It's hard to believe, but the new NBA season is here. Fans across the planet can't wait for things to get started, as Boston is hoping to repeat as the champs. They bring back a loaded roster, which is going to make things tough for the rest of the teams out there. With that said, the Boston Celtics are the favorites to win the 2025 NBA Finals. Will Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and others get the job done?
Tatum and Brown are no question one of the best duos in the game. They showcased that last season, as they helped power Boston to the title. The Eastern Conference has some incredible teams, but the Celtics were able to dominate in the postseason and then get things done with the Larry O'Brien Trophy on the line. Now, Tatum and Brown will be ready to pick up where they left off.
| NBA Finals odds |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celtics to win | +350 | +350 | +350 |
| Thunder to win | +650 | +650 | +650 |
| Knicks to win | +750 | +750 | +750 |
| 76ers to win | +1000 | +1000 | +1000 |
“To be a part of Celtics history, you have to have won a championship," Tatum said in a recent interview with reporter Marc J. Spears. "We have 18 now. All the best players here have won a championship. You are held to the highest standard. You at least have to win one. It felt good to get that. I’m happy about that.”
According to the best sports betting sites, the Celtics have been given +350 basketball betting odds to win the Finals again this season. There are of course other powerhouses in contention, but the Celtics looked poised to make major noise from start to finish moving forward. It will be tough, but we're going with the Celtics as our pick to win it all once again.
A look at Jayson Tatum’s post-practice workout as he buries one three after another on the heels of the Celtics’ final session before opening night against the Knicks tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/RYWGEpKmdQ
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) October 21, 2024
The Knicks are hoping to overtake the Celtics in the Eastern Conference this year
While a lot of the attention is on the Celtics right now, keep in mind that the Knicks are hoping to overtake the Celtics in the Eastern Conference this year. There are some major changes in New York this campaign, as the front office pulled off a blockbuster trade to land Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves. It's a move that has a lot of people fired up.
With that said, there is still going to be a ton of pressure on Jalen Brunson to keep playing at a high level for the Knicks. Last campaign, Brunson looked like an MVP contender for New York, which was amazing to see. He won over so many hearts all over New York City, and his popularity has only grown in recent months. Brunson is ready and excited to perform like a superstar once again for this team.
The 2024-25 NBA season begins tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct. 22) with a TNT doubleheader as the New York Knicks visit the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics (7:30 p.m. ET) and the Los Angeles Lakers host the Minnesota Timberwolves (10 p.m. ET).
Below are the opening night rosters… pic.twitter.com/k9JEjrWiaf
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) October 21, 2024
Per the oddsmakers, the Knicks hold +750 odds to win the NBA Finals and +450 betting odds to win the Eastern Conference. It will be interesting to see if New York will be able to keep pace with Boston throughout the season, or if the Celtics will be able to run away with things. We think the Knicks will give Boston a run for their money, but we're sticking with the Celtics as our pick to win it all.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the top team in the Western Conference to push for the NBA Finals
On the other side of things, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the top team in the Western Conference to push for the NBA Finals. This should come as no surprise, as the Thunder were tremendous last year and now they're ready to pick up where they left off. With so much young talent on the squad, they're built to go on a deep postseason run.
Some NBA fans think the Nuggets might end up being the top contenders to take down the Celtics later this year, but you can't sleep on Oklahoma City. The Thunder are looking strong with the season here and the fanbase is feeling confident as well. Will OKC be able to win the Western Conference this year and maybe surprise some people in the Finals?
"A lineup I’m also excited about is me and Chet Holmgren together," new Thunder big man Isaiah Hartenstein said in a recent interview. "I think having him have the ability to roam like, kind of how with a different playing style, but like you know how Giannis Antetokounmpo can roam, he can block shots just everywhere."
Per the top NBA betting sites, the Thunder hold +650 odds to win the NBA Finals and +325 odds to win the Western Conference. Soon enough, we'll find out what's in store for the Thunder this year, but we think they'll end up winning their conference and go on to meet the Celtics in the Finals. We're picking Boston to win it all, but keep an eye on the Thunder this year too.
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