NBA 2K19: 9 Best Teams You Should Play First

1. Boston Celtics

Steph Curry NBA 2K19
2K Games

The eastern conference should, theoretically, belong to the Boston Celtics in 2018-19.

With the Cavs losing LeBron, the 76ers' development still a season or two behind the C's, and Brad Stevens' coaching genius now well established, they're the team to beat. They forced Cleveland to the brink in last year's conference finals without the injury-stricken Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. When those two weapons return, Boston will be a force, though we're still to truly learn how Hayward will function in a Stevens five.

The Celtics are, in many ways, the perfect 2K team. Hayward and Irving are already among the game's elite. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Terry Rozier are outrageously promising and could conceivably run the team for years in MyGM. Al Horford might be ageing, but he's a three-dimensional big man with a deft touch, while defensive specialist Marcus Smart, Aron Baynes, and Marcus Morris are all functional rotation players.

The stronger balance between offence and defence makes Boston a joy to play with this year. This eases the burden on more attack-minded gamers, and it helps that they're one of the association's strongest defensive units too.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.