As we approach the final stages of the 2023-24 NBA season, the Boston Celtics have a firm grip on the top position in the Western Conference. Despite their dominance, it seems improbable for any team to catch up to them in the standings. However, the oddsmakers are giving the Milwaukee Bucks a decent chance of making a late-season comeback.
Throughout the season, a camera crew has been closely following the Boston Celtics, capturing their journey in a multi-part documentary series reminiscent of “The Last Dance.” This behind-the-scenes footage provides an intriguing glimpse into the team’s dynamics and experiences.
Since the start of the season, Boston has consistently been the strongest team in the conference. However, their lead over the Bucks was initially only 1.5 games during the Christmas period, with the Philadelphia 76ers trailing by just 3 games. There was hope that the 76ers could make a surge in the New Year. Unfortunately for both Milwaukee and Philadelphia, they have struggled in the past two months, allowing the Celtics to establish a commanding lead.
As we enter the second half of the season after the All-Star break, Boston currently holds a 6-game advantage over their Eastern Conference rivals. Surprisingly, BetOnline’s oddsmakers have assigned the Celtics a +125 designation to finish as the #1 seed. This may seem relatively low considering their significant lead.
Interestingly, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who occupy the second-place position, do not have the next-best odds according to the oddsmakers. Cleveland is listed at +750, placing them fourth in line behind the New York Knicks in fourth place with odds of +600.
The oddsmakers believe that the Milwaukee Bucks have the highest probability of catching up to the Celtics. Currently, their designation stands at +300, which is not far off from the favorite’s odds.
However, the Bucks face a daunting challenge if they intend to challenge for the top spot. With 26 games remaining in the regular season, they are currently 8.5 games behind the Celtics. To overtake Boston, the Bucks would need to achieve a record of 20 wins and 6 losses in the final stretch, while the Celtics would need to struggle with a record no better than 11 wins and 16 losses. Given the performances of both teams thus far, these scenarios appear highly unlikely.
In the Eastern Conference, there is a significant 12.5-game gap between the #1 seed and the #6 seed. In contrast, the margin is only 6 games in the Western Conference.
According to the Source sportslens.com