As early as now, some are already expecting the Philadelphia 76ers to be the biggest obstacle to the defending champions, the Boston Celtics, in the Eastern Conference thanks to a significant roster overturn that should further elevate their ceiling as a team.
At this juncture, though, and veering toward the side of caution, we beg to differ.
The Eastern Conference, no longer a breeze job for a hegemonic powerhouse as when LeBron James repped it for, well, eight consecutive years, will be a hell of a marathon next season. Boston will definitely be the gold standard, but Philadelphia would be incredibly well-served being mindful of the other teams desirous of poking them from underneath.
The 76ers aren’t the only ones with a lot to prove in the East next season
Aside from the Celtics, there are a handful of teams the 76ers should watch out for in 2024-25. New York, decimated by injuries last season yet was only a win away from a Conference Finals appearance, bolstered its nucleus with Mikal Bridges and the returns of Julius Randle and OG Anunoby.
MIlwaukee, led by a solid Big Three of its own, is always a threat to be a top seed as long as health permits. Indiana, last season’s runner-up in the East, touts continuity, a healthier Tyrese Haliburton, and a semi-young core with a lot of room to develop.
Some of the teams which the consensus have beneath Philly like Cleveland, Orlando, and Miami all have legitimate arguments to respectively compete for a top-four seed.
The Cavaliers now have a new offensive-minded head coach who can unlock a new dimension to its core. The Magic are an up-and-coming bunch with an underdog mindset powering their suffocating defense. The Heat have the NBA’s biggest wildcard in the form of Jimmy Butler and by extension, Erik Spoelstra.
The 76ers will have 82 games on the schedule, and most of those will come against their rivals in the Eastern Conference. Upending the Celtics, who are likely to make it to the ECF at the very least, is a valid input into their veins at this early juncture, but approaching the season holding a blind map and unaware of potential pitfalls would be a shot to their own feet.