The first team to 60 wins, and the only team to remain untouched as the 1st seed, it does seem that the Boston Celtics are destined for greatness in the 2023-24 season, but can they finally break the playoff curse that has engulfed their chances and hopes of an NBA title for the first time since 2008? Only the postseason can answer that.
Are the Boston Celtics Worth Betting on to Win the NBA Finals?
The Celtics have been deemed heavy favorites to win the NBA Finals this season, especially after their subtle roster overhaul that saw the removal of some expiring contracts and the addition of a unicorn big in Kristaps Porzingis and a lockdown two-way veteran in Jrue Holiday – who also has a solid championship experience. It does seem that the Celtics are locked in for something special with the hopes of making history in the league this season.
To begin the 2023-24 campaign, the Celtics have the most favorable odds to win the NBA Finals, and they have kept that lead for the whole campaign and pulled off some impressive feats without much hassle. Now with just a few more weeks before the postseason madness in the NBA begins, the Celtics are a +200 to win the league title – the best odds over other teams in the league.
Let’s not forget that they have a brilliant genius in Joe Mazzulla, and playoff-hardened stars in Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Al Horford. Then there’s the impressive supporting cast led by Derrick White and Sam Hauser, which just says a lot about how perfect this team is in terms of roster composition, efficiency, and overall team chemistry.
How Can the Celtics Win it All?
The Boston Celtics’ window is definitely closing down to the final frame. Believe it or not, the team’s chances of a league title started out in 2020, during the Bubble NBA Finals, and it has been four years ever since. The team is getting desperate, and there are even rumors that the team might just overhaul the roster if they still fail to win an NBA title by the end of the season.
All of this desperation will clearly impact the way that Boston will play this season. considering the fact that there are bigger competitors in the Eastern Conference, it does seem that the squad will now have to find a way to grind their way to the top. So how can Boston end up with the NBA title this time after so many tries?
Jayson Tatum Needs to Play at an MVP Caliber
Jayson Tatum is the best player on the best team in the NBA this season, and there is no denying that his impressive game has taken a short step back with the team performing well at a high level. So far, the forward has averaged 27.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. He is also shooting 47.4% from the field, including 38% from three. He’s had a lower scoring output so far, but has seen some effective performances over the season. That’s just the problem. Tatum has always shined bright in the regular season, but has failed to be a deadly weapon in the postseason. His 2023 efficiency rates have been disappointing so far, and we have all seen how the Celtics have crumble on that end.
That has affected the way the Celtics have responded in their games especially with the lack of offensive boost from Tatum. Just look at how he cost them their ECF showdown with the Heat last season.
Boston Must Overcome the Challenge of Inconsistency
Boston may have been one of the best teams in the league this season, but they have never been able to overcome playoff pressure in the past few years. Sure, the team has seen some impressive turnarounds and massive performances over the years, but the team has also hosted some of the monumental collapses in the Playoffs in the last four years. This just shows the up-and-down nature of the team and the tough struggles that come with it.
The Celtics retooled its roster with the hopes of achieving better spacing and having more options on both ends of the floor, but they are yet to see those changes take effect as Boston have actually won games through sheer offense and intimidation. This just proves that they will have to make the best out of their opponent mismatches in the postseason with a chance to deliver a promising campaign now more than ever. This inconsistency issue will be something that Boston has to overcome if they are going to win a title.
Jaylen Brown Must Shake Off His Playoff Jitters
Remember when Caleb Martin said that the gameplan for the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals is to force Jaylen Brown to dribble to his left? Yeah, that aged like fine wine. Brown is still dealing with the tough issues surrounding his left hand, which has caused a lot of turnovers in crucial stretches during their series against the Heat. This narrative has persisted well considering how it has led to tough finishes for the Celtics. Brown has also been an inconsistent player in the postseason, rarely putting up big games that led to promising victories down the stretch. This is why many people claim that Brown is a massive liability for the Celtics, especially in the postseason where most teams make you pay whenyou make tough mistakes such as turnovers down the stretch.
