The Boston Celtics are seen as title favorites by some NBA analysts, including Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz. They have passed the Milwaukee Bucks in both betting odds and metrics.
“No disrespect to the Bucks, but did we forget about just how good these Celtics are?” asks Swarts in a recent analysis of what we’ve learned about teams in the playoffs.
“After all, Boston finished with the best net rating in the NBA (plus-6.7) while ranking second overall in both offensive and defensive rating,” he adds. “While Milwaukee’s fourth-ranked defense was admirable, the Bucks finished just 15th in offensive rating, even behind lottery-bound teams such as the Utah Jazz and Toronto Raptors.”
“After a run to the finals last season and with Giannis Antetokounmpo battling a back injury, these Celtics should be the title favorites,” suggests the B/R analyst.
Boston legend Larry Bird could ball, but did you know he also rapped? https://t.co/G1QA0F6nQ3
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) April 23, 2023
The Celtics encountered some resistance from the Atlanta Hawks that may have taken a bit of shine off that particular apple, but arguably no team is in a better position health and play-wise to make a better claim, either.
Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ
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