Even if the status of Kristaps Porzingis is still unclear for the start of the 2024 NBA Finals, the Celtics are considered the favorites for the final duel of the season, facing the Mavericks.
In Las Vegas, the bookmakers announce that the odds for a Boston victory are 1.44, compared to 2.85 for a Dallas victory. Jayson Tatum (1.77) is also the favorite to be named Finals MVP, ahead of Luka Doncic (3.0), Jaylen Brown (7.0) and Kyrie Irving (25.0), far behind.
Nevertheless, while the Celtics have mainly assumed their status as the best team of the season so far, the Mavericks have continually surprised, becoming the first team since the Lakers, in 2010, to reach the Finals by leaving three teams with more than 50 victories in the regular season: the Clippers (51-31) in the first round, then the Thunder (57-25) and therefore finally the Wolves (56-26) in the conference final.
Dallas' rating has therefore continually risen, while it was only 25.0 at the start of the season, and even fell to 51.0 in January, before the trade deadline acquisitions.
“At the start of the playoffs, the Celtics would have been the big favorites in this duel, but today the two teams seem closer”, explains David Liebermanwho oversees the odds for Caesars Sportsbook.
