The Celtics Are Favorite For NBA Glory, But Can the Knicks or Thunder Spoil the Party?

The 2024-25 National Basketball Association (NBA) regular season is still in its relevant infancy, but that does not mean that the standings are not starting to take shape. November is almost done and dusted, and those who know how to bet on NBA games online have already singled out the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and the Oklahoma City Thunder as the three teams most likely to capture the NBA Championship.

The Boston Celtics are the hot favorite to become NBA champions for the second consecutive year. They are looking to qualify for back-to-back finals for the first time since 1986 and 1987 and to win back-to-back championships for the first time since 1968 and 1969.

Boston Celtics Have Been Fast Out of the Blocks

Head coach Joe Mazzulla has the Celtics purring like a well-oiled machine. Stevens' roster is crammed with elite-level talent. On their day, the Celtics are unstoppable. Starting the season as reigning champions, having secured their NBA record-tying 18th title last year, the Celtics faced the New York Knicks in the season's opening game. Many basketball experts and pundits predicted the Knicks would be the Celtics' biggest threat this season, but the game at the TD Garden was akin to men against boys.

Jayson Tatum was incredible on the opening night, racking up 37 points, ten assists, and four rebounds as the Celtics brushed aside the Knicks, running out 132-109 winners. Derrick White scored 24 points, and Jaylen Brown added 23. Amazingly, the Celtics scored 29 three-pointers, equalling the record the Milwaukee Bucks set in late December 2020 when they blitzed the Miami Heat 144-97.

The Celtics are 12-3 at the time of writing. They endured a 132-135 overtime loss at the Indiana Pacers on Game 5, fell 112-118 on Game 9 at home to the Golden State Warriors, and suffered a narrow 116-117 home defeat against the Atlanta Hawks.

Even at this early stage of the season, the Celtics look like the team to beat. Tatum is averaging 29.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game and looks worthy of every cent of the $314 million contract extension he signed in July. Unless injuries ravage the Celtics roster, it is challenging to see who will stop their march to a 19th NBA title.

The New York Knicks Are Failing to Live Up To The Hype

New York Knicks fans went into this season full of confidence and optimism. The Knicks last reached the NBA Finals in 1998-99, when the San Antonio Spurs beat them 4-1. However, with key players returning from injuries, some solid draft picks, and some new additions, experts touted the Knicks as legitimate challengers to the Celtics' crown.

Last season, the Knicks finished 50-32, improving their winning 47-35 campaign. OG Anunoby hit the ground running following his move from the Toronto Raptors, while Julius Randle was on fire before a season-ending dislocated shoulder halted him in his tracks. The Knicks navigated to the conference semifinals, where the Indiana Pacers beat them 3-4 despite the Knicks starting 2-0.

The 2024-25 season was meant to be when the Knicks pushed on and became legitimate NBA championship contenders. However, through their first 14 games, the Knicks are nursing an 8-6 record, which is hardly title-winning form. They are on a four-game winning streak, but inconsistency is costing the Knicks; champions tend not to be inconsistent at any stage of the season.

Injuries to Mitchell Robinson and Precious Achiuwa and the loss of Isaiah Hartenstein to free agency haven't helped the Knicks' cause. Losing these physical players meant that someone undersized needed to step up, and Josh Hart is doing that. Hart averages 9.0 rebounds per game, his best-ever total as a professional player, and he is the only player under 6-foot-9 in the league's leading contested defensive rebound standings.

The Knicks' offensive capabilities make them second-favorite for this season's NBA championship. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns can score 30 points or more in a single game, while Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby seem to rack up at least 15 points in every game they play. Any team that can put the ball in the hoop can win basketball games.

Oklahoma City Thunder Moved Forward as Others Stepped Back

Basketball fans who follow the Western Conference agree that the Oklahoma City Thunder were the only team that improved during the offseason, with almost every other franchise taking a step back. This fact alone means the Thunder are the West's most likely team to upset the apple cart come the season's end.

The Thunder have started the regular season in fine form and are 12-4 after 16 games. They lost 122-124 at the Denver Nuggets in Game 8, lost 116-127 at home to the Golden State Warriors, and fell to back-to-back defeats against the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs in Games 14 and 15 before bouncing back on November 20 with a 109-99 win against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Talented young center Chet Holmgren fractured his pelvis in the loss to the Warriors and could spend a significant period in the treatment room. However, Isiah Hartenstein, a free agency signing from the New York Knicks, has recovered from a broken bone in his left hand and enjoyed a double-double on his Thunder debut against the Trail Blazers.

Any team boasting Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a genuine shot at the title. Gilgeous-Alexander has been outstanding so far, top-scoring in eight of the Thunder's games, including an incredible career-high 45 points against the L.A. Clippers in Game 11.

Conclusion

Although the 2024-25 NBA regular season is still in the early stages, the league standings are taking shape. The Boston Celtics are favorites with most bookmakers to win back-to-back championships, and making a case against them is difficult.

That said, the New York Knicks have some incredibly talented offensive players. In contrast, the Oklahoma City Thunder have a well-rounded roster capable of beating any team put in front of them. Then, there are the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are currently 16-1, and the Golden State Warriors (11-3), who know their way around a basketball court. This season looks like it could be one of the most closely fought contests in living memory, and that is excellent news for NBA neutrals.