The Boston Celtics woke up Thursday in first place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Sure, the C's have only played six games, but they are 5-1 and have impressed at both ends of the court. The Celtics have scored 110.3 points per game and have allowed the sixth-fewest points per game. Boston also is the only team with three players averaging more than 20 points per game.
This success is even more impressive when you consider shooting guard Jaylen Brown has missed the last three games due to an infection and center Enes Kanter has been sidelined for five games because of a knee injury.
The Celtics' NBA championship odds have improved a bit after their hot start, but they still aren't listed among the favorites. Here are the latest 2019-20 NBA title betting lines from Caesars Sportsbook in Las Vegas:
Boston's upcoming schedule is pretty weak.
The Celtics' next seven games include just two opponents who reached the playoffs last season, and one of those teams is the Golden State Warriors, who won't have star players Stephen Curry or Klay Thomson in the lineup due to injuries. This stretch represents a great opportunity for the Celtics to bank a bunch of wins and solidify their standing in the East before the schedule gets much tougher.
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