The Boston Celtics currently have the best record in the NBA heading into their big matchup with the Golden State Warriors. They are 13-2, riding a 13-game winning streak, and will be at home against the defending champions. But even with those factors in their favor, they remain a substantial underdog in the eyes of oddsmakers.
Despite being on the road against a Celtics team that has won 13 in a row, the Warriors are 7.5-point favorites tonight.
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) November 16, 2017
That line shouldn’t be considered a knock on the Celtics more than it is a recognition of just how great Golden State is. The Warriors are also on their own impressive seven-game winning streak, the first six games of which they won by 17 or more points. That includes a 20-point blowout of the San Antonio Spurs, who are one of the Warriors’ top competitors in the Western Conference.
Article Continues BelowStill, it’s a sobering reality that the team with arguably the best chance of competing with the Warriors at the moment remains substantially lagging behind according to bookmakers, who generally know what they’re doing.
However, the Celtics can still prove those odds wrong if they come out and play as well as they have been playing this year. Their defense, in particular, has been the best in the league, and they should be able to make more believers of everyone by slowing down the Warriors’ juggernaut offense.