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After a heart-stopping NBA regular season, the postseason is here and people are fired up to see how things go down. As things stand, we’ve reached the ‘play-in’ games, as several teams are hoping to keep their title dreams alive. Having said that, the Boston Celtics are the favorites to win the 2024 NBA Finals with the playoffs here. Will Jayson Tatum and Co. be able to get the job done? That’s what people all over Massachusetts are hoping for.
It was a tremendous regular season for the Celtics, as they were able to finish the year 64-18. This was the best record in the entire NBA, and obviously the best in the Eastern Conference. Because of their strong showing, the Celtics have the No. 1 seed in the postseason and they’re now waiting to see who they will face off in the first round (more on that below). Regardless of who they play, the Celtics are expected to have no issues at all moving on to the next round.
| NBA Finals odds |  |  |  |
| Celtics to win | +175 | +175 | +175 |
| Nuggets to win | +350 | +350 | +350 |
| Clippers to win | +600 | +600 | +600 |
| Bucks to win | +800 | +800 | +800 |
“You study teams who were fortunate enough to get to a Finals, if not win it,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said of the team’s mindset leading up to their postseason opener. “The road there is always forgotten by the result of winning. It looks different every year. There are teams that have had multiple Game 7s. There is a team that has only lost one game. There’s a team that’s had to come down from 3-2… It takes what it takes.”
According to the best-rated sportsbooks, which includes the reliable Bovada review, the Celtics hold +180 NBA betting odds to win it all this season. Again, people in their state are hopeful that the Larry O’Brien Trophy will be able to make its way home. Plenty of analysts think that will be the case, but in our opinion, we think a bit of an upset could be on the way. That’s why we’re going in a different direction for our selection.
postseason hoops up next 😤 pic.twitter.com/yAORop1NCy
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 15, 2024
The Denver Nuggets are our pick to win the NBA Finals this year
Believe it or not, the Denver Nuggets are our pick to win the NBA Finals this year. Last season, Denver shocked the world by winning the Finals. They were led by Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr. and others. Once again this season, the same stars have been downright awesome for this team and Denver is hoping to repeat. They finished the regular season with a 57-25 record, tied for the best in the Western Conference.
Because of a tie-breaker, though, they have the No. 2 seed in the West and Oklahoma City has the No. 1 seed. With that, Denver will face that No. 7 seed in the first round of the playoffs. Despite not facing No. 8, we still think the Thunder will have no issues at all in moving to the second round of the playoffs. Both the coaching staff and players are feeling pretty confident about things and rightfully so.
One thing in sight. pic.twitter.com/5t5UKSyw38
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) April 15, 2024
“To be a playoff team six years in a row, that’s sustained success, which is what you all strive for,” Denver head coach Mike Malone said recently. “But as I told our players, like, that’s cool. Six years in a row, but that wasn’t our goal this year to make the playoffs. We have a bull’s eye on our backs. We are the reigning World Champs. So, that’s what our goal is—to repeat—and it’s going to be a hell of a challenge. But we’re all signed up for that.”
Per the oddsmakers, the Nuggets hold +350 NBA Finals betting odds to get the job done. We think the Celtics and Denver will face off in the Finals and it wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see that series go the full seven games. In the end, though, we think Denver will be able to outclass the Celtics and win it all for the second consecutive year. It won’t be easy, but Denver has what it takes to get the job done.
Who will the Celtics and Nuggets play in the first round of the playoffs?
Before things get started, plenty of fans are wondering who will the Celtics and Nuggets play in the first round of the playoffs? We’ll find out after the play-in games get wrapped up. As things stand, the Celtics, the No. 1 seed, will be playing either the 76ers, Heat, Bulls or Hawks – it depends on what happens this week. On the other side, the Nuggets will be playing either the Pelicans or Lakers. Both teams have loads of talent – Denver surely doesn’t want to play LA.
If the Lakers move on to take on Denver, LeBron James and Co. will be quite motivated to post an earth-shattering upset. Luckily for Denver fans, we don’t think that’s going to end up being the case. Soon enough, we’ll find out who the Nuggets and Celtics will face off in the first round. However, a lot of hoops fans are hoping that a Denver vs. Boston Finals showdown will be on the way for everyone to enjoy.
