Here's Where ESPN Predicts Celtics Finish in the East

From internal growth to the roster's and coaching staff's additions and schematic tweaks, there are meaningful reasons for optimism about the Celtics entering this season.

Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

An offseason that saw the Celtics, most notably, sign Jaylen Brown to an extension that serves as the most lucrative contract in NBA history, add Kristaps Porzingis and two of the league's top assistant coaches, Sam Cassell and Charles Lee, and subtract Marcus Smart and Grant Williams from its rotation has SI Sportsbook listing Boston as the favorite to win the Eastern Conference at +220 odds.

The Celtics' summer makeover should have them feeling confident about the area that's plagued them the most in the playoffs in recent years.

Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

There are also the anticipated leaps for Brown, after signing his record-setting deal, and Jayson Tatum, who's earned a spot on the All-NBA First Team two straight years and is about to enter his prime, turning 26 in March.

The same goes for Joe Mazzulla, who's gone from getting thrown in the fire, rising from sitting behind the bench to, at 34, being the NBA's youngest active head coach, a job he inherited right before training camp started, to helping his team overcome a 3-2 playoff deficit against the Sixers and going through a seven-game chess match against Erik Spoelstra, where Boston came within one win of being the first team in league history to dig out of a 3-0 hole.

Now, Mazzulla's had a summer to one, exhale after a whirlwind season, and recalibrate what worked, what needs tweaking, and how to get the most from a roster that's undergone a significant shakeup.

Regarding maximizing the trio of Tatum, Brown, and Porzingis, Mazzulla told Inside The Celtics, "You obviously are gonna do some different things to adhere to your roster on both ends of the floor, but at the end of the day, the principles remain the same."

Boston's bench boss also conveyed after the press conference where Brown signed his veteran supermax extension, "This team and this organization have always been built on defense. A few years ago, we played double-big; there was a bunch of maintaining, and it was a physical way to play when (former head coach) Ime (Udoka) came. And last year, we were able to do some switching.

"And so, I think we have an opportunity to, kind of, blend both of them to where we do maintain our system and do some of the things that we did really well for the majority of the season. And then, just kind of reinvent and find small ways that adhere to our roster. We'll be playing more double-big, probably. And so, with that, we can do some different stuff."

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

With training camp and the implementation of those tweaks around the corner before the Celtics continue their quest for Banner 18, ESPN's co-signed SI Sportsbook's projection. The former forecasts them to finish atop the East with a 55-27 record.

Both platforms agree the Bucks are most likely to come in second in the conference, with SI Sportsbook giving them +310 odds and ESPN projecting a 54-28 campaign for Milwaukee.

The two then start to splinter, as ESPN predicts the Cavaliers to finish third in the East with a 50-32 record, while the Heat, listed at +425, have the third-highest odds to win the conference on SI Sportsbook. The latter has Cleveland at +1000.

Basing it on Miami's current roster construction, ESPN anticipates the Heat, still the most likely landing spot for Damian Lillard, to go 46-36 this season, rounding out the top five in the East.

One spot ahead of them in their forecast is the Sixers at 47-35. SI Sportsbook gives them +600 odds to win the conference.

Further Reading

Celtics Meeting with Three of the Top Remaining Free Agents This Week

Here’s What Blake Griffin Had to Say About His Time in Boston

Here's What to Know About Celtics' 2023-24 Schedule

Highlighting the Marquee Matchups on Celtics' 2023-24 Schedule

Kristaps Porzingis to Engage in 4-6-Week Rehab Program

Rick Barry Discusses Jaylen Brown's Record-Breaking Contract Extension, Kristaps Porzingis Trade, Two Suggested Superstar Additions for Boston Celtics, Who's Face of the NBA

Examining How Celtics' Starting Lineup Might Shapeshift This Season

Weighing Whether Celtics Should Sign Kelly Oubre

Dwyane Wade Discusses Jayson Tatum's Next Step, Him and Jaylen Brown's Challenge, Heat Culture, Pat Riley, Damian Lillard, and Life After Basketball

Derrick White on Signing Extension with Celtics: 'I Love Being Here in Boston'

Why Celtics Should Enter 2023-24 Season Optimistic About Most Important Area of Improvement