NBA Odds: The Celtics as Historic Title Favorites

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NBA Odds: The Celtics as Historic Title Favorites

The NBA is in its most competitive era in 50 years, with a new champion crowned for the sixth consecutive season. Only three teams have managed to repeat as champions since the Lakers dynasty in the early 2000s: the Lakers (2009-10), the Heat (2012-13), and the Warriors (2017-18). Now, the NBA odds focus on the Celtics, who face the challenge of defending their title despite their impressive playoff run last year (16-3).

Favorable Predictions from General Managers

In the annual NBA.com survey, 83% of general managers picked the Boston Celtics to lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2025. This percentage is the third highest in the 23-year history of the survey and the highest since 87% of GMs backed the Warriors in 2019. However, the predictions fell short that year when the Warriors lost to the Raptors, partly due to critical injuries.

Challenges and Opportunities

Despite the strong support, some question whether the Celtics will have an easy path to the title. Teams like the 76ers and the Knicks have significantly improved their rosters this offseason. However, the experience gained by players like Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White at the Paris 2024 Olympics could give them a crucial advantage.

Continuity also works in Boston’s favor, as they will retain 12 of the 15 players from last year’s roster, suggesting stability in their play. Still, GMs have only sometimes been right in their predictions; since 2002-03, they have only correctly forecasted the champion 10 out of 22 times.

Some points that could work against the Celtics include the contracts currently on their books. For example, Horford will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, Porziņģis will be a free agent in the summer of 2026, and Holiday has a player option for 2027. Meanwhile, their two stars, Tatum and Brown, are locked into long-term contracts with the maximum possible value. There’s also the topic of the team’s sale; their selling could indicate a lack of financial flexibility, high contracts, operational costs, and very little profit for the new owners. We’ll see what happens.

The Excitement of Betting

With the NBA Odds in their favor and the confidence of general managers, the Celtics are a team to watch closely. If you’re a bettor, now is the perfect time to analyze trends and consider your options. Can the Celtics hang Banner No. 19? The season promises to be exciting!