2023-24 NBA Atlantic Division Preview: Bet the Bank on Boston?

Re-Tooled Celtics A Tier Above Rest of Atlantic Per Odds

Boston Heavily Favored Against Atlantic Peers

The Boston Celtics may as well be the Boston All-Stars. The Celtics now have an All-Star starting lineup thanks to acquiring both Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. Boston can now feature its own “Death Lineup” in hopes of finally winning a title. As such, they are atop most outright odds. And in this NBA Atlantic Division preview, they are an expensive NBA team to back: -200 to win the division.

Celtics Could Be Greener Than Their Odds Indicate

We don’t fault the oddsmakers for taking one look at the Celtics team and cutting their betting odds. From point guard to center, the Celtics have a starting lineup that will command wide NBA spreads in half their games. However, at -200, that type of chalk is due to get busted over 82 games. The playoffs are one thing so betting Boston to win it all at +450 is more valuable. But the regular season is tough.

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For one, the Celtics don’t have depth. The team traded away guards Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon then let forward Grant Williams go in free agency. Center Robert Williams is also gone as part of the Holiday deal. Boston will lean more heavily on Payton Pritchard and Derrick Williams at the back. And in front? The team may need to make more deals.

But there are plenty of scenarios where Boston gets hit by the injury bug and gets edged out by Philadelphia (+275) for the division. Philadelphia has more continuity and a more capable tactician in head coach Nick Nurse.

Boston’s two main stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, have relatively stayed healthy. Al Horford has also been durable despite being 37 years old. But Holiday, and especially Porzingis, have had durability concerns. The latter played nearly 80% of the games last NBA season, which is the first time since 2016-17.

Porzingis and Horford need to stay healthy or the Celtics’ frontcourt will be exposed. Given the odds on the NBA Atlantic Division preview, they should stay intact long enough to come out on top.

The Atlantic Was Deep: Why the Knicks Could Emerge

There was a period where the NBA’s Atlantic Division was akin to the “Division of Death”. But with the disbanding of the Brooklyn Nets and the decline of the Toronto Raptors, the Atlantic has become top-heavy. Boston is the runaway favorite as you can tell by the odds and NBA Atlantic Division preview. But Philadelphia and New York are still legitimate contenders.

Between Philadelphia and New York, we’d bet the Knicks at +800 to win the division. This team finished strong last season going 17-8 in its final 25 games with a +6.0 net rating, the second-best mark in the league. New York even won a playoff race.

All that coincides with the team’s faith in the Villanova Wildcats. Jalen Brunson became a bonafide franchise player under Tom Thibodeau in New York. And Josh Hart, acquired during the NBA Trade Deadline, further cemented the team’s position as a contender.

New York was not done and acquired Donte DiVincenzo and Ryan Arcidiacono to reunite the Wildcat quartet that captured an NCAA Championship together. Along with the improvement of key NBA players like Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes, the Knicks have one of the deepest rosters.

If you couple that with Boston’s lack of depth and the 76ers dealing with a disgruntled James Harden – and he makes things very difficult for a franchise, the Knicks might just “sneak up” and finish atop the NBA Atlantic standings.

The Dogs in Brooklyn and Toronto

At longshot odds of 20-1 and 25-1, folks may be writing off Brooklyn and Toronto, respectively. These teams may not win enough games to capture the division. But being a playoff contender is not out of the question. Brooklyn has a young and deep team like its city rival while Toronto could be resurgent in light of its new coach, Darko Rajakovic.

Look for either team to be potentially lucrative underdog bets this coming season. The Nets have potential stars in Mikal Bridges and Nic Claxton while Toronto still has a big and athletic lineup led by two-time All-NBA forward Pascal Siakam. Many NBA score predictions may underestimate how prolific these teams can be.

For NBA betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.


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