Celtics and Bucks Lead the Way as NBA Title Favorites: Early 2024 NBA Finals Predictions
Steve Aschburner
In my opinion, the Suns and Celtics stand out as the most talented teams in their respective conferences. It’s not just about individual skills; it’s about the overall strength of the teams. Jayson Tatum might be a frontrunner for the Kia MVP award (unless voters can’t overlook the support he has from Boston’s roster). With Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday on board, the Celtics have a new dimension that could potentially make a bigger impact on their title aspirations than Damian Lillard.
The Suns are brimming with offensive firepower, much like Boston, and there’s a sense of urgency for both teams to make it all come together this season. They were both expected to reach the Finals last June, so the realization that their championship window may be narrowing should serve as motivation.
Brian Martin
With Giannis Antetokounmpo’s contract extension on Monday, the Bucks no longer have the cloud of uncertainty hanging over their star player as the season begins. The combination of Giannis and Damian Lillard, particularly their formidable pick-and-roll game, might give Milwaukee the edge over Boston as they both aim for their second Finals appearance in this decade.
While Denver lost some depth from last year’s championship-winning team, the Nuggets have Nikola Jokic performing at an MVP level and a healthy Jamal Murray for the entire season. This makes them the favorites, but they’ll face a tough road in the competitive Western Conference, potentially encountering strong contenders like the Suns and Lakers in the playoffs.
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Shaun Powell
In the Western Conference, there are only five truly competitive teams: the Nuggets, Lakers, Grizzlies, Suns, and Clippers. Among them, the Suns have the offensive firepower to match or surpass any of their rivals and should have just enough defensive prowess to come out on top.
Turning to the Eastern Conference, the real contenders are the Bucks and the Celtics. It’s a tough choice, but if it comes down to a decisive Game Seven in the Eastern Finals, Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday could be the game-changers.
The NBA Finals could either solidify Kevin Durant’s place in the top 10 of all-time NBA greats or lead to Boston hanging another championship banner.
John Schuhmann
While defense remains crucial in the NBA, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to completely stifle great offenses. The Celtics and Suns have arguably the highest offensive potential, thanks to the talent at the top of their rosters. Boston boasts an elite top six and capable shooters beyond that, while Phoenix features three of the league’s top offensive players and more sharpshooters.
The Nuggets, with their dynamic duo of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, should also be in the mix. Both teams may encounter some issues, especially in terms of frontcourt depth, but they have the next six months to work things out. Expect both squads to be strong, with no major defensive shortcomings.
Michael C. Wright
Nuggets-Celtics. There has been significant movement in the Eastern Conference, with Boston and Milwaukee making key acquisitions to boost their competitiveness. However, the Celtics appear to have come out on top in this battle. With an already solid roster and remarkable continuity, Boston now possesses the most overall talent in the East. They boast four All-Star starters Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis.
Out in the Western Conference, the reigning champions, the Nuggets, faced some offseason losses, particularly in terms of depth with the departures of Bruce Brown and Jeff Green. However, their starting five remains intact, anchored by the two-time MVP, Nikola Jokic, and the exceptionally talented point guard, Jamal Murray, who is on the cusp of earning his first All-Star nod.
The Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks are entering the NBA season as the top contenders for the championship according to various sportsbooks across the nation.
Both the Celtics and Bucks are considered co-favorites at several sportsbooks, although Caesars Sportsbook slightly favors Boston with odds at +380, followed closely by Milwaukee at +400. Defending champions, the Denver Nuggets, are the next in line with odds at +420, and the Phoenix Suns (+600) and Golden State Warriors (+850) round out the list of teams with single-digit odds at the start of the season, according to Caesars Sportsbook.
Both the Celtics and Bucks, who made significant changes to their backcourt during the offseason, are also the top favorites to win the NBA Cup, the inaugural in-season tournament. Boston added veteran guard Jrue Holiday to their roster, and Milwaukee traded for superstar Damian Lillard to pair him with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
During the offseason, the Denver Nuggets drew the most attention and largest bets to win the championship at Caesars Sportsbook. Notably, they received a $30,000 bet at 4-1 odds from a bettor in Nevada, potentially paying out a net $120,000.
The Los Angeles Lakers, with odds around 11-1 to win the championship, have been the top choice among bettors at sportsbooks FanDuel and the SuperBook. The LA Clippers are listed at 18-1, and the Miami Heat are at 22-1.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, and Portland Trail Blazers are considered long shots, each with odds of 500-1 at Caesars Sportsbook.
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As for individual accolades, Nuggets’ star Nikola Jokic is the favorite to win the regular-season MVP with odds at 3-1, followed by Giannis Antetokounmpo (6-1) and Luka Doncic (11-2) of the Dallas Mavericks.
The top pick in the draft, Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, is a strong favorite to win Rookie of the Year with odds at -150. Notably, Wembanyama is the first player to be an odds-on favorite to win Rookie of the Year since Kevin Durant in 2007-08, according to the betting database SportsOddsHistory.com.
The NBA season kicks off on Tuesday, with the Nuggets hosting the Lakers and the Warriors hosting the Suns.
Odds to win the NBA championship (via Caesars Sportsbook, as of Oct. 24):
Here are the odds for teams to win the NBA championship, listed in order of their likelihood according to the sportsbook:
Milwaukee Bucks have odds at +400.
Denver Nuggets have odds at +420.
Phoenix Suns have odds at +600.
Golden State Warriors have odds at +850.
Los Angeles Lakers have odds at +1,100.
LA Clippers have odds at +1,800.
Miami Heat have odds at +2,200.
Dallas Mavericks have odds at +2,500.
Philadelphia 76ers have odds at +2,800.
Cleveland Cavaliers have odds at +3,000.
Memphis Grizzlies have odds at +3,000.
Sacramento Kings have odds at +4,000.
Minnesota Timberwolves have odds at +4,000.
The New York Knicks have odds at +5,000.
New Orleans Pelicans have odds at +5,000.
Oklahoma City Thunder have odds at +7,000.
Atlanta Hawks have odds at +8,000.
Toronto Raptors have odds at +12,500.
Chicago Bulls have odds at +15,000.
Brooklyn Nets have odds at +15,000.
San Antonio Spurs have odds at +20,000.
Indiana Pacers have odds at +20,000.
Utah Jazz have odds at +30,000.
Houston Rockets have odds at +30,000.
Orlando Magic has odds at +30,000.
Detroit Pistons have odds at +50,000.
Charlotte Hornets have odds at +50,000.
Washington Wizards have odds at +50,000.
Portland Trail Blazers have odds at +50,000.
These odds represent the sportsbook’s estimation of each team’s chances to win the championship, with the lower odds indicating higher favorability.
