When it came to the NBA’s Eastern Conference in 2024-25, Georges Niang had one of the best seats in the house.
He was, basically, right square in the middle of it all.
The nine-year NBA veteran from Methuen played 51 games with the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers before being traded at the deadline to the Atlanta Hawks.
It was an eventful season, averaging 8.7 points with the Cavs before hitting a career high of 12.1 points over 28 games with the Hawks, which lost both play-in games.
After a week in the Caribbean, he’s like the rest of us, excited to watch a better, more physical brand of basketball.
Niang has experience with not only Cleveland but the other four remaining teams in the NBA playoffs – the Boston Celtics (1-2), New York Knicks (1-2), Detroit Pistons (3-1) and Indiana Pacers (3-1).
He faced the aforementioned group 14 of the 79 games he played.
And he has his pick to not only win the Eastern Conference, but win it all.
Again. Your Boston Celtics.
But there is a disclaimer.
“If they are healthy, which means Jrue Holiday’s hamstring and Jaylen Brown’s knee don’t hold them back, the Celtics not only have the experience needed, but they have too much talent,” said Niang.
Interesting take, considering he played over 1.5 seasons with the Cleveland.
“The Cavs have the superstar (Donovan Mitchell), the balance and the depth to compete with the Celtics. They’ve shown that all year,” said Niang. “But the Celtics have the most important factor over the Cavs, their experience, not only has defending champs, but guys that are dogs.”
Niang said while the Celtics won in “ugly” fashion over the Orlando Magic, it shows their ability to adapt.
“That’s what they do. They can beat you in other ways,” said Niang. “That was a physical series for them. Orlando pushed them around a bit. But in the end, the Celtics won in five games.”
Niang believes whomever wins the Knicks-Pistons series (Game 6 is tonight) will be so beat up by the time they open that series coupled with a rested and “healthy” Celtics team that another five games series is probably in store.
As for the other series, between Cleveland and Indiana, Niang says he wouldn’t be surprised if the Pacers “shocked” the basketball world and won.
“They are very similar teams, run and gun,” said Niang. “I’d give the edge to Cleveland, but Indiana was in the conference finals last year. They’ve had a taste. That’s going to be a close series, I believe. I’d pick Cleveland, but wouldn’t be surprised if the Pacers pulled it out.”
Which brings us back to his pick, the Celtics.
“They have so much depth. They have five guys that can cover one through five (point guard to center). They have five guys on the floor that make big three-pointers,” said Niang. “Their connectivity, working together, is unlike any other team in the NBA.
“Go back to last year, when Tatum had a few struggles, Brown was there to take over and win the MVP of the finals, and the conference finals, too,” said Niang. “That’s not normal.”
Niang’s knowledge of the Celtics goes back a few years. He was on the Sixers team the Celtics beat in seven games two years ago and the Cavs team which lost in five games last spring.
“The only thing that beats Boston is complacency, usually them beating themselves,” said Niang. “Almost like their bored. But you see the way Indiana beat Milwaukee (in Game 5), with the Bucks turning over the ball a few times near the end. That doesn’t happen against the Celtics.”
While Niang expects the Celtics to be pushed harder than they were a year ago, probably in the conference finals and NBA finals, if healthy he sees them hoisting another Larry Brown Trophy in late June.
“I could on and on about guys like Al Horford, who gets you five, 10 or 12 points a night, or Holiday’s defense, or (Payton) Pritchard making big plays and big shots,” said Niang. “(Kristaps) Porzingis is also an impossible matchup for most teams. And Derrick White? The guy is amazing. Whatever you need, he can do.
“The Celtics only care about winning. That’s their culture,” said Niang. “In the playoffs, you need a bunch of guys that can keep you in the game and then let the superstars finish it. They have that with Tatum and Brown. The Celtics, if healthy, will repeat.”
You can email Bill Burt at bburt@eagletribune.com.