NBA 2024-25 power rankings: Where Knicks stand among top contenders

Boston Celtics are the team to beat after going 64-18 during the regular season and 16-3 in the playoffs.

Oklahoma City Thunder shored up two major areas of need on the perimeter and in the paint with the additions of Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein .

Denver Nuggets didn’t really replace the 3 -and-D wing of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope .

The 76ers had arguably the best offseason in the NBA in pairing the nine -time All-Star George with Embiid and George .

The Bucks are banking on the star power of Lillard and Antetokounmpo after injuries derailed them in an opening-round loss to the Pacers .

The Pacers will be a factor in the East , but the Heat did very little to improve after an eighth -place finish a year ago .

The Kings may not be on the same level of the big four of the Mavericks , Nuggets , Timberwolves and Thunder , but they should finish no worse than sixth .

The Lakers are unlikely to be anything more than a play-in team as currently constituted.

The Lakers have done nothing this offseason, besides hiring Darvin Ham and losing out on all their top targets.

The Warriors have averaged 45 wins the last two seasons in the West .