2024 NBA Playoff predictions

With the 2024 National Basketball Association (NBA) Play-in Tournament concluding, four of the eight teams that participated advanced to the 2024 NBA Playoffs. After an absolute electric play-in tournament, the four teams that advanced were the New Orleans Pelicans, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Miami Heat, and the Philadelphia 76ers. Now everyone is asking one question: who is going to win the playoffs and be crowned the 2024 NBA champions? Out of the sixteen teams that are participating in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, I personally believe that there are only two true contenders who have a chance at winning it all. These teams are the Denver Nuggets and the Boston Celtics.

The Denver Nuggets really do not need an explanation on why they are one of the favorites to win the 2024 NBA Playoffs, as they had won the title last year. They are the current defending champions, and they are seeking to add another championship to their resume this year. Not only does being the reigning champions help the Denver Nuggets’ odds, but they also have the best player in the world: Nikola Jokić. Jokić, this season, averaged 26.4 points per game, dished out 9 assists per game, and snagged 12.4 rebounds per game. Jokić also proved last year that his team has what it takes to win it all, while also being the first option of the team. Despite all that Jokić brings to the Denver Nuggets, the Nuggets have quite the competition to get through to make it to the 2024 NBA Finals. The Nuggets will have to play the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, most likely the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round, and either the Los Angeles Clippers or the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Conference Finals.

For the Boston Celtics, they are the team that most people have said are going to win it all, when it comes to the 2024 NBA Playoffs. They have a higher net rating than any other team in the league, won seven more games than the Denver Nuggets, have the highest offensive rating in the league, and have the second highest defensive rating in the league. Kristaps Porziņģis staying healthy for almost the entire season has helped the Celtics out a ton, as they have always had a glaring issue at the center position. The combination of Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown has been fantastic for them as well on the defensive side of the ball. If the Boston Celtics can keep their level of play up for the entire playoffs, then it will be an absolute challenge to try and defeat them in a seven-game series. Their route to the Finals is also significantly easier compared to the Denver Nuggets, as they play a Miami Heat team without Jimmy Butler, either the Orlando Magic or Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round, and either the Milwaukee Bucks or New York Knicks in the Conference Finals.

Between the two teams, I personally believe that the Boston Celtics will win the 2024 NBA Finals. Despite how good Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets are, I think that the Boston Celtics have more depth than the Denver Nuggets this year. Last year, the Nuggets had a ton of depth which helped propel them forward to a championship win, but a lot of those players have moved on to different teams. Time will only tell, but it seems as if we are going to have a competitive set of playoff games in the NBA 2024 Playoffs.