The Boston Celtics are one of the most decorated professional basketball franchises in existence. They’ve captured 17 NBA Championships, a number that ties them for the all-time lead with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Despite Boston’s high level of success, they haven’t won a championship since 2008. Before that, they hadn’t captured a title since Larry Bird’s heyday back in 1986. It must be noted that a bulk of their titles were earned while the league only featured between 8 and 12 total teams.
After last night’s dispatching of the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games, Boston now stands above the rest of the pack in the odds for betting on the NBA Finals. They are rated 145 points ahead of their most likely opponent from the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets.
2024 NBA Championship Odds
- Boston Celtics -125
- Denver Nuggets +220
- Dallas Mavericks +800
- Minnesota Timberwolves +1500
- Oklahoma City Thunder +1600
- New York Knicks +2500
- Indiana Pacers +8000
Online NBA Playoff sportsbooks have given the Celtics an even more commanding lead in their Eastern Conference futures, as they’ve got an enormous 1300-point edge on the New York Knicks.
NBA Odds To Win The Eastern Conference
- Boston Celtics -800
- New York Knicks +700
- Indiana Pacers +1800
Boston is the only team that has clinched a spot in their respective conference finals, as all other series are set at 3-2 heading into Game 6. NBA Playoffs series prices and futures indicate that all teams that currently possess three wins will eventually make it to the next round.
If the NBA betting sites are correct in their projections, the Celtics will face the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, and the Denver Nuggets will play the Dallas Mavericks in the West.
NBA Odds To Win The Western Conference
- Denver Nuggets -140
- Dallas Mavericks +250
- Minnesota Timberwolves +750
- Oklahoma City Thunder +750
The Nuggets appeared to be on the brink of elimination when the Timberwolves built a 2-0 lead on Denver during the divisional round. Nikola Jokic and Denver now lead the series 3-2 and have a chance to close out the T’wolves in Minneapolis tonight.
Minnesota is favored by -2.5 points, so there is a solid chance that the series extends to seven games.
The home team is favored to win in the other two series as well. If the NBA odds are accurate, the Indiana Pacers will force a Game 7 against the Knicks, and Dallas will put away the Oklahoma City Thunder in six games.
Because Boston won their series in five games, they’ll get a few extra days to rest up for their Eastern Conference Championship opponent.
Sources:
- Bovada Sportsbook (Bovada LV Review)
- Yahoo! Sports
