Wright: Thunder over Mavericks in 7

Youngmisuk: Thunder over Nuggets in 7


Final tally (West champs): Thunder 11, Timberwolves 2, Suns 1

NBA Finals picks

Andrews: Celtics over Thunder in 6

Bontemps: Celtics over Thunder in 6

Collier: 76ers over Thunder in 6

Herring: Celtics over Thunder in 6

Holmes: Celtics over Thunder in 7

MacMahon: Celtics over Thunder in 7

Marks: Celtics over Suns in 6

McMenamin: Celtics over Wolves in 5

Pelton: Thunder over Celtics in 7

Shelburne: Celtics over Thunder in 7

Snellings: Timberwolves over Celtics in 7

Spears: Celtics over Thunder in 5

Wright: Celtics over Thunder in 6

Youngmisuk: Knicks over Thunder in 7


Final tally (NBA champs): Celtics 10, Thunder 1, 76ers 1, Knicks 1, Timberwolves 1

BONUS! The team most likely to be active in the trade market is the _______

Andrews: Heat

Bontemps: 76ers

Collier: Heat

Holmes: Lakers

Herring: Lakers

MacMahon: Jazz

Marks: Warriors

McMenamin: Heat

Pelton: Pelicans

Shelburne: Warriors

Snellings: Bulls

Spears: Warriors

Wright: Lakers

Youngmisuk: Bucks


Final tally: Heat 3, Lakers 3, Warriors 3, Bucks 1, Bulls 1, Jazz 1, Pelicans 1, 76ers 1

Read 58 times

Soccer

Navas bids farewell in Sevilla defeat to Madrid

Navas bids farewell in Sevilla defeat to Madrid

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsJesús Navas played the last LaLiga game of his 21-year career on Su...

Salah-inspired Liverpool beat Spurs in 6-3 thriller

Salah-inspired Liverpool beat Spurs in 6-3 thriller

Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League with a dominant but chaotic 6-3 win a...

Amorim after loss: Man United in 'tough moment'

Amorim after loss: Man United in 'tough moment'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMANCHESTER, England -- Ruben Amorim wasn't kidding when he said "th...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Wall tries broadcasting, still hopes for NBA return

Wall tries broadcasting, still hopes for NBA return

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsORLANDO, Fla. -- John Wall was at the G League Winter Showcase last...

Wemby historic in 30-point, 10-block showcase

Wemby historic in 30-point, 10-block showcase

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsVictor Wembanyama scored 30 points and tied a career high with 10 b...

Baseball

Rickey Henderson wasn't as good as he says he was -- he was better

Rickey Henderson wasn't as good as he says he was -- he was better

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBefore he was a somebody, Rickey Henderson was already a constituen...

Phils acquire lefty Luzardo in trade with Marlins

Phils acquire lefty Luzardo in trade with Marlins

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Philadelphia Phillies acquired left-handed starter Jesus Luzard...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated