The 2025 NBA Playoffs are just around the corner, and to call this season anything less than a rollercoaster would be an understatement. Most of the talking points stemmed from on-court action for the first half of the season, with the Cleveland Cavaliers’ exploits out East coupled with the Oklahoma City Thunder’s meteoric rise on the West Coast stealing all the headlines. However, the script got flipped on its head in February with an earth-shattering trade, which was one of those true “where were you” moments.
The Story of the Season
Luka Don?i? has been considered a top-three player in the league for the last couple of years now. He almost single-handedly led the Dallas Mavericks to the Finals last season, and he looked set on doing the same this term as well. Then, in the dead of a seemingly innocuous February 1st night, the world was turned upside down when it was announced that the Mavs had traded their prized asset to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Fans of both teams couldn’t quite believe what they were hearing. Over in the Lone Star State, it was a feeling of disbelief with only one thing in mind: Why? Why would we trade away our mercurial talismanic leader at the age of just 26 and in the prime of his life? Why would we only ask for Anthony Davis in return?
Luka Doncic tonight
19 PTS
15 REB
12 AST
3 STL
2 BLK pic.twitter.com/BIp8vgf4ed— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) February 26, 2025
In Cali, meanwhile, it was a feeling of euphoria. Fans weren’t quite sure how, but they had just completed the heist of the century.
Now, though, the dust has settled on the biggest talking point of the season, and attention is turning towards the postseason. So, what can we expect to see in the coming weeks and months? Let’s find out.
Can the Celtics Hold Off the Upstart Cavaliers?
Heading into the current season, online basketball betting sites had made the Boston Celtics the overwhelming favorites to defend their Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. And why wouldn’t they? Last season, the Beantown side romped to a record-breaking 19th championship, dropping just four games throughout the entirety of the postseason en route to glory. Fast forward 12 months, and the latest basketball betting at Bovada odds make them a +210 contender, but that pricing is only good enough for the second favorite tag.
That’s because, rather than the one-team wrecking crew that the Eastern Conference was last season, this year, it has been a two-headed monster. And it isn’t the Celtics in the driver’s seat.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and their switch-heavy system have roared to a 64-win regular season and claimed the top seed at the reigning champions’ expense. Their combination of All-Star guards Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, paired with defensive anchors Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, has made them a lethal and almost unstoppable opponent. Yet, Cleveland stumbled to an 8-8 finish over their final 16 games, and questions linger about their readiness to defend the perimeter against elite teams like Boston.
Enter the Boston Celtics, the reigning champions and the East’s No. 2 seed. Despite injuries to key players like Kristaps Porzingis, the TD Garden outfit calmly delivered another 50-win season and enters the playoffs as favorites to return to the Finals. The dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown remains the driving force, but health could be their Achilles’ heel. Brown is managing a bone bruise in his right knee, and Porzingis’ durability has long been questioned.
While the Cavaliers and Celtics seem destined for a heavyweight showdown, one question looms large: Whose key players will answer the call? If the champs can stay healthy, history may repeat itself. But if Garland and Mitchell find their stroke from deep, the Cavs might finally break through and scythe down Boston’s reign of terror.
Will the Lakers’ Superstar Roster Take Them to the Championship?
The Lakers have always operated on a blockbuster mentality, but even by their standards, this season was a revelation. That acquisition of Don?i? added yet another superstar to pair with LeBron James and Austin Reaves. With a retooled coaching staff led by JJ Redick, the Californians were methodical in forging chemistry between their stars in the roughly 20 games they spent together to close the season.
The early returns were promising, but the question remains whether the “LeBron and Luka” film is ready for a championship sequel. While the Lakers have the offensive firepower to overwhelm anyone in the league, their Achilles’ heel has been rebounding, where they rank near the bottom of the league. Much of that is down to the departure of Anthony Davis, a necessary loss to facilitate the move for the Slovenian sensation, but a first-round matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves will put this flaw under the microscope, as they attempt to contain Rudy Gobert.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. LeBron, at age 40, is entering his final chapters, and Don?i? has championship aspirations of his own. Can the Lakers find the balance between employing chemistry and unleashing sheer star power? In the next few weeks, we’ll find out.
