Ramp to Camp: Who is the Celtics’ biggest threat in the East?

Ramp to Camp: Who is the Celtics’ biggest threat in the East? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Last season the Boston Celtics completely demolished the Eastern Conference.

Boston went 41-11 in the conference during the regular season, finishing 14 points ahead of its nearest rival (New York), and then lost just two games in three rounds of the playoffs before lifting the Bob Cousy Trophy.

This gives an efficiency of 0.803 in matches against the East over an eight-month period.

A common refrain this summer is how the East has gotten better. That seems like a fair suggestion based on the big swing moves some of its rivals have made or the experience the younger teams in the conference have gained last season. But it also seems fair to suggest that all of Boston’s conference rivals have a pretty significant gap to make up based on last season’s results.

Which team has the best chance of really pushing the Celtics in 2024-25? Part 2 of our Ramp to camp 2024 We asked NBC Sports Boston to rank the four best teams in the Eastern Conference behind the Celtics.Part 1 of the Ramp to Camp series can be read here.)

Here is our pre-season ranking of teams ranked 2nd through 5th:

Listen, no one on this network has vilified the Sixers more over the last half-decade than this writer, so Philly’s inclusion here should surprise a lot of people. But remember two things: 1) the 76ers made a huge leap this offseason, and 2) they have this muscular big man who can dominate a playoff series.

But enough about Guerschon Yabusele.

Jokes aside, we really like what the Sixers have done this summer. Sure, their overall ceiling depends on the health of Joel Embiid and whether he can move up and down the court during the playoff series. But between the development of Tyrese Maxey, the addition of Paul George, and a few intriguing additions (we really think Yabusele is ready to help an NBA team now), Philly has all the ingredients to be a real thorn in Boston’s side.

These are not the Sixers of the Tobias Harris era.

Man, we really wanted to put the Pacers here. They deserve a lot of credit for the way they pushed Boston, even in four games. But it seems undeniable that a healthy Knicks team is a class above Indiana, given their veteran talent.

New York added OG Anunoby last season, then made a big move by adding Mikal Bridges this summer. New York’s defense should be elite. There are holes to fill (Isaiah Hartenstein’s departure is imminent), but New York and its Villanova alumni group are an intriguing group.

4. Indiana Pacers

Every few years, a young team storms into the conference finals, and we wonder if that team is making a leap or just caught lightning in a bottle. (Hey, 2021 Hawks!) The Pacers showed some serious determination last season. Boston could have easily been down 2-1 in that series if not for a few big moments late in the game by Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday.

Indy still has areas where it needs to grow, but there is no reason to believe the offense will fall back to earth anytime soon.

We simply can’t ignore Milwaukee, if only because a healthy Giannis Antetokounmpo is still a beast. But the Bucks are a year older and never looked like real contenders for any consistent stretch of last season.

Maybe the Greek Freak will go supernova, but it’s hard to imagine the Bucks being able to run with some of these young, up-and-coming teams in the East. We’re not ready to pass the Cavaliers or Magic… yet. But time is running out.

Here’s how our panel — which itself rated the Celtics first in the East — predicts the next four teams in the conference will start the 2024-25 season.

Jan Tomase: 2. Knicks, 3. Pacers, 4. 76ers, 5. Cavs

New York: You have to keep everyone healthy, but if you can, the Knicks will be a problem, especially with defensive stopper Mikal Bridges in the lineup.

Indiana: Don’t make that face. Indy gave Boston its toughest series last year, even if it ended in a sweep. This offense is justified.

Philadelphia: Paul George is old and I’m not sold on the NBA’s newest “superteam.”

Cleveland: Size on offense and speed on defense, but let’s be realistic — neither of these teams can match C.

Tom Giles: 2. 76ers, 3. Bucks, 4. Knicks, 5. Pacers

Philadelphia: The acquisition of Paul George helped close that gap.

Milwaukee: People are underestimating the Bucks, who should be motivated after their early exit.

New York: You know they’re going to play hard and defend, but I’m not as enthusiastic about the Nova-Knicks as most people.

Indiana: They gained experience playing in the Eastern Finals and now have a full season under their belt with Pascal Siakam.

Mark Hazlett: 2. Bucks, 3. 76ers, 4. Cavs, 5. Pacers

Milwaukee: They are old, but Giannis is the boss.

Philadelphia: I can’t believe it either.

Cleveland: They have Donovan Mitchell and the pieces to move.

*Indiana: This crime is horrific.

*Insert Knicks fans looking like Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction.

Darren Hartwell: 2. Knicks, 3. 76ers, 4. Bucks, 5. Pacers

New York: Mikal Bridges should make New York even better defensively after finishing second in the NBA last season, and trade deadline acquisition OG Anunoby looks like he could be a big difference-maker when healthy.

Philadelphia: The trio of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George should be enough to propel the team to 50-plus wins… and another second-round exit in the playoffs.

Milwaukee: Don’t sleep on Damian Lillard, who has an entire offseason in Milwaukee under his belt and should feel more comfortable in the Bucks’ offense. But there simply isn’t enough depth here to take this team seriously.

Indiana: The offense is legit and Tyrese Haliburton is a future superstar. However, the Pacers need to make big strides defensively if they want to return to the ECF.

Justin Leger: 2. 76ers, 3. Knicks, 4. Bucks, 5. Heat*

*Not in the regular season, but in the playoffs if Miami stays healthy.

Nick Goss: 2. Knicks, 3. 76ers, 4. Bucks, 5. Pacers

Kevin Miller: 2. 76ers, 3. Bucks, 4. Knicks, 5. Cavs