2016-2017 NBA Previews – Celtics Odds
Looking for 2016 Boston Celtics Predictions? We’ve got your back. The Boston Celtics are going to be a popular pick for the second seed in the Eastern Conference throughout the 2016-17 NBA season. They finished last season as the No. 5 team out East, but they’ve added significant pieces to their core that should help convert them into a viable opponent to the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers.
Boston Celtics Season Preview
Head Coach: Brad Stevens
2015-16 Record: 48-34
Celtics Odds to NBA Title: +1800
Celtics Odds to Win Conference: +500
Updated Sportsbook Bonuses For Today
Click here for ALL of our 2016 Team By Team NBA Season Previews
Boston Celtics Strengths:
The Celtics were aiming big when they entered free agency. Kevin Durant was their prime target, and as it turned out, they were a legitimate contender when it came to landing him despite falling just short to the Golden State Warriors.
Although Durant ultimately took his talents to the Bay Area, Boston landed itself a different top-five free agent in Al Horford.
Horford, one of the games best yet underappreciated centers, gives this team a legitimate star to help lead a young group of good-to-very-good players deep into the postseason.
Check out the free sports picks from Cappers Picks experts today!
Horford gives this team a presence at the rim on both sides of the court, as well as a reliable mid-range shooter to help spread the floor.
Outside of Horford, Boston has talent all over the floor, and more importantly, all over the rotation.
Depth is a huge asset that it has entering 2016-17, and the fact that these guys showed last year they can not only play well together but also get along will go a long way.
As much as we could sit here and talk about the skills of undersized point guard Isaiah Thomas, the two-way play of Jae Crowder or the potential of Jaylen Brown, none of this would matter if Brad Stevens weren’t the coach he is.
With no disrespect to the players on the roster, the Celtics played greater than the sum of their parts last season because Stevens was leading the way.
Don’t look for this team to slow down any time soon with Stevens having even more weapons to work with in 2016-17.
Boston Celtics Weaknesses:
Although Horford gives Boston the big name it’s desired for so long (or at least some version of it considering other names have been Kevin Love, Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins, etc.), there’s still not enough stardom on the roster to truly challenge a LeBron James-led team.
Thomas fans will claim he’s a star, but having one borderline star in Horford and Thomas at his side isn’t going to scare the Cavs any time soon.
[dfads params=’groups=226&limit=1&return_javascript=1′]
In terms of on-court production, three-point shooting is still a concern. Boston finished in the bottom three in that category a year ago, and nobody it brought in is going to change that right away.
Speaking of roster additions (“ultimate stretch of a segue” alert), let’s talk about departures. Jared Sullinger and Evan Turner are gone. Sullinger, who while undersized held his own at center, is now a Toronto Raptor.
Turner, who was a Sixth Man of the Year candidate a season ago and a legitimate ball-handler despite his size, is now with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Boston Celtics Betting Prediction: 55-27
Vegas has set the over/under for Boston at 51.5, and that seems like an easy “over” pick at this point in the process.
It’s true that the East improved last season in many ways, but selecting any team ahead of Boston as the No. 2 team in the conference seems irresponsible at this juncture.
Look for the Celtics to fight and scrap their way to that No. 2 seed, while the Cavaliers likely rest James and other key players down the stretch, allowing the Celtics to close the gap.
Check out the free NBA basketball picks from Cappers Picks experts today!
The real question is: How does this team fare against its Eastern Conference foe in terms of postseason legitimacy.
Boston will make noise out East all season, but when it comes down to it, this conference championship is Cleveland’s to lose, and the Celtics would need to overachieve despite its No. 2 projection to ultimately challenge LeBron and Co. when the year comes to a close.
2016 NBA Gambling
What do you think about our 2016 Boston Celtics predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in the 2016-2017 NBA Season!
The 2016 NBA futures betting season is here in full force! If you like to bet on NBA hoops, you are in the best possible place for online betting. CappersPicks.com has NBA odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find weekly NBA basketball lines up for early games as well.
Check out our Updated NBA Betting Odds today! Click to view more 2016/17 NBA Predictions.