The Boston Celtics may have fallen short in the 2022 NBA Finals, but they are now out in front in the betting to win the NBA Championship title in 2023.
The early frontrunners to winning the title in 2023 were the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors went into the offseason at +460 to win the NBA Championship again next year, with Boston second in the betting at +650. The Nets were next at +700.
In the last eight years, the Warriors have been the outstanding NBA team. And in that time they have six NBA titles to prove that. And with a playing roster that includes talent like Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson, it’s no wonder.
Indeed, for six times winning coach Steve Kerr, keeping them fit and fresh was his main concern. If they made it out onto the court in good shape, Kerr could consider his job done, as the talent then took care of matters.
Talent like this is why the Golden State Warriors were originally installed as the betting favorites to win the 2023 title. Another reason that saw them ahead of Boston in the betting was because of the way they eased through the gears in the final two matches of the series and were clearly the better team in the end.
| 2023 NBA Championship Winner Betting |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | +375 | +400 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | +700 | +550 |
| Golden State Warriors | +600 | +700 |
| LA Clippers | +800 | +750 |
| Phoenix Suns | +1200 | +1000 |
| Brooklyn Nets | +1200 | +1400 |
| LA Lakers | +1200 | +1400 |
| Miami Heat | +1600 | +1600 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | +1500 | +1600 |
| Denver Nuggets | +1800 | +2000 |
| Dallas Mavericks | +1600 | +2500 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | +2500 | +2500 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | +3300 | +4000 |
| Toronto Raptors | +3300 | +4000 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | +3500 | +2800 |
Fast forward a few weeks, and with the news that Kevin Durant is likely to be leaving Brooklyn and possibly heading for Massachusetts, the odds have completely flip-flopped.
Durant is one of the best Basketball players in the world, and guys like that clearly make a difference. He is seen as the missing ingredient in the Boston side, and he could be the signing that makes the difference and leads them to their first championship win since 2008.
In the latest betting to win the title, the top US online betting sites have the Celtics at +400 to win the 2023 NBA final. The Warriors are down at +700. BetOnline puts the Milwaukee Bucks second in the betting at +550, and the LA Clippers at +750. For the record, the Brooklyn Nets are at +1200, having been +700 just a few short weeks ago.
The Celtics weren’t exactly in a bad position before the news of Durant emerged. Yes, they were well beaten in the end by the Warriors, but they would have known where they came up short and had the offseason to address that.
BetUS has an NBA Specials market available on which franchise Kevin Durant will be at next season; the Boston Celtics are their -175 favorites. The Celtics are the favorites after news emerged that they are supposed to be Durant’s favored destination.
After Boston, the best NBA betting sites are quoting Phoenix Suns at +350, and Golden State at +450. The Toronto Raptors are next at +550, now that would be some story.
The Raptors are a new and emerging squad. And although they have the finances, do they want to risk upsetting the balance and harmony that bringing in such a big name on big wages might have on other squad members?
In all honesty, that’s a problem any NBA team signing Durant may have. But in some cases, it’s a risk-to-reward scenario, and the rewards will far outweigh the risks for the majority. Although, maybe not the Raptors at this stage.
With a lot of Boston’s salary taken up by their main players, the likely scenario was that they were going to have to trade to strengthen in the areas they fell short in against the Warriors in June.
But if they sign Durant, the chances are it will cost them the services of not just Jaylen Brown, but probably Marcus Smart as well. So would Boston be prepared to do such a deal? They may have penciled in letting some of their lesser stars leave in a trade, but possibly not their biggest names.
The Celtics may also look at the form of Durant last season and wonder what it’s all about. Yes, he will be a Hall of Famer one day, no doubt. But why did he underperform for the Nets last season?
We’re led to believe he doesn’t see eye-to-eye with head coach Steve Nash and/or general manager Sean Marks. So was he sulking last season? If yes, does that not make a move for the undoubted talent a touch riskier? What if he does the same at his new franchise?
Whether or not the Celtics sign Kevin Durant, there is still a huge elephant standing in the room when it comes to them winning the NBA Championship. The Warriors’ star players might be a year older, but a lot of the squad are also a year wiser.
The team isn’t going to fall apart overnight, so the Warriors are still going to pose a threat next season. Six titles in the last eight years are proof of that. Writing the Warriors off is without doubt a risky strategy!
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About the Author
Dean is primarily a fan of English football who regularly attends games, and combining his hobby with his job, he is now a full-time sports betting writer. Rather than going down the educational route into sports journalism, Dean learned his trade by writing for his English football betting website since 2009, where he now boasts nearly 15 years of experience. After writing about football daily for years, Dean has taken the skills he learned and now uses them to great effect writing for numerous affiliate sites across the internet. A general all-around sports enthusiast with a passion for English football and cricket, Dean is also well able to turn his hand to writing about golf, tennis, F1, boxing, snooker, darts, and North American sports. Combining his extensive knowledge and experience with British humor and wit, Dean has developed into a trusted voice within the sports betting industry.
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