Posted on: December 6, 2022, 11:00h.
Final up to date on: December 6, 2022, 11:41h.
The Boston Celtics, powered by their high-octane offense, are the primary staff to win 20 video games this season. With a 20-5 file, the Celtics are at present the betting favourite to win the 2022-23 NBA championship at +3300 odds, in line with DraftKings.
Ahead Jayson Tatum from the Boston Celtics launches a 3-point shot in opposition to the New York Knicks at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York Metropolis. (Picture: Getty)
The Celtics have been the runners-up in final 12 months’s NBA Finals, the place they misplaced to the Golden State Warriors. They entered the preseason as one of many three co-favorites to win the 2022-23 NBA championship, together with the defending champion Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers.
After the primary quarter of the season, the Celtics are the lone title favourite at +330 odds. The Milwaukee Bucks, with the second-best file within the NBA at 17-6, are the second favourite on DraftKings’ futures board at +600 odds.
Workforce
Championship Odds
Boston Celtics (20-5)
+330
Milwaukee Bucks (17-6)
+600
Golden State Warriors (13-12)
+700
LA Clippers (14-11)
+800
Phoenix Suns (16-8)
+1000
After a gradual begin, the Warriors are actually +700 odds to win back-to-back championships, though they at present have a 13-12 file and sit in tenth place within the Western Convention.
The Clippers are solely 14-11 this season. That’s as a result of ahead Kawhi Leonard missed 19 video games after he rushed again too quickly from reconstructive knee surgical procedure. The Clippers are +800 odds to win their first NBA championship.
Celtics Most Environment friendly Scoring Workforce in NBA Historical past
The Celtics put apart their preseason drama and posted the most effective file within the NBA via the primary 25 video games. Final season below head coach Ime Udoka, the Celtics received the Jap Convention and went to the NBA Finals because of the NBA’s prime protection, anchored by 2022 NBA Defensive Participant of the Yr Marcus Good.
This season, the Celtics are crushing groups with their juggernaut offense below new head coach Joe Mazzulla. The Celtics lead the NBA in scoring common at 120.6 factors per recreation because of their 3-point-heavy offense. The present Celtics posted the very best offensive effectivity score in NBA historical past at 120.7, in line with StatMuse.
It’s one factor to jack up a barrage of 3-pointers, however the Celtics lead the NBA with a 40.2% success fee from past the arc. The Celtics shoot the second-most 3-pointers per recreation with 41.4 makes an attempt, and solely the Golden State Warriors shoot extra at 43.6%. The Celtics common 16.6 made treys per recreation, which leads the league.
This season’s Celtics aren’t simply successful video games, they’re additionally masking the factors unfold. The Sacramento Kings are the most effective betting staff within the NBA with a 15-7 file in opposition to the unfold. The high-flying Celtics are the second-best betting staff with a 16-9 in opposition to the unfold (ATS) file.
The Celtics are 11-2 at residence this season in entrance of their rowdy followers in Boston. Additionally they have a powerful 9-3 highway file. Most essential, the Celtics aren’t simply blowing out unhealthy groups. They’ve posted a 9-2 file in opposition to successful groups.
Time beyond regulation appears to be the Celtics’ kryptonite this season. The Celtics performed three additional time video games and misplaced every one. With solely 5 whole losses this season, the Celtics misplaced simply two video games in regulation time.
Tatum Making Robust Case for MVP
Ahead Jayson Tatum is at present a slight favourite to win the NBA MVP forward of Giannis “Greek Freak” Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks and Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks. Tatum has by no means received the MVP earlier than, however he’s at present +270 odds to say the title, in line with DraftKings. Antetokounmpo is +280 odds to win a 3rd MVP and Doncic is +290 odds to win his first.
It’s no shock to see three of the highest 4 scorers within the MVP hunt. Doncic leads the NBA with 33.4 factors per recreation and Antetokounmpo is second total, averaging 31.9 factors per recreation. Tatum is fourth with a career-best 30.9 factors per recreation whereas including 8.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists per recreation.
Tatum averages three factors extra per recreation than final season (26.9 ppg). He’s taking pictures higher throughout the board in comparison with final season, with 48% from the ground, 36.4% from 3-point vary, and 86.9% from the free-throw line.
Tatum isn’t hogging the ball on a nasty staff. A number of of his teammates can discover buckets at any given time, with six different teammates averaging double digits.
Taking pictures guard Jaylen Brown averages a career-best 26.7 factors per recreation. Backup guard Malcom Brogdon averages 13.9 factors per recreation off the bench as their Sixth Man whereas pulling down 49.4% of his 3-point makes an attempt. Place to begin guard Marcus Good averages 12.1 factors per recreation and leads the Celtics with 7.6 assists per recreation because the staff’s ground normal.
In Mazzulla’s three-guard offense, Derrick White averages 10.8 factors per recreation and is taking pictures 43.4% from 3-point land. Veteran huge man Al Horford averages 10.2 factors per recreation and is taking pictures a powerful 46.6% from past the arc.
