2024-25 NBA Eastern Conference Odds and Predictions

The Boston Celtics got the banner back, as Jayson Tatum and co. dispatched the Western Conference’s Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals last year.

Does that give us a sign of things to come in the Eastern Conference? The odds may suggest it, just as much as recent history might.

The writing may have been on the wall when Boston made it to the NBA Finals three years ago, and after bolstering an already strong roster, they now could be unstoppable.

So, do you bet on the Celtics to make it out of the east again, or go a different route? I already looked at the 2024-25 NBA Western Conference odds to answer a similar question. Now it’s time to decide what to do out east.

Let’s look over the latest Eastern Conference odds and come away with a prediction.

2024-25 NBA Eastern Conference Odds

The Boston Celtics are the clear favorites to dominate the Eastern Conference again in 2024-25. They just got done handling the Dallas Mavericks fairly easily in the NBA Finals, and they went a league-leading 64-18 during the regular season.

All things considered, their NBA odds for this betting market are pretty appealing. Boston is positively loaded up top, they have excellent coaching, and one could argue they could push for 70+ wins next season.

The Eastern Conference appears to be fairly top-heavy in general. You can quickly split it up into clear tiers. Boston is the number one team by a good amount, then you have the 76ers, Knicks, and Bucks, and assuming those teams are healthy, everyone else is in the third tier.

Of course, dominating the regular season and making noise in the NBA playoffs are two very different things. So, there might be more to betting on the Eastern Conference champion than meets the eye.

To help you gauge the top NBA picks for this market, I’ll break down the top favorites, and even point you to my favorite value bets.

NBA Eastern Conference Favorites

Betting on the NBA Eastern Conference winner? Start with the following three teams.

Boston doesn’t need a big sales pitch. They won 64 games and coasted to the top seed in the east, and they really weren’t threatened en route to the franchise’s 18th title, which is the most in NBA history.

To be frank, the Celtics probably could have been even more dominant than they were in the NBA playoffs, but they were very cautious with the health of big man Kristaps Porzingis.

The team is going to be a serious problem for years to come, assuming they can stay healthy and keep their core together. Jayson Tatum (26.9 points per game) and Jaylen Brown (23 points per game) are a dynamic duo that alone make the Celtics a feared squad.

Boston added the glue to their roster last summer, though, when they got underrated point guard Jrue Holiday. He proved to be a useful weapon on offense, but was especially impactful on the defensive end of the floor.

There’s also the aforementioned Porzingis and shooting guard Derrick White, who round out the most talented starting five the NBA has to offer.

Everyone is back for more in 2024-25, and that includes ageless wonder, Al Horford. Boston’s only real threat to not reaching the NBA Finals for the third time in four years might be their own potential complacency.

Regardless, they feel like a lock to get there (and probably win) again. The fact that you can get them at plus money (and they don’t even need to win it all) is insane.

New York Knicks +450

If the Celtics somehow implode or get hurt, the New York Knicks are undeniably the most likely threat that will be waiting to take over the east.

New York seemed to get worn down as the NBA playoffs went on last year, but they still had a sensational season. The team lost big man Julius Randle to injury early on, but kept on trucking to a 50-32 record.

They ultimately snagged the second overall seed and got to the second round, where they flamed out in seven games against the Indiana Pacers. Indy benefited from two straight series where teams simply were not at full strength, so a healthy Knicks squad would be picked to win that matchup come next year.

That’s the main reason the Knickerbockers look good at this +450 price; they did as well as they did even though they were running on fumes.

Jalen Brunson (28.7 points per game) turned into a legit superstar, while the team managed to unearth potential gems in Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart. Both will be back to help Brunson push the Knicks further, while it remains to be seen how a healthy and motivated Randle works into New York’s title aspirations.

Gone is big man Isaiah Hartenstein, however, so there could be a rebounding hole in the paint the team needs to address eventually.

