ESPN has their Summer Forecast panel that makes predictions and answers questions about the upcoming NBA season. In an article posted on Wednesday, they were asked for their projected Eastern Conference standings for the 2024-25 season. Each ‘expert’ gave their predictions on the win-loss records of each team in the East. Those records were averaged out, and a projected final Eastern Conference standings were revealed.
ESPN Predicts NBA Eastern Conference Standings For 2024-25
Eastern Conference Playoff Teams
- 1. Boston Celtics 61-21
- 2. New York Knicks 53-29
- 3. Philadelphia 76ers 52-30
- 4. Cleveland Cavaliers 50-32
- 5. Milwaukee Bucks 49-33
- 6. Orlando Magic 47-35
It shouldn’t surprise anyone to see the Celtics leading the way. The reigning NBA champions retained all their key pieces from last season. Their 123.2 offensive rating in 2023-24 is the best in league history, and they went 16-3 in the playoffs. A 61-win season would actually be three less than they won in 2023-24.
The Knicks (Mikal Bridges) and 76ers (Paul George) both made a huge addition this offseason in hopes of chasing down Boston. The Cavaliers have a new head coach (Kenny Atkinson), Milwaukee has a full season with Doc Rivers at the helm, and the Magic upgraded the shooting guard position by signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
While the standings are tight behind Boston, it isn’t as tight as it was in 2023-24. There was just a four-win difference between the second seed (Knicks) and eighth seed (Heat) last season in the Eastern Conference.
Eastern Conference Play-In Teams
- 7. Indiana Pacers 46-36
- 8. Miami Heat 45-37
- 9. Atlanta Hawks 31-51
- 10. Chicago Bulls 30-52
Wow! Just look at that steep drop-off between seeds eight and nine of 14 wins. The current version of the NBA’s Play-In Tournament has been around since the 2020-21 season. The worst team to qualify in that time has been the San Antonio Spurs, who were the West’s 10th seed in 2021-22 at 34-48. ESPN’s Summer Forecast is projecting both Atlanta and Chicago to qualify for the Play-In Tournament with worse records. Both the Hawks (Dejounte Murray) and Bulls (DeMar DeRozan) no longer have one of their top players from last season.
The Pacers are fresh off an Eastern Conference Finals appearance. Not many are predicting them to make it that far again this season. While finishing as the seventh seed here seems like a large drop-off, it is just one game worse than their 47-35 record last season. A 45-37 record would likewise be a one-win decrease for the Heat from last season.
Outside The Playoff Race Looking In
- 11. Toronto Raptors 26-56
- 12. Brooklyn Nets 22-60
- 13. Charlotte Hornets 21-61
- 14. Detroit Pistons 20-62
- 15. Washington Wizards 17-65
Let the tanking for Cooper Flagg commence! This isn’t all that different from last season though. Four of these five teams won just 25 games in 2023-24. While the Nets won 32, they traded away Bridges to the Knicks in the offseason, and there is a good chance other veteran pieces may be traded away by the trade deadline.
Even though a 20-62 record would be a six-win improvement from 2023-24, it would still be a disappointing year for the Pistons. They changed head coaches and added much-needed shooting to the roster by bringing in Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Malik Beasley.
