The Boston Celtics are currently seen as the most likely team in the entire NBA to win it all according to a new assessment by FiveThirtyEight’s 2021-22 NBA Predictions Raptor analytics model. If that seems optimistic to you, recall the model had the Celtics third in such an assessment just ahead of the team’s 135 – 87 obliteration of the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.
The rating, which leans heavily on the point differential of which the Celtics are the leading team in the league’s Eastern Conference and currently second in the NBA overall, also uses simulation models and individual NBA player projections to arrive at such conclusions.
At present, FiveThirtyEight puts Boston at having a 99% chance at making the postseason, a 37% chance of making the NBA Finals, and a 23% chance at winning them.
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Their nearest competitor is the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns, both tied with a 17% chance at winning it all.
These assessments should of course always be taken with a grain of salt, but when contrasted with the eye test and recent play, certainly doesn’t seem to be beyond the pale.
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