All that said, what we saw last year may be just the beginning of a magical run for New York. The team is not without its question marks, but they have good coaching and they were 10th in defensive efficiency.

This team will ultimately probably only go as far as Jalen Brunson can carry them, but as it turns out, that might be pretty far.

Milwaukee Bucks +600

I won’t lie and say the Philadelphia 76ers shouldn’t at least be considered ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks. However, Philly has a star in Joel Embiid that flat out never gets it done come playoff team, while the team as a whole has struggled to stay healthy.

Milwaukee has had a similar issue lately, but they’ve at least proven they can win in postseason play, and they have a little more star power to lean on.

There’s no denying that the Bucks struggled last season. They brought in a rookie head coach, fired him after a solid start, and replaced him with Doc Rivers. I never loved that move, but one thing can’t be denied; Milwaukee’s defense saw a major spike after that change.

Rivers is notorious for allowing talented teams to flounder and collapse, but he got the Bucks to play good defense. In theory, if the offense can finally click, the Bucks could have a nasty squad on their hands.

And why can’t it? Giannis Antetokounmpo is a yearly NBA MVP candidate given his scoring (30.4 points per game) and rebounding (11.5), while Damian Lillard still offers high-level play-making and superstar-esque scoring ability.

On paper, the Bucks have a “big three” with Khris Middleton rounding out their top trio. The only real issue? The supporting cast is a bit thin and nobody knows if they can trust Doc come playoff time.

That is, of course, unless the arrival of sharpshooter Gary Trent Jr. can put this team over the top.

I’m with everyone in that doubt, but I tend to trust Giannis. It all comes down to health, though. If he, Dame, and Middleton are actually on the floor together for most of 2024-25, this team has a chance to make an epic run.

NBA Eastern Conference Betting Value

Seeking more value with your NBA Eastern Conference betting picks? Try these two values.

Miami Heat +2000

When we’re talking about betting on someone to emerge from the Eastern Conference and reach the NBA Finals, I’m not sure we can cross the Miami Heat off of our list.

Jimmy Butler and this Miami squad have built a reputation on overcoming the odds, and while he’s getting a bit long in the tooth, he’s still the leader of a team capable of another special run.

Butler isn’t acting on his own here, either. Tyler Herro put up 20.8 points per game and tied for the team lead in scoring for the Heat along with Jimmy. There’s also Bam Adebayo down low, who brings an underrated defensive edge and a nightly double-double threat.

Terry Rozier and Jaime Jazquez round out a solid rotation that, much like the Bucks, simply needs to get and stay healthy to truly be relevant in this conversation.

But the Heat are endlessly ferocious and opportunistic. Their tendency to get banged up and drop in the standings makes them an impossible out against seemingly superior foes later in the year, often setting them up for underdog status even though we know they’re better than that.

The act could be wearing thin, and time might be running out. But to get Jimmy Butler and the South Beach crew at +2000 for one last ride? That could be awfully tough to pass up.

Indiana Pacers +2500

I could stop at the Heat, largely because projecting anyone beyond Boston to escape the east already feels like a reach. That said, the Indiana Pacers have a similar price, and they did show last season that they have a lot of fight.

As noted, Indy benefited immensely from their opponents dealing with untimely injuries, but they still deserve credit for taking advantage and getting the job done.

Indiana still won two series and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, which at the very least displayed that they’re a dangerous team that now has experience on their side.

The Pacers didn’t put up much of a fight in a 4-0 sweep by the hands of the Boston Celtics, but it’s possible they’ll have a better chance if they are handed that same matchup again this season.

Tyrese Haliburton heads a very talented, but still young Indiana crew. Myles Turner and Pascal Siakam give him two solid running mates that can make an impact at both ends of the floor as well, while Benedit Mathurin has proven to be a solid scorer.

Indiana is admittedly one big move from truly contending this season, but they have talent and will go into 2024-25 with endless confidence. They had the league’s second fastest offense last year, so even if things don’t lead them to an NBA Finals trip, we know they’ll be fun to watch and are certainly fully capable of surpassing expectations.

