What are the odds-makers saying about the Boston Celtics’ title hopes?

With the NBA season set to return this summer, what do the experts think of the Boston Celtics’ chances of winning a title under these unique circumstances?

Sometime later today, the NBA board of governors will approve a vote to resume the season in a neutral site location at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. With several teams looking like title contenders, where do the Boston Celtics sit on the proverbial totem pole?

According to odds-makers, pretty high. The C’s were given some of the most favorable odds to win the title, coming in at 16/1 odds. That puts them at the same chance of winning as the Houston Rockets, who have fully embraced small-ball this season behind Russell Westbrook and James Harden.

LeBron James‘ Los Angeles Lakers are 5/2 favorites, with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers behind them at 3/1 odds. Given the fact that neither LA team has made a deep playoff run under their current iterations, it is shocking to see Milwaukee not seen as the overall favorite…especially given Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s MVP follow-up campaign.

Regardless, it’s telling that the Celtics have better odds than the defending champion Toronto Raptors. Toronto currently sits three games ahead of Boston in the standings, but the talent of Boston’s core is evidently seen as a more sure thing than Toronto’s championship winning core (minus, of course, Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green).

With eight regular season games remaining, the C’s could attempt to close the gap in the standings. Their road to the Finals could feature a healthy Indiana Pacers or Philadelphia 76ers team in the first round instead of a cushier match-up with either the Brooklyn Nets (likely without Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant) or the Orlando Magic (who will have a muted home-field advantage in their home city) if they can’t surpass Toronto.

It’s rewarding to see that the C’s are seen as Milwaukee’s biggest threat. No matter who is put in their way, the sports-book has confidence in Brad Stevens’ ability to put all of his talent together. He’s never had a more skilled and simultaneously cohesive squad than this one.

The odds certainly reflect as much. We’ll see what happens when the games are played on the campus of Walt Disney World in front of no fans for what will be the most unique sporting experience of all time. Boston Celtics fans should feel good about their team, because sports soothsayers in Las Vegas are feeling good about them.