After going 64-18 during the 2023-24 NBA season, the Boston Celtics march into the playoffs as the overwhelming favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference.
The Celtics were the best two-way team during the regular season, making good on head coach Joe Mazzula’s promise to reimagine the team and get them playing his style of basketball.
Offensively, Boston’s got all the pieces to go toe-to-toe with any team, while defensively they swarm opponents and can shut down just about anyone.
With a star pairing of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown plus a stout supporting cast headlined by Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis, it’s hard to imagine any team beating them in a seven-game series.
The Celtics will take on a shorthanded Miami Heat team in the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs and are currently projected to win in a landslide via Evan Abrams of Action Network.
“Celtics are currently -5000 to beat the Heat in the first round (Miami is +1700). + That is the largest NBA playoff series price since Bucks/Magic in R1 back in 2020,” Abrams reported.
Celtics are currently -5000 to beat the Heat in the first round (Miami is +1700).
+ That is the largest NBA playoff series price since Bucks/Magic in R1 back in 2020.
+ Of the 11 playoff series with this big of a favorite, only two went past five games: ’19 GSW/LAC, ’08 BOS/ATL pic.twitter.com/LKZnKQzHlx
— Evan Abrams (@EvanHAbrams) April 20, 2024
The Heat will likely be without Jimmy Butler for the series after he suffered an MCL sprain in their Play-In Tournament game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Although Miami managed to take care of the Chicago Bulls without Butler, they’ve got quite the uphill climb to overcome a team like the Celtics.
Boston is quite familiar with their matchup with Miami given their postseason battles, but the former should have no problem dispatching them and advancing to the next round.
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