The Boston Celtics had the best season in the NBA.
President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens acquired Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday in the offseason to build a strong roster. Joe Mazzula came into his own in his second season as Boston's head coach. And it's hard to beat a team that has multiple All-Star and All-Defensive selections.
The Celtics enter the playoffs as the favorite to win the Eastern Conference. But it doesn't guarantee anything. they need to win the game.
Denver, Oklahoma City, Minnesota, New York and Milwaukee also plan to make the playoffs. Who is in the best position to advance to the conference finals today?
Here are USA TODAY's NBA Playoff Power Rankings as the first round begins.
Odds by BetMGM.
NBA Playoff Power Rankings
1. Boston Celtics
With a league-best 64-18 record and the only team to finish with over 60 wins, the Celtics ranked first in offense, second in defense, and first in net rating. They have a great starting five in Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White, and Jrue Holiday.
Odds of winning the title: +160
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
They earned the top seed in the West, were the only team outside of Boston to rank in the top five on offense and defense, and were the second-best in net rating at No. 3 and No. 4. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an MVP candidate, Jaylen Williams and Chet Holmgren are aiming for All-Star territory, and Mark Denault is the favorite to win Coach of the Year.
Odds of winning the title: +1600
3. Denver Nuggets
Why are the Nuggets so strong? Not to mention the talent, players like Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who could win his third MVP in four seasons. But no team performs as well offensively and defensively down the stretch as the Nuggets, who have the highest net rating in clutch time (games with five points or less in five minutes or less).
Odds of winning the title: +300
4. New York Knicks
Despite serious injuries to Julius Randle (who is out for the season) and OG Anunoby, the Knicks jumped to the No. 2 seed and finished the regular season with five straight (and needed) wins. Jalen Brunson averaged 39.4 points, 7.6 assists, shot 50.7% from the field and 47.5% from 3-point range over the last five games.
Odds of winning the title: +4000
5. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Timberwolves lost to Phoenix in the final game of the regular season, missing out on the top seed in the West. That's the same Suns team that Minnesota plays in the first round, and the Timberwolves will need a top-ranked defense led by Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels.
Odds of winning the title: +2000
6. Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers have been spectacular at times this season, and at one point late in the season they were competing for a top-three seed. With Paul George, James Harden and a healthy Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers can make a deep run — they reached the conference finals in 2021 — if they can get enough stops.
Odds of winning the title: +1300
7. Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks finished the season 12-3 with help both offensively and defensively from trade deadline acquisitions Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington, along with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Odds of winning the title: +1600
8. Phoenix Suns
Phoenix did what it had to do to avoid the play-in tournament, winning its final three games of the regular season, including the final game against Minnesota, the Suns' first-round opponent. New owner Matt Ishbia spent a lot of money on a roster that included Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.
Odds of winning the title: +1800
9. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have been one of the best teams in the league over the final two months of the season, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis having great performances during that stretch. James averaged 26.9 points, 9.3 assists, and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 57.2 percent from the field and 43.5 percent from the field. Davis averaged 24.3 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks while shooting 55.9 percent from 3-point range.
Odds of winning the title: +2500
10. Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers finished the season with eight straight wins. All-Star center Joel Embiid returned for five of those games. When healthy, the Sixers are the top team in the East. But is Embiid healthy enough and playing the game needed to propel the Sixers to the conference finals?
Odds of winning the title: +1400
11. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks literally and figuratively limped into the playoffs, losing seven of their last 10 games, and All-NBA forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (left calf strain) missed the final three games of the regular season. . This hasn't been an ideal season for a team that has amassed 49 wins, and Antetokounmpo could miss most of the first-round series against Indiana.
Odds of winning the title: +1400
12. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers' strong finish has kept them from getting past the play-in game, and their No. 2 offense led by Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner is difficult to contain. Their 4-1 record against the Bucks this season makes this a doubly interesting first-round series.
Odds of winning the title: +10000
13. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers finished the regular season with a record of 4 wins and 6 losses, losing their chance to earn the No. 2 seed, and a home loss to Charlotte in the final game of the season made it impossible for them to earn the No. 3 seed.
Odds of winning the title: +5000
14. Orlando Magic
The Magic lost four of their final six games of the regular season, but won Game 82 to earn the No. 5 seed. Their No. 3 defense should be fine, but will it have enough offensive power against Cleveland's quality defense?
Odds of winning the title: +20000
15. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans qualifying is great for getting players on the roster to participate in the playoff experience. It's unfortunate that Zion Williamson will miss Tuesday's play-in game against the Lakers with a hamstring injury.
Odds of winning the title: +8000
16. Miami Heat
Jimmy Butler is out with the Heat after suffering a sprained MCL in his right knee in the play-in game against Philadelphia. Yes, it's the Heat, it's Erik Spoelstra, it's the Heat culture. But still, no Jimmy Butler.
Odds of winning the title: +6000
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