2024-25 NBA Season Predictions: Ranking Top 5 defensive teams

2024-25 NBA Season Predictions: Ranking Top 5 defensive teams
2024-25 NBA Season Predictions: Ranking Top 5 defensive teams

The 2024-25 NBA season is just a few days away from tipping off and if it is anywhere like the last season, the fans are in for a wild ride. Last season the community saw some major developments in the league from a reduction in the whistles granted by the referees to different teams gaining prominence in the two conferences.

This upcoming season will be filled with breakout performances and spectacular basketball. While offense is a key factor in basketball, defense remains an immovable pillar that becomes a point of difference in close games. So let's take a look at the predictions for the top five defensive teams in the 2024-25 NBA season.

2024-25 NBA Season Predictions: Top 5 defensive teams

#5. Boston Celtics

Kristaps Porzingis (Source: Imagn)
Kristaps Porzingis (Source: Imagn)

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The reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics finally raised their 18th banner at TD Garden last season breaking the tie with the LA Lakers for the most championships in league history. The Boston Celtics will be a great defensive team in the new season, however, they won't be the same impenetrable wall they were during last season's playoffs at least not in the first half of the season.

As per ESPN, Kristaps Porzingis, the main center for the Celtics is still out with a foot injury and is not expected to come back early in the new season. Jrue Holiday and Derrick White were arguably the best defensive backcourt duo last season and Jayson Tatum was great at the number 5 spot. However, Tatum is not primarily a center and we can't be sure that Holiday and White can work the same magic again as last season.

To summarise the conclusion, the Celtics will be a good defensive team at the start of the 2024-25 NBA season but the fans can expect them to get even better once Porzingis comes back.

#4, Memphis Grizzlies

Zach Edey (Source: Imagn)
Zach Edey (Source: Imagn)

The Memphis Grizzlies have geared up to play a solid defensive season this time. Last season, they were at the number 12 spot on the defensive ranking. However, with the latest addition of Zach Edey to the squad, the Grizzlies should look more poised and strong in defensive plays than their recent runs in the last few seasons.

Jaren Jackson Jr. is still the defensive pillar that the Grizzlies hold. Jackson had an incredible block rate of 9.6% last season which is huge compared to Rudy Gobert, the defensive player of the year who boasted only a 7.4%.

With the combination of the aforementioned player and the few extras such as Scottie Pippen Jr. and Marcus Smart, the Grizzlies are looking good defensively for the 2024-25 NBA season.

#3. Cleveland Cavaliers

Evan Mobley (Source: Imagn)
Evan Mobley (Source: Imagn)

The Cleveland Cavaliers were not in a great position last season, however, that doesn't change the fact that they were a great defensive team. The Cavs were ranked 6th in last season's defensive rankings and are expected to do even better in the 2024-25 NBA season.

The Cavs have arguably the best lineup of big men on their roster. The Evan Mobley and Jarret Allen duo has stood the test of hyper-offensive teams in the league and never dropped below seventh place. Mobley missed 32 games last season weakening the core of his team. However, with him back in full health now, the Cavs have the potential to be an impenetrable wall.

Not to mention, Isaac Okoro has developed himself into a great perimeter defender. The rim defense plays a big part in the regular season which demands endurance and strength more than speed and the Cavs are equipped with some of the best rim protectors heading into the 2024-25 NBA season.

#2. Minnesota Timberwolves

Rudy Gobert (Source: Imagn)
Rudy Gobert (Source: Imagn)

The Minnesota Timberwolves were the number one defensive team in the NBA last season. They have the Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert, on the squad and an amazing two-way player in Anthony Edwards. However, the Timberwolves are not the same as last year making it difficult for them to reclaim the number one defensive spot in the 2024-25 NBA season.

They traded Karl-Anthony Towns to the NY Knicks this offseason in exchange for more firepower in Donte DiVincenzo and Julius Randle. Although KAT wasn't the greatest defender, his size made it easy for the team to run mismatches in defense. But as mentioned earlier, the regular season is more about rim protection and Rudy Gobert is arguably the best rim protector in the league right now.

To summarise, the Timberwolves won't be an impenetrable wall this season but they would be a huge obstacle for any team to pass through in the 2024-25 NBA season.

#1. Oklahoma City Thunder

Chet Holmgren (Source: Imagn)
Chet Holmgren (Source: Imagn)

The Oklahoma City Thunder by far is looking like the best defensive team in the league right now at least on paper. They made great moves this offseason to turn this team of young players into a lethal threat both offensively and defensively. They traded the controversial Josh Giddey and brought in Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein, number 7 and number 3 defensive players in the league by Defensive Box Plus/Minus last season.

They now have two great rim protectors in Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren and an elite perimeter defense composed of Lu Dort, Caruso and Cason Wallace. On Friday, it was reported that Hartenstein suffered a hand fracture and would be out for five to six weeks which would roughly translate to him missing 19 regular season games.

However, OKC is well equipped to do fine without their secondary big man heading into the 2024-25 NBA season and if things get dicey they have enough assets to jump into the trade market and fix them.

Grizzlies Nation! You can check out the latest Memphis Grizzlies Schedule and dive into the Grizzlies Depth Chart for NBA Season 2024-25.

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Edited by Victor R. Lopez M.
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