Celtics-Cavs betting preview: How long can Cleveland last?
Find year-round coverage of betting news and insights for all sports by visiting our Betting section and subscribing to push notifications.
The Cavs finally won a playoff series with Donovan Mitchell, meaning questions regarding his future hold off for another week.
Now we have to ask ourselves: Will the Celtics defeat the Cavs in four or five games? And how will Kristaps Porzingis' absence impact Boston? The Celtics are -1800 (95% implied probability) to win the series.
Plucking any player out of the NBA's best starting lineup is a monumental loss. It's especially harmful when it's Porzingis, who's been everything Boston dreamed he'd be when they acquired him last offseason.
Luckily for Boston, it has center depth. Al Horford isn't Porzingis, but he's a serviceable, experienced big who can space the floor as a shooting threat. Horford averaged a career-low 26.8 minutes this season, which will inevitably increase. The Celtics hope the soon-to-be 38-year-old has the durability to withstand more work.
Midseason acquisition Xavier Tillman isn't usually in the rotation, but he could provide some valuable bench minutes when Horford needs a breather.
The Celtics have plenty of experience experimenting with Porzingis-less lineups, with the Latvian missing 25 regular-season games. Believe it or not, Boston outscored opponents per 100 possessions as much with Porzingis on the court as off.
Don't get me wrong, Porzingis' value as a shooting big and elite rim-protector and his defensive versatility are essential for the Celtics to win the championship. A Porzingis post-up was one of the most efficient plays in the NBA this season.
However, Boston has proven it can win without KP against lower-level opponents. Despite their final-eight status, the Cavs are surely an inferior opponent.
The Magic's defense gave Cleveland's offense fits and ultimately forced a Game 7. Boston's one of two teams with a better defense than Orlando, and the Cavs have the second-worst playoff offensive rating.
Mitchell carved up the Magic's defense, scoring 89 points in the final two games. But backcourt partner Darius Garland left Mitchell out to dry. Garland seemingly lost confidence, becoming more passive than aggressive in the latter part of the campaign. After an injury-riddled and disappointing regular season, Garland averaged 14.9 points in the opening round.
Like the Magic, Boston has perimeter length and athleticism that'll swallow Garland. Beyond Mitchell, Cleveland lacks reliable scorers to win a game. It escaped Orlando because the Magic had a bottom-tier offense. Now, the Cavs face the NBA's best offense.
Sure, Cleveland could shoot over 50% from three and sneak in a win, but I wouldn't count on it. The Cavs don't have the coaching staff or defensive creativity to escape with a single victory in four attempts against Boston.
Cleveland's also dealing with an injured big. Jarrett Allen's status is uncertain after he missed the final three games against Orlando with a rib injury. The Cavs had a positive net rating with Allen on the court this season and a negative one with him on the bench. If he returns at some point, it'll boost the team's interior. Regardless, the Celtics will cruise past the Cavs, who have major organizational decisions coming this summer.
Bet: Celtics to win 4-0 (+185)
Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on X @soshtry for more betting coverage.