The reigning NBA champions, the Boston Celtics, have put on a dominating showcase in the first 20 games of their title defense with a highly respectable 16-4 record. Despite suffering a narrow 115-111 loss to the Cavaliers recently, the Celtics ensured the game remained competitive even without Derrick White and Jaylen Brown in their line-up, showcasing Boston’s resilience as a unit.
Even with a recent loss, the Celtics have promising odds of -225 of winning the NBA Championship in 2025. These odds have dedicated Celtics fans wagering both in-person and online. When betting online, fans can choose between sites that accept fiat currency or crypto betting sites. Increasingly, crypto sports betting platforms are becoming popular as they usually offer more flexibility, quick payments, and easy transactions as well as competitive odds on teams like the Celtics.
Perhaps the reason for these favorable odds is that the team was able to pick themselves up after their recent defeat to the Cavaliers and continue to exude their dominance in the NBA for the remainder of the season. While the Celtics may not have the 18-2 record the 2008-2009 Celtics outfit had in their first 20 games, they aren’t far off. Boston boasts the best record after 20 games among the last seven NBA champs.
With a record of 16-4, they have fared better than the last six champs: the Denver Nuggets, the Golden State Warriors (twice), the Milwaukee Bucks, the LA Lakers, and the Toronto Raptors.
Out of the last six champs (excluding Boston), the Toronto Raptors were the closest team to match Boston’s current 16-4 record; however, Toronto fell short by one win, having a record of 15-5 after 20 games defending their title.
Additionally, none of the last five champions defending their title managed to advance past the second round of playoffs; this was often due to their rosters dealing with injuries or experiencing a string of inconsistent performances.
In contrast, a key driver in Boston’s success lies in the fact that they have been in relatively good shape health-wise. Kristaps Porzongis had returned from his offseason rehab without any complications, while the rest of the team hasn’t had to deal with any significant injuries. This has provided the Celtics with the stability and depth needed for such an impressive title defense.
In the four games that the Celtics have lost this season, they held leads in the final four minutes in all of the matches, showcasing that their record could be even better if one or two baskets had fallen in their favor. However, despite letting their lead slip with those four losses, the Celtics are keeping pace to finish the season with a predicted 65-17 or 66-16 record, which if these predictions materialize would make them the most successful title defenders since the Golden State Warriors in 2015-16.As the season continues to get underway, the main challenge for the Celtics will be to maintain their momentum and to keep their players fit. With the Celtic’s world-class offense, deep bench, and impressive start to the season, they look set for another deep playoff run.
