The reigning champion Boston Celtics remains one of the top teams in the East through the first three months of the NBA season.
The NBA Finals are still months away. Yet, many people eagerly wonder if Boston has what it takes to repeat as champions—a feat accomplished by just 13 franchises in NBA history and last done by the Golden State Warriors in 2018.
Few lineups around the league have the balance and high-level contributors that the Celtics have. Jayson Tatum is the star, and he’s playing some of his best basketball this season. Then Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Kristaps Porzingis can take over any game. Not to mention the contributions of other players in the rotation, such as Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, Payton Pritchard, and Sam Hauser.
Still, the road will not be easy. Countless contenders around the league are ready to dethrone the reigning champions. This postseason projects to be extremely exciting, and Boston should be in the thick of all of it. Here is a closer look at the Boston Celtics’ NBA championship odds.
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Updated Celtics NBA championship odds
*Odds as of 1/3/24
The Celtics have held firm as the favorite to win it all again across each major sportsbook. The Oklahoma City Thunder have routinely been the only team within range of taking over the top spot.
Boston opened the season at +300 favorites to win it all. Last year, the Celtics were tied at +450 odds with the Denver Nuggets before winning the NBA Finals. That experience and proven success can be pivotal in the postseason, making the Celtics a threat to win again.
Efficiency and pace have been the key themes of the Celtics’ season thus far. Boston ranks fourth in the league in shooting efficiency rate (1.2 points per shot attempt) and first in three-pointers made per game (18.6). Thanks to the depth of their lineup, they have capable scoring from eight players on the roster.
Kristaps Porzingis injured his ankle on Christmas Day, sidelining the star 29-year-old in a season riddled with injuries. However, the big man missed plenty of time in last year’s postseason before making a huge impact in the NBA Finals. As long as Porzingis is around in the playoffs, the Celtics’ won’t mind being cautious over any dings he takes this year.
The one area that could raise concerns for Boston is its wing depth. Sam Hauser is a great offensive weapon, but the team could use a player who can rotate between both forward spots for some added physicality. Ideally, this would be Anton Watson or Drew Peterson, but Brad Stevens may consider upgrading the bench with the right veteran available later in the season.
With odds still sitting over +200, now is the time to bet on the Celtics. There won’t be much movement from month to month unless the roster collapses at a certain point, which seems unlikely. The closer we get to the postseason with Boston remaining a contender, the more sportsbooks likely favor them to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy this June.
The most important hope for the Celtics’ title chase is durability. Too often in the NBA, top contenders fall due to injuries that cause key contributors to miss time. The Celtics have a deep talent rotation, but a few unlucky moments could derail everything they’re building toward. If they avoid that, it’s hard to imagine Boston not being a top contender.
Celtics Eastern Conference winner odds
*Odds as of 1/3/24
The Celtics remain the betting favorite to win the Eastern Conference despite being behind the Cleveland Cavaliers in the standings. The Cavaliers and New York Knicks are the only other teams in the East with odds under +1000.
In their only matchups against these teams, the Celtics split with the Cavaliers (1-1) and beat the Knicks (1-0) earlier this season. Boston is 22-7 against the Eastern Conference this season and 13-6 against those currently in the top 10 of the standings. They’ll play both teams in the first week of February, and losses to either team could drop their odds. Waiting a month before betting on them here could be the better move.
Expectations are high for the Celtics. Failing to win the Eastern Conference this season would be a disappointment. However, we have not seen a team repeat as conference champions since the Golden State Warriors in 2019.
The obvious top threat is Cleveland, which is currently sitting first in the standings with the league’s best record and two superstar guards averaging over 20 points per game. The Celtics must find ways to win with their perimeter length while not allowing Cleveland’s big-man duo to turn this into a complete battle of size.
Still, the Celtics remain the favorite of the East thanks to their proven success and extremely dependable rotation. Superstars like Tatum and Brown go a long way, but the next level of pieces surrounding them make this team capable of winning the East and adding their names to the list of back-to-back NBA Champions. That makes them a safe bet for accomplishing extraordinary things in 2025.