NBA 2024-25 opening night – Experts’ picks for East, West and NBA champs

The 2024-25 NBA season is formally right here!

The Boston Celtics start their quest for back-to-back titles towards the New York Knicks to kick off the NBA season (7:30 p.m. ET). After a dominant run by way of the playoffs, the Celtics enter this season because the favorites, however the depth of competitors within the league will not make it simple for Boston to repeat.

The Knicks’ busy offseason, which included bringing in Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Cities, has title hopes excessive in New York, whereas the Philadelphia 76ers signed Paul George this offseason to maximise the prime of 2022-23 MVP Joel Embiid. Will both contender have sufficient star energy to dethrone the Celtics within the Jap Convention race?

Within the Western Convention, the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder will attempt to construct off of a memorable 2023-24 marketing campaign throughout which they grew to become the youngest No. 1 seed in NBA historical past. And OKC did not stand pat, including key gamers in Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein to bolster one of many deepest rosters within the league. The Minnesota Timberwolves, who face the Los Angeles Lakers on opening evening (10 p.m. ET), are also amongst groups with eyes on the Larry O’Brien Trophy after Anthony Edwards took a large leap final season. And regardless of the expertise on the high of the convention, the Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets might all make noise within the crowded West race.

Will it’s Oklahoma Metropolis-Boston within the Finals? Which different groups might crash the celebration? And that are most certainly to be concerned in trades? Our NBA specialists make their picks.

MORE: 30-team preview | NBA Rank 100-51 | 50-11 | 10-1

Jap Convention finals picks

Kendra Andrews: Celtics over Knicks in 6

Tim Bontemps: Celtics over 76ers in 6

Jamal Collier: 76ers over Celtics in 7

Chris Herring: Celtics over Knicks in 6

Baxter Holmes: Celtics over Knicks in 7

Tim MacMahon: Celtics over Bucks in 6

Bobby Marks: Celtics over Knicks in 6

Dave McMenamin: Celtics over Knicks in 6

Kevin Pelton: Celtics over 76ers in 6

Ramona Shelburne: Celtics over Sixers in 7

André Snellings: Celtics over 76ers in 7

Marc Spears: Celtics over Knicks in 6

Michael Wright: Celtics over Bucks in 7

Ohm Youngmisuk: Knicks over Celtics in 7

Ultimate tally (East champs): Celtics 12, Knicks 1, 76ers 1

Western Convention finals picks

Andrews: Thunder over Mavericks in 6

Bontemps: Thunder over Nuggets in 6

Collier: Thunder over Mavericks in 6

Herring: Thunder over Wolves in 7

Holmes: Thunder over Timberwolves in 7

MacMahon: Thunder over Mavericks in 7

Marks: Suns over Thunder in 7

McMenamin: Timberwolves over Thunder in 6

Pelton: Thunder over Suns in 6

Shelburne: Thunder over Nuggets in 7

Snellings: Timberwolves over Thunder in 6

Spears: Thunder over Suns in 7

Wright: Thunder over Mavericks in 7

Youngmisuk: Thunder over Nuggets in 7

Ultimate tally (West champs): Thunder 11, Timberwolves 2, Suns 1

NBA Finals picks

Andrews: Celtics over Thunder in 6

Bontemps: Celtics over Thunder in 6

Collier: 76ers over Thunder in 6

Herring: Celtics over Thunder in 6

Holmes: Celtics over Thunder in 7

MacMahon: Celtics over Thunder in 7

Marks: Celtics over Suns in 6

McMenamin: Celtics over Wolves in 5

Pelton: Thunder over Celtics in 7

Shelburne: Celtics over Thunder in 7

Snellings: Timberwolves over Celtics in 7

Spears: Celtics over Thunder in 5

Wright: Celtics over Thunder in 6

Youngmisuk: Knicks over Thunder in 7

Ultimate tally (NBA champs): Celtics 10, Thunder 1, 76ers 1, Knicks 1, Timberwolves 1

BONUS! The workforce most certainly to be lively within the commerce market is the _______

Andrews: Warmth

Bontemps: 76ers

Collier: Warmth

Holmes: Lakers

Herring: Lakers

MacMahon: Jazz

Marks: Warriors

McMenamin: Warmth

Pelton: Pelicans

Shelburne: Warriors

Snellings: Bulls

Spears: Warriors

Wright: Lakers

Youngmisuk: Bucks

Ultimate tally: Warmth 3, Lakers 3, Warriors 3, Bucks 1, Bulls 1, Jazz 1, Pelicans 1, 76ers 1