Make the Most of Home Court Advantage
The Celtics are guaranteed to have home court advantage from the First Round all the way to the NBA Finals, and this just shows that they have an edge over their opponents in the postseason. As of the time of writing, the Celtics have the best home record in the NBA at 32-3, and that is a massive advantage that they can use to win games, especially with the first two of every series being played at TD Garden. This is why they need to make sure that they capitalize on each home game they have.
Furthermore, the deafening crowd of the TD Garden is known well to be one of the toughest arenas to win in the NBA. It can be remembered that they even cheered the Celtics in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals despite being blown out by the Miami Heat in Game 6, sending support for the Game 7 ahead. This just shows how captivating and energetic this crowd is, and it would be all for nothing if this year’s Celtics can’t make the most out of their home games that would determine their chances of a title.
Will Boston Emerge as a Favorite in the NBA Finals?
While the odds strongly favor the Boston Celtics to finally win it all after a couple of losing seasons, there are still plenty of doubts on how the team can finally shake off its pressing issues that would only be the thing standing between them and an NBA title. However, loyal fans and avid NBA followers know that the Celtics are finally bound to make a trip to the NBA Finals again, and this time they are ready to face all the challenges and prove their critics wrong once and for all.
Make sure to stay ahead of all the latest NBA happenings with GambleSpot! We deliver fresh news, blogs, predictions, game analyses, betting guides, and many other sports-related content that you can use to spice up your wagers for a bigger chance at winning!
![Ranking the Top Five StarCraft Players of 2024](https://gamblespot-images.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/images/624892d0-fe25-4007-906c-f53092adf633_06-09-2024-12-52-58.webp)
September 6th, 2024
Ranking the Top Five StarCraft Players of 2024![Simone Biles Net Worth After Olympics](https://gamblespot-images.s3.amazonaws.com/Blog/Simone+Biles+net+worth/Simone+Biles+Paris+2024_OG+image_1200x600.webp)
September 4th, 2024
Simone Biles Net Worth After Olympics![The International 2024 and Five Contenders to Watch](https://gamblespot-images.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/images/e6de1aa2-3666-422f-a915-72a3832ea379_04-09-2024-12-58-54.webp)
September 4th, 2024
The International 2024 and Five Contenders to Watch![Jason Kelce Net Worth: A Deep Dive into His NFL Earnings and Wealth](https://gamblespot-images.s3.amazonaws.com/Blog/Jason+Kelce+Net+Worth/Jason+Kelce_OG+image_1200x600.webp)
September 2nd, 2024
Jason Kelce Net Worth: A Deep Dive into His NFL Earnings and Wealth![Is Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions a High-Potential Esports Title?](https://gamblespot-images.s3.amazonaws.com/Blog/Harry+Potter/Quidditch+Champions+Poster_OG+image_1200x600.webp)
September 2nd, 2024
Is Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions a High-Potential Esports Title?![Ranking the Five Big Games in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL Season](https://gamblespot-images.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/images/f69e3b29-480c-494b-8617-9592d5fb0e29_30-08-2024-12-34-27.webp)
August 30th, 2024
Ranking the Five Big Games in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL Season![Five MLS Teams Who Can Contend for the MLS Cup](https://gamblespot-images.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/images/4e43bf54-5902-4f7b-bada-3ce0c872fdb0_28-08-2024-21-07-09.webp)
August 28th, 2024
Five MLS Teams Who Can Contend for the MLS Cup![Legendary Performances: LeBron James on the Olympic Stage](https://gamblespot-images.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/images/b68370e9-aa24-4305-9d41-9259fa78a036_28-08-2024-17-13-16.webp)
August 28th, 2024
Legendary Performances: LeBron James on the Olympic Stage![Analyzing the Winning Trends of Current NBA Teams in the Last Five Years](https://gamblespot-images.s3.amazonaws.com/Blog/NBA+Teams+in+the+Last+Five+Years/Jayson+Tatum_OG+image_1200x600.webp)
August 23rd, 2024
Analyzing the Winning Trends of Current NBA Teams in the Last Five Years![Battle of the Hard Courts: Top Five US Open Picks to Win](https://gamblespot-images.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/images/2a68e3aa-80e9-49b4-901b-2b144f559fe0_23-08-2024-10-11-08.webp)
August 23rd, 2024
Battle of the Hard Courts: Top Five US Open Picks to Win