With the 2024-25 NBA playoffs about to commence after the conclusion of the play-in tournament, we have a clear picture of the 16 teams that have advanced to the postseason.
The Boston Celtics are the reigning NBA champions, and their star-studded lineup will look to defend its title. Which teams pose the biggest challenge to the 61-win Celtics? Let’s break down the top-five starting lineups entering the 2025 NBA playoffs.
5 Best Starting Lineups In the 2025 NBA Playoffs
1) Boston Celtics
We have to give respect to the defending NBA champions. While the Celtics may not have finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference, they still won 61 games during the regular season and enter the postseason with momentum on their side.
Boston’s starting lineup of Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porziņgis has proven to be virtually unstoppable. This group is capable of dominating on both ends of the floor, as the Celtics finished the regular season with the NBA’s second-best offense (scoring 117.6 points per 100 possessions) and fourth-best defense (allowing 108 points per 100 possessions).
Given their star power, two-way dominance, continuity, and championship experience, it would be unfair to place any team above Boston’s starting five entering the postseason.
2) Oklahoma City Thunder
While the young Oklahoma City Thunder have yet to prove themselves in the postseason, their unchallenged dominance throughout this regular season has many NBA analysts believing that they are the favorite to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy this season or at least emerge from the Western Conference.
With a starting lineup of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Luguentz Dort, Chet Holmgren, and Isaiah Hartenstein, OKC posted the best record in the NBA (68-14). Like the Celtics, they are terrific on both ends of the floor, as they are the only other team to boast a top-five offense and defense.
The Thunder finished the regular season with the NBA’s best defense (allowing just 104.7 points per 100 possessions) and third-best offense (scoring 117.3 points per 100 possessions). The Thunder are the second-youngest team in the NBA — with an average of 24.7 years old — yet you’d never know it from watching them play. This team is a juggernaut that isn’t going anywhere.
3) Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference at 64-18. With a starting lineup consisting of Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen, the Cavaliers boasted the NBA’s best offense (scoring 119.1 points per 100 possessions and eighth-best defense (allowing 109 points per 100 possessions).
This is a well-rounded group that can have a different player step up each night. What makes the Celtics, Thunder, and Cavaliers so scary is that in addition to boasting elite starting fives, they also have terrific bench units to spell their starters.
4) Los Angeles Lakers
After making an unexpected trade before the deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers have emerged as one of the scariest teams to face in the upcoming NBA playoffs. They finished the regular season as the third seed in the Western Conference with a 50-32 record.
It is impossible for the Lakers not to be on this list, given that their starting lineup consists of LeBron James, Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes.
Although this team has flaws defensively, this group is terrific offensively and should only get better as they get on the same page and develop more chemistry.
5) Golden State Warriors
Although teams like the Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, and Denver Nuggets finished with better records than the Golden State Warriors, an argument could be made that GSW’s starting lineup is the best of that bunch.
With Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody, and Draymond Green, this Warriors’ starting lineup is incredibly talented and experienced.
After adding Butler to the team, the Warriors are much better than their 48 wins indicate.