Let’s Set Odds: What Seed Will Boston Celtics Get in Eastern Conference Playoffs?

The Boston Celtics have been tearing through the NBA since the start of 2022.

The Celtics are third in win percentage since Jan. 1, posting the best net rating in the league by more than three points and allowing three less points per 100 possessions on the defensive side of the floor.

Jayson Tatum has flourished into a First Team All-NBA contender, Marcus Smart is the betting favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year and Ime Udoka has gotten the most out of his roster in his first year as head coach.

After sitting around .500 for the first part of the season, the Celts are poised to host a first-round series and are still in the mix for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Here are their updated prospects seeding wise heading into the final week of the regular season.

Boston Celtics Eastern Conference Playoff Seeding Odds

• No. 1 Seed: +2074
• No. 2 Seed: -109
• No. 3 Seed: +261
• No. 4 Seed: +590
• No. 5 Seed: +8991

Celtics Favored to Get No. 2 Seed

The odds listed are me converting the implied probability listed in Chris Forsberg's tweet into moneylines, which lists the No. 2 seed as the most likely position for Boston.

With no games across the association on Monday night, we can take a look at where the Celts stand before the final week of the regular season. Currently, the team has a half-game lead on the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers while they trail the Miami Heat for the No. 1 seed by 2 games.

The Celtics don't have the easiest schedule, playing a back-to-back at Chicago on Wednesday and Milwaukee (which could decide the No. 2 seed) and then at Memphis on April 10.

If we are betting this market, I actually like the + money on the No. 3 seed. I'm curious to see how the 3 team's around seeds 2 through 4 handle the last week, but a potential playoff preview in Milwaukee can see both team's going full throttle in one final tune up before the postseason, but the Bucks will be favored in that scenario especially when considering the Celts are playing a back-to-back.

Further, I see the Sixers making a point to grab the No. 4 seed and leaving zero doubt that they put themselves in position to face the Brooklyn Nets in a potential first round series considering they are bound for the play-in game.

There's a lot of strategic decision making going on through the last week of the season, but I see a little bit of value in going against the grain and taking the +261 odds for the third seed for Boston.