The playoffs for the 2024/25 National Basketball Association (NBA) are about six weeks away but, having an appreciation for how impactful each of the remaining games can be, it can never be too early to take a look at the playoff picture. Sixteen teams, out of a total of 30, will make the NBA playoffs, eight teams each from both the Eastern and Western Conferences. The top six seeds in each conference advance based on their regular season record, and the final two seeds in each conference are determined by the NBA Play-In Tournament.

If the playoffs started today, the following teams would comprise the top six seeds in each conference, respectively: In the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons, while in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers would advance.

The Play-In Tournament, which will run from April 15-18, if started today, would see the Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls competing in the East, while the West would feature the Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings. Of course, with about 23 games remaining per team, things can change before the postseason begins but, while there might be a bit of shuffling of the seeds (particularly in the middle of the pack), these teams should be the ones left standing in the middle of April.

This weekend, some of the top seeds in both conferences will face each other in mouthwatering clashes. None more so than the Cavaliers visiting the Celtics in TD Garden tonight, for a top of the table matchup. The defending champion Celtics find themselves second in the table behind a Cavaliers team that has been overperforming from the first whistle this season on the strength of a 15-0 start.

Boston is third in the league in offensive rating (119) and fifth in defensive rating (109.6), and they have won two of the three matchups this season against Cleveland, including a 112-105 win earlier this month. They are also 3-0 against the third-seeded Knicks, proving that the road to winning the East passes through them. However, Cleveland is the No 1 scoring team in the association, averaging 122.9 points per game, ranking second in field goal percentage (49.8 per cent), first in 3-point percentage (39.1 per cent), third in assists (29.1), and fourth in fewest turnovers (13.2) per game.

This top of the Eastern table clash promises fireworks in Boston and must be considered the marquee game this weekend. It’s very hard to pick a winner, but the Celtics are at home and should make the most of their raucous crowd. The Cavaliers who, in 1970, were given that moniker by a then-29-year-old district manager named Jerry Tomko, are proving this season that it is well deserved. Tomko wrote in an essay at the time, “The name Cavaliers represents a group of daring, fearless men, whose life’s pact was never surrender, no matter what the odds.” A fitting description for this season’s Cavaliers as they enter an expected dogfight this evening.

Also, a rejuvenated Lakers, with the addition of Luka Doncic earlier this month, will take on the Clippers tonight and Sunday night in Crypto.com Arena, a place where they both called home until last year. Historically, over the past 12 seasons the Clippers have had the better of their neighbours, but last season the Lakers won three of the four meetings, and the teams have split the two matchups so far this season. The most recent encounter was on February 4 when Doncic arrived and had the opportunity to watch from the sideline as the Lakers manhandled the Clippers 122-97.

Since January 15, the Lakers have had the league’s best record, but they are coming off a matchup against the Timberwolves last night, while the Clippers last played on Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls. With an ageing LeBron James trying to run the floor and Doncic, who is not in the best of condition, being the focal point of the team, three games in four days might be a big ask, and one or both will see limited time on the floor by Sunday, or maybe not suit up at all.

That said, the Lakers are leading a charge to the playoffs, which begins on April 19, and are playing with a renewed sense of confidence. They rank No 13 in defensive rating overall this season but are No 3 since making the trade for Doncic. They had statement wins over the past month against the Celtics, Nuggets, Knicks, Warriors (twice) and Clippers and, along with LeBron and Doncic, Austin Reeves is also there to provide nightmares to defenders with his craft and unpredictability off the dribble.

For the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard should be available and is set to bolster their overall effectiveness. In his last seven appearances for the franchise, the star forward averaged 17.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.1 steals across that span. Despite shooting only 42.0 per cent from the field in those seven games, Leonard shot an impressive 44.1 per cent from the 3-point arc. Ben Simmons should also be back in the rotation and his 8.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.7 blocks across the first three appearances since joining the Clippers should prove invaluable against the Lakers this weekend.

If at full strength, the Lakers are expected to prevail, but by the time Sunday comes around fatigue may take its toll. At this stage of the season it boils down to who wants it more, and if LeBron has a say in the matter, he will be the difference-maker, even at 40 years old. There are 25 NBA games on offer this weekend and each will carry its own lofty expectations. Nothing is ever guaranteed in sports but, if half these games prove as exciting as anticipated, NBA fans are in for a genuine treat.

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NBA 2024/25 Champion

Team Odds

Boston Celtics 2.90

Oklahoma City Thunder 3.10

Cleveland Cavaliers 8.00

Denver Nuggets 15.00

Denver Nuggets 16.00

Los Angeles Lakers 17.00

Milwaukee Bucks 26.00

Memphis Grizzlies 35.00

LA Clippers 45.00

Golden State Warriors 50.00

*Only Top 10 odds shown (see website for full list)

Note: Odds are subject to change