While there has been plenty of excitement over the moves that other ball clubs in the NBA's Eastern Conference arms race, by and large the Boston Celtics are seen as a cut above the rest of their peers in the league's weaker conference. But those moves could make for a tougher regular season path to the 2025 NBA Playoffs, especially among teams like the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers, and maybe even the once mighty Milwaukee Bucks.

So who IS the second-best team in the East? The hosts of the CLNS Media "Celtics Lab" podcast linked up with Sports Illustrated's Bobby Krivitsky to break down the likely candidates on a recent episode of their show. They also get you up to speed on Celtics in Paris for the Olympics and plenty more.

Check out this week's latest pod and scratch your Boston basketball itch while we wait for preseason to get here in the fall.

The Celtics Lab is brought to you by Prize Picks and Gametime.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the "How Bout Them Celtics," "First to the Floor," "Celtics Lab," and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices