One of the most important topics as the 2024–25 NBA season approaches is who will take home the NBA Championship. After an impressive 64 wins in the regular season and a 16-3 postseason performance, the Boston Celtics are the defending champions. The Golden State Warriors of 2017–18 are the only team to have won the title twice. But the Celtics have a chance to buck that pattern; let’s examine why.
Three Arguments for the Celtics to Win the NBA Championship Again
The Most Skillful and Reliable Group
The Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers, and New York Knicks all made big improvements throughout the summer. The Celtics are still the most accomplished and successful team in the league, though. The league’s finest starting five still include Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Jrue Holiday. All-Star buzz was generated by White during the previous season, and four of these players have made All-Star teams in their careers. Al Horford is a five-time All-Star and a superb sixth man even if he is past his prime. This group of All-Stars is unmatched by any other team. The fact that the role players for the Celtics are All-Star caliber players speaks something about their general skill.
With Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George, the 76ers have three All-Stars, but their fourth and fifth options aren’t on pace with the Celtics. The only All-Stars for the Knicks are Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. While still excellent role players, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby rank marginally lower than Holiday, White, and Porzingis. The only All-Star for the OKC is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder boast a number of excellent role players, including Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, but OKC’s inexperience is a major disadvantage. The other team with three All-Stars is the Timberwolves, led by Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, and Anthony Edwards. Although Minnesota has a lot of quality and depth, the Gobert-Randle frontcourt needs to show more.
Furthermore, only the Celtics have shown that they are a championship-winning team. It’s difficult to argue against the Celtics following their impressive 16-3 playoff run and with a nearly same group returning. Their edge will come from the on-court cohesion and playoff experience of the Celtics. The Denver Nuggets are the only other team with an entire core and a championship. But a title run is difficult given their already low three-point volume and the absence of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. In the end, the Celtics have the greatest talent and a stronger postseason record.
The key to the Celtics’ success has been their excellent balance. They were the only NBA champions with a top-three offense and defense after the 2017–2018 season, joining the Golden State Warriors and 2015 winners. The Celtics own an extremely potent offense with five players that are all-defensive caliber. The Celtics are unbeatable because of their level of balance, which gives them several winning options. Boston will probably be able to field a top-three offense and defense once more because they managed to keep their core intact. Although the Thunder and Knicks made progress this offseason toward matching Boston’s two-way balance, it is unlikely that they will be able to completely duplicate it.
A key component of the Celtics’ identity and success has also been their outstanding three-point shooting. Both the frequency and the number of three-pointers made by Boston last season lead the league. The five-out offensive strategy used by the Celtics enables them to historically dominate the game. Notably, the Celtics tied for the third-best net rating in history and had the fifth-best point differential. The volume and superior shooting of the Celtics make them unbeatable against any team in the NBA. The top eight players on the Celtics have the unusual ability to all shoot threes. The open shots that Tatum and Brown create on drive-and-kick plays, combined with the team’s five-out spacing, make the Celtics an offensive machine. Taking an X-and-O and statistical approach, it is difficult to choose against the Celtics.
The Background
Seven of the nine repeat champions have won more than 60 games in their inaugural season since the ABA and NBA merged. The Miami Heat in 2011–12 and the Houston Rockets in 1993–94 were the only two exceptions. The Heat had a 46–20 record during the lockout-shortened season, but they were among the most skilled teams ever built when they won 66 games the next year. It’s often mentioned that no team has won the title again since 2018, and it’s noteworthy that none of these teams have advanced past the second round. None of these champions, meanwhile, has triumphed in more than 60 games. The Celtics are the most well-rounded and formidable squad since the Stephen Curry–Kevin Durant Warriors, according to all statistical metrics. In the end, the Celtics’ 64-game victory streak and general domination over the previous campaign
Final Word
Even though a lot of teams have made big roster improvements, the odds are in favor of the Celtics winning the championship again. It is difficult to argue against the Celtics because of their outstanding talent, illustrious past, domination, and tradition of championship victories. Overall, the Celtics should be in a good position to win back-to-back games if they continue to be healthy. NBA Titles