Trending Topics: Eastern Conference NBA Ranking Predictions

The new-look New York Knicks will be among the East's elite in the 2024-25 season.

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Periodically, NBA.com writers will comment on important storylines or trending topics around the league.

Make early predictions about how you see the Eastern Conference standings heading into the postseason.

Steve Ashburner

1. Boston Celtics
2. New York Knicks
3. Indiana Pacers
4. Philadelphia 76ers
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
6. Orlando magic
7. Miami Heat
8. Milwaukee Bucks
9. Atlanta Hawks
10. Chicago Bulls

In a society that seems obsessed with “change,” patting someone down every now and then can be a very cool thing. Nothing was broken in Boston, so there was no need for repairs anything. It's a great two-way roster with plenty of versatility and depth and stars that are only getting better.

New York looks to be resourceful enough to rise to the top of the East's Others, with a combination of leading man, supporting cast and toughness that none of its rivals can match. The Pacers' whole is greater than the sum of their parts. The Sixers really can't count on Joel Embiid, can they? Cleveland and Orlando are the little brothers who can't wait to get noticed. Miami isn't about regular seasons.

Milwaukee is my pick to fall – the bench is weak, Lillard is going down and that window has closed.

Brian Martin

1. Boston Celtics
2. New York Knicks
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
4. Philadelphia 76ers
5. Milwaukee Bucks
6. Orlando magic
7. Indiana Pacers
8. Miami Heat
9. Atlanta Hawks
10. Toronto Raptors

Boston remains in a league of its own, despite Kristaps Porzingis being sidelined at the start of the season.

New York (Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges) and Philly (Paul George, new supporting cast) both need to quickly integrate new stars into the mix, while teams like Milwaukee, Cleveland and Philadelphia need to avoid injuries to key players (see last season's decline) . of Philly without Joel Embiid).

Should any of the above teams fail, Orlando, Indiana and Miami are ready to pounce and avoid living in the dreaded playoff or SoFi play-in tournament bubble like last season.

Atlanta and Toronto round out the play-in field. The Hawks added No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher after parting ways with Dejounte Murray, and the Raptors are poised for a full season with their new young core centered around All-Star swingman Scottie Barnes.

Shaun Powell

1. Boston Celtics
2. New York Knicks
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
4. Philadelphia 76ers
5. Orlando magic
6. Milwaukee Bucks
7. Indiana Pacers
8. Miami Heat
9. Toronto Raptors
10. Atlanta Hawks

Boston should clinch the No. 1 spot, even if it won't be as breezy as the Knicks are designed to scare the Celtics a little. The Sixers should finish higher, but leaving Joel Embiid and Paul George for the playoffs will cost Philly some of the seeding.

The young Magic could gain home-field advantage in the first round if the Sixers aren't careful. Finally, the wild card is Milwaukee and whether the Bucks realize this is their last stand.

John Schuhman

1. Boston Celtics
2. New York Knicks
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
4. Indiana Pacers
5. Milwaukee Bucks
6. Philadelphia 76ers
7. Orlando magic
8. Miami Heat
9. Atlanta Hawks
10. Detroit Pistons

The Celtics could stay on cruise control for most of the season if they wanted, but it's hard to imagine coach Joe Mazzulla ever taking his foot off the gas. The same goes for Tom Thibodeau in New York. You could rank the next five teams in any order, but the Cavs and Pacers are the best candidates to grab the other two top-four seeds. Cleveland has great talent that continues to improve, while Indiana will be a pain in the ass defending it every night.

At full strength, the Sixers could be on par with the Knicks, but keeping Joel Embiid fresh will come at the expense of regular-season wins. At the low end, the retooled Pistons are likely to be hungrier for a spot in the SoFi Play-In Tournament than teams like Chicago and Toronto.