As the summer of 2024 begins to wind down, the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season is just two months away. Throughout the offseason, several teams have made significant roster changes to become contenders, especially in the loaded Eastern Conference to contend with the Boston Celtics, the defending champions. Boston will feel what it is like to be the hunted team, instead of the team that is chasing a championship. However, the Celtics will not be the only team facing the championship or bust pressure in October.
3 Eastern Conference Teams Under Pressure This Season
New York Knicks
Last season, the New York Knicks had one of their best seasons in a long time. They made the playoffs and were the second-best team in the Eastern Conference. As a result, of some shrewd moves during the last few seasons. The Knicks were able to add Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets. Which completed the “Villanova Knicks” moniker that they had going on in the playoffs. To get Bridges the Knicks gave up six first-round picks. As a result, coming into this season they will have a lot of pressure on them.
The Knicks now have a star duo in Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle that provide the firepower on the offensive side. In addition to those players, they have a one-two defensive punch in Bridges and OG Anunoby, which should be able to shut down the best wing players in each conference.
With those championship contention expectations comes the pressure to perform. Developing that chemistry between New York’s top-four players will determine how far they go in the 2024-25 season.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers had a disappointing end to their 2023-24 season, losing to the Knicks in a six-game playoff showdown. As a result of that disappointing finish, they have constructed one of the best rosters in the league this offseason. They are bringing Paul George, Andre Drummond, and Caleb Martin to Philly. The acquisition of George should give them arguably the best-scoring trio in the league.
Attaining all that talent brings championship-level expectations to Philly. Additionally, the Sixers are now financially committed to the core of George, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid. The two most important things for Philly’s new trio will be developing chemistry, and figuring out who the closer is.
If the Sixers can deal with the championship expectations and have an unproblematic growing period between their new trio throughout the season they will be in a great position to bring a championship to Philadelphia, for the first time since 1983. Ultimately, the Sixers will be the team under the most pressure in the Eastern Conference especially considering the lack of playoff success in the Embiid era.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics were finally able to secure their 18th championship banner in June. They are now the defending champions and will get every team’s best shot from October until June 2025. The Celtics, cannot make any big roster moves this season, because of being over the second apron. Furthermore, they will not have Kristaps Porzingis available throughout the first couple of months of the season.
So, all of the pressure to defend their title and keep the team afloat will be on their duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. They should be able to keep them afloat until Porzingis returns, but it will be important for them to find a third scorer to spread the scoring load. If the Celtics are able to survive the first half of the season, without falling below third place in the Eastern Conference they should be in a great position to defend their title in the playoffs and get home-court advantage at least through the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
