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It’s Boston, and then the rest until further notice.
Winning the NBA championship in rather comfortable fashion, the Boston Celtics established that they are the one who knocks in the East. Their closest competitors have tried to address the gap, and positive intent from the hunting contenders always adds intrigue.
Did the Knicks do enough? Is Milwaukee set for a bounceback season? Where does Philly stand with the addition of Paul George, and what does Jimmy Butler have left for Miami?
There’s some excitement at the bottom of the barrel as well, since the 2025 NBA Draft is expected to have a higher ceiling in terms of top talent than the one that passed us by a few months ago. The Cooper Flagg sweepstakes are about to get very real.
That draft is still a long way away and training camps are in the here and now. Staying in the present, here’s one burning question each East team faces as the upcoming season looms:
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CELTICS: Can the health streak continue?
Jayson Tatum has played at least 74 games in each of the past three seasons, Jaylen Brown has played at least 66, and Derrick White has played at least 73. Jrue Holiday has been with Boston for only a year, but he’s played at least 67 games in each of the last three seasons.
If those four players maintain that level of health for another season, the Celtics are going to be the class of the East — and the league — once again.
KNICKS: Can KAT handle the brightest of lights?
A strong Knicks season has since seen New York use a pair of trades to acquire Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Bojan Bogdanovic and a boatload of picks. That is unquestionably a significant upgrade on paper.
Towns did well to address some of his playoff woes in the last post-season, but the spotlight and pressure of New York is going to be a major step up from general expectations in Minnesota. He’ll also have to handle playing centre after the departure of Isaiah Hartenstein. Knicks fans love their Villanova crew that now includes Bridges, so you can bet any shortcomings this season will have a microscope on Towns.
BUCKS: Will moves around the edges bring back contention status?
Plenty of focus was placed on Doc Rivers, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton’s health for Milwaukee’s shortcomings last season. Rivers went 19-20 as head coach after replacing Adrian Griffin and his 30-13 tenure. Lillard averaged 24.3 points per game last season, down nearly eight points from the year before. Middleton played 55 games last season and averaged just 15.1 points. How well these three keep up with the standards of Giannis Antetokounmpo will be huge.
What happens at the margins, though, can oftentimes provide that X-factor in the post-season. That’s where Milwaukee will hope to have struck gold through the additions of Gary Trent Jr., Delon Wright and Taurean Prince.
CAVALIERS: How much longer will the key duos last?
In the frontcourt, you’ve got Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. In the backcourt, you’ve got Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell. This feels like the season where something has to give in one of those departments.
Cleveland’s lineup data shows how the team has seen greater success when one or the other is used relative to both, and with the second tier of the East looking fairly crowded, there may not be much more time to let these concepts marinate.
MAGIC: Can the backcourt stop the best of them?
Jalen Suggs is locked in as the starter, and his backcourt mate will be newly acquired Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Orlando will believe that, defensively, their duo can rival anyone, including Boston’s Holiday and White.
Defence was the Magic’s calling card last season, and while there are still questions to be answered offensively, how elite Suggs and Caldwell-Pope can be defensively may have the biggest bearing on Orlando’s success this season.
PACERS: How good can the Haliburton-Siakam duo really be?
Tyrese Haliburton never got near the MVP level he showed early last season after a hamstring injury slowed him down. It meant limited court time alongside Pascal Siakam, who was acquired in the middle of the season.
With a training camp and potentially healthy hamstring, Indiana will believe its top duo can lead a deep, talented roster back to the conference finals.
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76ERS: Is this Philly’s best shot since Jimmy Butler?
Tobias Harris just simply wasn’t that dude, and James Harden was disgruntled. Paul George, meanwhile, looks as good a theoretical fit alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey as anyone.
The biggest weakness Philadelphia has is its depth, and that’s something Daryl Morey will look to shore up come the trade deadline. Regardless, a big three of Embiid, George, Maxey is as intimidating as it gets in the second apron era.
HEAT: What’s left of Heat culture?
The last two regular seasons for Miami have been an absolute slog. It’s undoubtedly well propped up by the run to the NBA Finals a couple years ago, but one has to wonder if a 35-year-old Jimmy Butler truly has enough in the tank to get the Heat back into elite territory.
BULLS: Will LaVine finally be traded?
The departures of DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso seems to indicate Chicago is heading in a new direction. Coby White showed great promise last season, while Ayo Dosunmu made strides as well.
Zach LaVine’s name has been most prominent in trade rumours over the last couple seasons but nothing has failed to materialize due to a hefty contract attached to a wonky knee. With just a couple years remaining on the deal, perhaps a trade may be more plausible now along with a new era as a result.
HAWKS: Can the Hawks rebuild without a Trae Young trade?
There was plenty of smoke around Dejounte Murray as a trade candidate last season and that finally culminated in the deal with New Orleans we saw this summer.
The Hawks look ready to pivot with young pieces Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, Dyson Daniels and Kobe Bufkin, and the onus is now on Trae Young to prove he should remain the face of the franchise.
NETS: Is it April yet?
From a Canadian perspective, it’s great that men’s national team head coach Jordi Fernandez will be getting more head coaching reps with the Nets.
Beyond that, this is a team where Cam Thomas may have the most neon green of neon green lights and will be monitoring lottery odds from Day 1.
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RAPTORS: What does the BBQ core have in store?
Masai Ujiri wasted little time in letting the public know this will be a rebuilding season and that young players need time to learn how to win at the NBA level.
Ujiri also implied he expects nothing less than for his players to try to prove him wrong and compete at a high level. Low expectations may just be what Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett need to surprise the masses that expect another season with 50 or more losses.
HORNETS: Will Ball finally be healthy?
If Boston is looking for its health trends to continue, the Hornets are on the opposite end of the spectrum, hoping health can finally be on their side.
LaMelo Ball has played 36 and 22 games in each of the last two seasons. Brandon Miller looked terrific last season and this could be a tremendous backcourt pairing for years to come. The sooner they get time together on the court, the better.
WIZARDS: Can Alex Sarr be a genuine rebuild centrepiece?
Washington is firmly in the post-Bradley Beal era, and Wizards fans will be hoping Alex Sarr is the start of a beautiful turnaround. Or are they already off the wagon?
Sarr is an extremely mobile defensive big who can hold his own on the perimeter. His offence certainly has a long way to go, as evidenced by his 9-for-47 shooting during Summer League that included one game where he shot 0-for-15.
Playing next to Cooper Flagg a year from now may be the best thing for him.
PISTONS: Is it really about wins and lessons?
Detroit hasn’t won more than 23 games since the 2018-19 season. Yes, that’s so long ago, Kawhi Leonard was still a Toronto Raptor. At what point have you learned enough lessons and genuinely focus on competing at a higher level? Win more than 23 games, Detroit, I dare you.
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