It's hard to believe, but we've already reached the second half of the NBA season. Fans were just treated to some spectacular events at the All-Star Game. Now, though, the focus across the league is for squads to go on strong runs before the postseason gets here. With that said, the Boston Celtics remain small NBA Finals favorites After the All-Star break. Will they get the job done?
Before the season even got here, Boston had the top odds to win it all. That's not a surprise as Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum continue to be two of the best players in the game. Soon enough, Boston will hope to silence all of its doubters. That's right, plenty of people think Boston will fail miserably in going back to back. If anything, though, this is motivating the players and coaches to come through.
| NBA Finals odds |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celtics to win | +150 | +150 | +150 |
| Thunder to win | +175 | +175 | +175 |
| Cavs to win | +900 | +900 | +900 |
| Nuggets to win | +1100 | +1100 | +1100 |
"I think the city is equipped for it," Brown said about an All-Star Game in Boston. "I think the fans, you got the craziest fans in the world in Boston, so I'm sure that they would enjoy it. It kind of seemed like it was a little empty in here tonight, I don't think in Boston that would happen. So yeah, if we bring the All-Star game to Boston I would love to be there and I would love to participate."
According to the best online sports betting sites, the Celtics hold +150 NBA betting odds to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy. There are other teams with strong NBA Finals betting odds (more on that below), but there's a good reason the Celtics are at the top of the list. Multiple other teams will be ready to make a statement, but we're going with the Celtics as our pick.
.@GwashburnGlobe asks Jaylen Brown if he thinks the All-Star game should come to Boston:
"They got the craziest fans in the world in Boston ... it kinda seemed like it was a little empty in here tonight. I don't think in Boston that would happen."
📺 FULL Interview:… pic.twitter.com/yPQofvzzJg
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) February 17, 2025
The Thunder are right in the mix to win the NBA Finals this season
While there's a ton of attention being placed on the Celtics, keep in mind that the Thunder are right in the mix to win the NBA Finals this season. This should come as no surprise, as sharpshooter Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging more than 32 points per game. Gilgeous-Alexadner has been playing unreal, which has fans excited about this team potentially going all the way.
Looking to get in on the betting action? It's important to keep in mind that some of the top sportsbooks out there, including Bovada, BetOnline and others, have year-round basketball promotions and bonuses for you to take advantage of. There will be NBA Finals bonuses as well. Once NBA playoffs betting gets here, you'll surely want to be in a position to place some wagers on your favorite team.
Chris Tucker: "You my new hero! Keep killing 'em man."
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: "The Rush Hours are my favorite movies of all time."
Tucker: "You gotta be in Rush Hour 4!"
SGA: "Hell yeah let's do it!"
(via @NBATV)pic.twitter.com/jsMhUpI1Zw
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 17, 2025
"My favorite players growing up were Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson," Gilgeous-Alexander said at the All-Star Game. "They shot a lot of mid-range. For me it was just part of the game. It was a skill set, a weapon, and I try to implement it in my game and I've done so."
As things stand, the Thunder are right behind the Celtics in terms of NBA Finals odds. The Thunder are at +175, with their odds improving over the past two weeks. After the All-Star break, people are now looking ahead to the playoffs and NBA Finals. It will be interesting to see how the final couple months of the regular season go, but you can expect the Thunder to go on a deep postseason run.
Cleveland and New York are hoping to stun Boston in the Eastern Conference
Out east, don't forget that Cleveland and New York are hoping to stun Boston in the Eastern Conference. The Cavs are in the middle of a tremendous season, with plenty of its young talent really stepping up. The same can be said for New York, though Jalen Brunson is once again playing at an elite level.
Brunson is the pride and joy for everyone in Manhattan. Whenever the Knicks need someone to bury a timely shot, he's there to answer the call. It also helps that he has a ton of help behind him as well, including fan favorite Josh Hart.
Both the Knicks and Cavs have what it takes to potentially ruin Boston's hopes of repeating as the champs. Once the playoffs do get here, people will be waiting to see how New York and Cleveland will stack up against Boston. We're sticking with the Celtics as our Eastern Conference and NBA Finals champs, but don't forget about Cleveland and New York once the spring gets here.
