Last season, ⁢the⁣ Boston Celtics stood as the ⁢sole representatives of the ⁤Eastern Conference, quite literally so.

The eventual NBA champions faced their own significant injuries while watching opponents drop like flies. The Milwaukee Bucks were‌ eliminated in the ‍first ⁣round, as were the Philadelphia 76ers. The New York Knicks accumulated medical expenses, and Boston’s ‍second-round rivals, ⁣the ⁤Cleveland Cavaliers, were no different.​ By the time the conference finals rolled around, the Indiana Pacers were also ⁤without their star players.

Having a dominant regular season, the Celtics were considered heavy favorites to claim the conference title, regardless of the health status of other teams. As they head into the 2024-25 season, this expectation remains, even with Kristaps Porziņģis expected to miss ⁢the start of the year. However, a new season ⁢brings fresh narratives, ​and the Eastern Conference indeed has plenty.

Will the Bucks reclaim their status ⁣as contenders? Could Paul George be the essential⁤ addition for Philadelphia? What direction will the Knicks take with their center position?

With training‌ camp starting in less than a week, Sam Amick⁤ and Fred Katz collaborated to discuss five storylines in the Eastern Conference that they ​are eager to follow this season:

Was last season an anomaly for the Bucks ‍or a new reality?

Katz: ​The Bucks faced a season filled with mishaps last year.

Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo struggled to find the‌ synergy that many anticipated. Milwaukee ended ⁢up firing their coach, hiring a new one, and then dismissing that new coach midway​ through the season. ⁢They began the autumn with an excessively aggressive defensive approach under the new leadership, but⁣ reverted to their old strategies just four games in, making much of their⁤ training camp work moot. During ​the first round of⁣ the playoffs, ⁣both‌ Antetokounmpo and Lillard suffered ⁣injuries, leading to the Bucks’ defeat against the Pacers.

Their defensive play was far from ⁣polished, suffering either from fast breaks by opposing teams, particularly early in the season, or from a lack of strong perimeter defenders following the trade of Jrue Holiday.

Interestingly, despite these⁣ challenges, they still managed to ⁢win 49 games.

The Bucks don’t require everything to fall⁣ perfectly in place this season to regain their competitive form. A few strategic adjustments might be all they need for a return ⁢to ‌contender status.

Entering the offseason ‌with ‍limited resources due to strict regulations on ​high-spending teams, they nonetheless succeeded in adding⁣ talent where it was needed.

Gary Trent⁣ Jr., a dynamic shooter and ⁣prolific scorer, offers more value than the minimum contract ⁤Milwaukee has agreed to. Delon Wright has consistently been one of the league’s most irritating defensive point guards for several years. Taurean Prince brings both the ability to shoot from ‍beyond the arc ⁣and a wealth of experience on the ⁤wing.

Last season, Malik Beasley, who⁣ is now with Detroit, served as their primary on-ball perimeter defender. There’s a strong case to be made that all three newly acquired players could excel even more in that role than Beasley. While the roster may not be flawless, it is certainly more cohesive than‍ when opponents casually drove to the basket.

Perhaps Lillard and Antetokounmpo will discover their ⁢chemistry in their second year together, incorporating more pick-and-roll plays from the outset. With a productive training camp under head coach ⁤Doc Rivers, greater teamwork could emerge in the fall. This team boasts an abundance of talent — not to mention the arguably best player in the conference.

However, not everything is looking up for ‌the​ Bucks. If they aspire to win a championship, they need Khris⁣ Middleton, Antetokounmpo’s long-time teammate, who underwent double ankle surgery this summer.

The Bucks have the potential to dominate, especially with the top teams in the ​East strengthening their rosters.

With no concrete evidence that they are addressing the issues from last season, the team may continue to falter.

Is Paul George the … Answer in Philly?

Amick: Paul George doesn’t need⁢ to channel Allen Iverson for the Sixers to be contenders for the championship, but ⁢he does need to perform at an elite level. George’s signing in early July was a significant move for the NBA, marking the nine-time All-Star’s arrival with a four-year, $212 million contract to join forces with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, forming a formidable star trio on paper. However,​ it remains to be seen if their collaboration will be as seamless and swift as the Sixers are hoping for.

Let’s consider George’s age. At 34, he finds himself in a later ⁢stage of his career, where the end is in sight, yet the finale ⁤remains uncertain. LeBron James’ ability to maintain dominance as⁤ he approaches ⁣40 is remarkable, but the reality is that most players in their mid-to-late 30s, even the top performers, often experience a‌ notable decline long before reaching that age.

Nonetheless, ⁢George’s performance and resilience last season offer some optimism for the Sixers. He was among just 22 players to average at least 22⁢ points, five rebounds, and three assists while participating in 74 games. His shooting accuracy was exceptional, as he was one of‌ only six players to hit 40 percent or better from beyond⁢ the arc while attempting at least seven shots per game, alongside Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, CJ McCollum, D’Angelo Russell, and Donte DiVincenzo. The playmaking element​ should also thrive, with the Sixers now possessing a triple threat⁤ in that department (George led the LA Clippers with a 26.4 usage rate last season, while⁢ Embiid ⁤led the Sixers at 38.7 and Maxey came in second at 27.3). Given Embiid’s challenging health history, ⁢having another player who can act as an offensive ⁢focal point on nights ‍when he is likely unavailable is crucial.

However, history has shown us that star player pairings don’t always meet preseason ⁣expectations. Last season, teams like the Bucks (refer to Fred’s previous notes) and⁣ the Phoenix Suns (with the addition of ⁤Bradley Beal) exemplified this reality, just as the Dallas Mavericks (with Kyrie Irving) and Minnesota Timberwolves (with Rudy Gobert) did the year before. This partnership may require time to develop, ‌even ⁣if lead⁣ executive Daryl Morey, second-year coach Nick Nurse, and⁤ the rest of the Sixers would prefer otherwise.

In terms of internal ‍expectations, it certainly helps that 30-year-old Embiid secured a substantial extension that extended his potential free agency until 2028. Similarly, Maxey, the ‍23-year-old All-Star guard, signed a five-year, $204 million extension in‍ July. However, there is a pressing need for ‌this‍ collaboration to succeed sooner ⁣rather than later, as their ⁣championship window may inevitably close with the passage of time.

Can Jonathan Isaac become the East’s best defender?

Katz: Isaac’s challenge has never​ been about his capability.

He is able to guard centers, hang out on the weak side, waiting to thwart driving layup attempts with a swift jump. He​ possesses the​ quickness necessary to neutralize smaller, skillful players before they can initiate their moves. He⁤ effectively stifles wing players.

Standing 6-foot-10, Isaac boasts a wingspan that stretches across the⁣ court, making him a ferocious defender adept

Jonathan Isaac defends Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen during last year’s playoffs. (David Richard /⁤ USA Today)