• Zach Kram
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    Zach Kram
      Zach Kram is a national NBA writer for ESPN.com, specializing in short- and long-term trends across the league’s analytics landscape. He previously worked at The Ringer covering the NBA and MLB. You can follow Zach on X via @zachkram.
  • Kevin Pelton
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    Kevin Pelton

    ESPN Senior Writer

    • Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series
    • Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers
    • Developed WARP rating and SCHOENE system
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Apr 6, 2025, 12:41 PM

The gauntlet of the NBA playoffs, which requires the champion to win four series which could last up to seven games each, has a knack for revealing teams’ weaknesses en route to the Finals.

Every team, even the three considered the NBA’s top contenders — the No. 1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers and the defending champion Boston Celtics — has shortcomings.

For each of these eight teams — the top three in the East and top five in the West — we’re taking a look under the statistical microscope to identify weaknesses and which potential opponents could expose them in the postseason.

East contenders:
BOS | CLE | NYK

West contenders:
DEN | GS | HOU | LAL | OKC

EAST CONTENDERS

Boston Celtics

Weakness: Insufficient pace