Best NBA Eastern Conference Longshot

If I am being honest, there isn’t a true longshot bet. I probably already talked them up in Miami and Indiana, and even they might be stretches.

That said, the Atlanta Hawks might have one last gasp in them. They did appear to waive the white flag when they traded Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans, but as long as they have stud point guard Trae Young in town, they’ll have a shot.

Young has delivered playoff heroics in the past, so the big obstacle to get the ball rolling is fielding a team that can safely enter the postseason. We know Young can score (25.7 points per game) and set his teammates up (10.8 assists per game), but can he elevate his team to title-contending status?

Atlanta’s framework isn’t horrible. Bogdan Bogdanovic is a solid secondary option, Clint Capela can handle business inside, and a huge leap from Jalen Johnson (who was already playing well), could round out an underrated roster.

The Hawks haven’t been good, and nobody is picking them to reach the Finals. But the Mavs weren’t expected to do it, either. As long as Young is there, the Hawks at +15000 Eastern Conference odds aren’t completely out of play.

NBA Eastern Conference Predictions

I won’t waste your time here. Boston is the best team in the east. They are a problem defensively, they are sick offensively, they have the best starting five, and they have the best coaching staff.

Boston’s bench is even solid.

The Celtics also have the confidence of a defending champion. The only thing getting in their way, realistically speaking, is a rash of unforeseen injuries.

This has to be one of my favorite NBA wagers of the off-season. You don’t even need to bet on Boston to repeat. Just bet on them to get back to the NBA Finals and you win.

Bet: Boston Celtics +130

NBA Eastern Conference Prop Bets

Want more options when betting on the Eastern Conference this year? Consider the following props:

Eastern Conference Top Seed

• Boston Celtics -125
• New York Knicks +475
• Philadelphia 76ers +500
• Milwaukee Bucks +700
• Cleveland Cavaliers +1800

You can bet on which team will earn the top seed in the Eastern Conference. A tad concerned Boston will eventually succumb to injuries or get upset in the playoffs? It’s not impossible, but it doesn’t make a ton of sense that they wouldn’t have the best record in the conference.

Philly, New York, Milwaukee, and perhaps the Cleveland Cavaliers are all in the mix, to be sure. If I had to make a secondary bet, it’d be between the 76ers and Bucks. But much like the original wager, I am sticking with the Celtics here.

Bet: Boston Celtics -125

Eastern Conference 2nd Seed

• Boston Celtics +300
• New York Knicks +350
• Philadelphia 76ers +375
• Milwaukee Bucks +450
• Cleveland Cavaliers +900

Here is where you can start hunting for some value. The annoying thing about value is that it always looks good, but it often pulls you away from the bet that is actually the best.

That isn’t the case here, as Boston isn’t a good bet to finish outside of the #1 seed. That has me eyeing the Knicks, 76ers, or Bucks here. You could argue for any of them, but the one with the most formidable talent and proven regular season dominance is Milwaukee.

They also happen to offer the best package of realistic ability and value. Philly isn’t far behind, but I can’t bring myself to trust Joel Embiid.

Bet: Milwaukee Bucks +450

Eastern Conference 3rd Seed

• New York Knicks +375
• Philadelphia 76ers +425
• Milwaukee Bucks +450
• Cleveland Cavaliers +550
• Boston Celtics +600

Lastly, you can bet on who will wrap up the 3rd overall seed in the Eastern Conference in 2024-25.

With the Celtics feeling like a lock up top and the Bucks my pick to be second, I think this one comes down to the Knicks and 76ers. Philly has a little more star power, so I wouldn’t be shocked if the Knicks slid a tiny bit and Embiid and co. held onto the third seed.

Cleveland won 48 games a year ago and is still in play, but there are trade rumors circling Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, so I personally want to avoid the Cavs.

Bet: Philadelphia 76ers +425

Recent NBA Eastern Conference Winners