Are the Boston Celtics Still the Favorites To Win the Eastern Conference Following Cavs’ Impressive Form?

 


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The Boston Celtics entered the 2024/25 NBA season as the reigning champions with expectations sky-high. The Beantown outfit has become the dominant force in the league in recent seasons, but last term was the one where they climbed their final peak. After racking up a whopping 64 wins in the regular season, they managed to continue their form into the postseason, something which has eluded them since rising to the top of the basketball world. 


The Celtics went on to win a record-breaking 18th championship, and they did so by losing just three playoff games of the 19 they played. Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks were the teams they met in the Finals, but even the Slovenian sensation couldn't stand up to the Celtics’ onslaught. His team was duly downed in five, and it was Boston who finally ascended to the NBA mountaintop. 


Fast forward ten months, however, and a new contender has risen in the Eastern Conference. That of course is the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have amassed a mighty 63-17 record so far this term and are looking somewhat unbeatable. So, following their recent breakout, do the bookies still make the Celtics the favorite to defend their Eastern Conference title, or have they been usurped by the upstart Cavs? Is the balance of basketball shifting?

Celtics

The Celtics’ have showcased their unmatched blend of strong performances and exceptional depth, but we have also witnessed moments of fragility that did not rear their heads last term. Their 59 wins currently place them second out East, four wins behind the aforementioned Cavs. However, finishing second behind anybody is not something they have become accustomed to in recent times. 


Much of their success this term has stemmed from the superstar tandem of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. They have emerged as perhaps the finest double act in the entire league over the last three years, and they have continued in a similar vein once again this year. The former has put a disappointing summer (in which he didn't feature once on the USA's gold medal-winning Olympics team) behind him and focused on delivering yet another MVP-caliber season. 


So far this year, he has averaged some 27 points per game, the fifth-highest figure in the league. Add to that his 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists and it's clear to see that he remains in the form of his life. His all-around impact has been complemented by Brown’s 22.2 points, as well as a relentless hustle on defense. Add in the contributions of Kristaps Porziņģis - who also averages almost 20 points - alongside Jrue Holiday’s veteran leadership, and you have a nucleus that’s battle-tested.


But cracks do exist. Despite their dominance on home turf, Boston has struggled against elite, fast-paced offenses. They split their season series with the table-topping Cavs, revealing their vulnerability to Donovan Mitchell’s dynamic scoring. The Celtics are efficient, but the Cavaliers might be more explosive.


Still, online basketball betting sites make them the team to beat in the conference. The latest basketball betting at Bovada odds currently prices Boston as a narrow -170 betting favorite to claim the conference title for a second straight year, as well as a +220 second favorite to lift the Larry O'Brien once again. They certainly have the playoff pedigree that will help them weather the storm, but the relentless Cavs could be too hot to handle. 

Cavaliers

Talk about making a statement. The Cavaliers not only top the Eastern Conference at present, but they've also racked up an astounding 122.2 points per game, the highest offensive mark in the league and by some distance. Key to their unexpected resurgence has been the brilliance of the aforementioned Mitchell, who spearheads his side's ruthless offense with relentless drives and clutch jumpers. His 24 PPG average is lower than that of Boston's main man, but his game-winning exploits seemingly know no bounds. 


Certainly, he’s impressed sportsbook Bovada, if their tweet from last November is anything to go by!

 


But the 28-year-old former Louisville Cardinal has been far from a solo act. Evan Mobley has stepped further into his role as a defensive anchor, averaging almost ten rebounds per game and chipping in with a point average of well over 18. His ability to defend multiple positions has proved essential in slowing down perimeter threats like Boston’s wings. Meanwhile, Jarrett Allen’s elite rebounding and paint presence helped the Cavs outmuscle opponents on the glass.


Despite their upstart nature, their depth remains criminally underrated. Contributors like crafty playmaker Darius Garland have also been crucial in helping the side build up a league-leading offensive efficiency that has propelled them into legitimate title-talk territory.  


However, playoff questions linger, as their young core will face scrutiny in clutch, high-pressure moments. Inexperience and reliance on offensive explosiveness may present issues against teams like the Celtics. The champs' defense thrives in slower, methodical games, and if those scintillating shots from out of nowhere suddenly dry up, so could their championship hopes. Still, with +200 odds, Cleveland isn't far behind their rivals in the betting world, and they certainly have genuine hopes of a deep postseason run. 

Knicks

The Knicks are firmly positioned as outsiders in this race. They have amassed a respectable 50-30 record, but they are still somewhat behind the two conference toppers. The emergence of Julius Randle certainly complements Jalen Brunson’s playmaking, with the latter's court vision providing consistent sparks for a Big Apple outfit that ranks in the top half of the league in offensive efficiency.  


However, beyond their reliable contributors, the roster lacks the adaptability to compete with the likes of Cleveland or Boston. Depth remains a sore spot, and defensive lapses have occasionally undermined the Knicks during critical matchups. As such, they're a distant +800 outsider to win the conference, and it would be an almighty shocker to see them in the Finals this summer. 


R. Simms
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