Golden State Warriors or Boston Celtics: Who Has a Better Chance

The Golden State Warriors were outshined by the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers this offseason. Both in the media and on the NBA odds boards. With Kyrie gone –and a handful of others–  the Celtics got ignored as well.

Let’s compare the two teams and have a look at their odds to win the NBA title as well as the Eastern and Western Conference Championships and determine if they are getting too much love or too much shade. And of course, who is more worthy of the probability and odds given – remember to check this Intertops review before getting into the futures action.

Recent History

As of Monday, the Celtics are sitting just outside of the top-10 with regards to their offense. Boston is putting up 113.13 points per game and has managed to regain its status as one of the league’s elite defensive units. Currently, the Celtics are No. 5 in the league in points allowed at just 103.75 and are also No. 5 in the league in field goal percentage at 41.77. They are also in the top 10 – No. 8–  in free throw percentage. 

After losing their opening matchup loss against the Philadelphia 76ers, they have gone on a tear, smashing their way through the Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks, NY Knicks twice, the Charlotte Hornets, and San Antonio Spurs for seven straight wins.  

On Monday they host the Dallas Mavericks and are coming in as -3.5 point favorites. So if you are to believe the odds, they will increase their run to an 8-game winning streak before Tuesday. 

Even with Klay Thompson out for the foreseeable future, the Golden State Warriors started the season with decent odds to win the NBA title, albeit, behind the LA Clippers and LA Lakers. But the injury to Steph Curry has recently made the Golden State Warriors odds drop like a little kid holding a hot potato. Prior to the injury, the Warriors were around +1200 to win the Championship. However, now they have fallen to +5000 or 50 to 1. This is a huge drop. 

Faith in the Warriors has fallen so hard that they are coming into their Monday matchup against the Utah Jazz as double-digit underdogs. This is a complete role reversal for the Dubs. Their season start is almost the exact opposite of the Celtics. GSW has only won two games so far this season and is on a three-game losing streak. Even without the brothers splash … the Warriors offense isn’t terrible. They rank No. 14 for scoring in the NBA and are the best free-throw shooting team in the league. But they have no defensive identity at the moment. The Warriors rank No. 29th overall on defense, mostly due to their horrible road performances. At home they only marginally improve, allowing 120 per game for the 26th worst home defense in the league. So, it’s clear that Curry and Thompson provide more than just offensive fire-power. They give the Dubs leadership and fantastic perimeter defense.

Odds vs. Power Rankings

The Boston Celtics have taken the No. 6 spot on TeamRankings predictive power rankings. On the Las Vegas odds boards, they are No. 8 in line behind the Nuggets, Jazz, Rockets, Rockets, Sixers, Bucks, and both LAs. 

The Warriors are in 12th place on the NBA odds boards but the predictive algorithms have the Warriors way back at 21st. This makes sense given the fact that their overall defense scoring statistic is No. 29 in the league. So, how do we reconcile the fact that they have the 12th best odds on the board? Well, they are Golden State and Curry will be back, perhaps in time for a run at the playoffs. If they get into the post-season, who knows what happens. Still, I feel they are massively overvalued at the moment. Meanwhile, the Celtics are right about where they should be. Perhaps a tad bit undervalued given the fact that they keep winning. That said, there is a lot of season left, and both of these teams have lot to prove over the next few months.

One of the core lists for us on Notinhalloffame.com is our Football section, which ranked over 100 former players who are worthy of Pro Football Hall of Fame consideration.  In honor of the NFL’s 100^thAnniversary, and announcement that there will be a special committee that will add fifteen senior candidates, we have decreed that our section needed an update.

In looking at our list, we were guilty of not taking a proper look at the pre-Super Bowl era candidates, feeling that they received a proper look by the varying committees who voted for candidates since 1963.  In retrospect, that was wrong.

Before, we continue, a special thank you to Vinny Lospinuso, who has been doing many podcasts with us, in regards to Pro Football Hall of Fame snubs.  Much of his input is reflected in this revision.

We have expanded this list to 300, which is the number we intend to keep it for the unforeseeable future.  You can find the new list here:  http://www.notinhalloffame.com/football?start=0

We here at Notinhalloffame.com thank you all for your support, and we ask you to take a look, and cast your votes and offer your opinions.  Future lists are altered based on your feedback, and we encourage your assistance.

In an interview today with the NFL Network, former Jacksonville Jaguars Running Back, Fred Taylor, decreed that he belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  He specifically had this to say:

“Obviously I think I belong.  It’s not in my hands. I think the voters, after doing a deep dive, they’ll understand that I belong there too. I really believe I had a solid career, and hopefully the writers will understand that one day.”

Taylor, who has been eligible for Canton since 2016, has yet to make the Semi-Finalist cut.  He likely never will.

Taylor was a very good player, who would accumulate 11,695 Rushing Yards, placing him 17^thall-time as of this writing.  In terms of Yards from Scrimmage, he is 35^thall-time with 14,079.  While these are more than respectable numbers, at no point was Taylor ever considered to be the best Running Back at his position.  Generally, he was never in the discussion.  Taylor made it to the Pro Bowl only once (2007) and his highest finish in Rushing Yards was sixth, which he did twice (2000 & 2003).

This is not to say that he was not good and at times great player, as he certainly was, but to be considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, you need to be elite, or at least have been in that debate.  If you are not, you need to have the longevity that has few equals.  13 years is very good, but in his case, not good enough.  

We are in the process of expanding our list to 300.  Taylor was considered, but did not make the cut.  When we get to the all-time Jacksonville Jaguars, he will have a high rank, likely in the top three.

With the announcement of the Modern Era candidates for the Baseball Hall of Fame, it is now time for us to look at the upcoming ballot for the Baseball Writers, who will be voting for the Class of 2020.

What we know so far, is that there is no way that this will be an empty class.  We have a sure-fire first ballot inductee in Derek Jeter, who with his 3,465 career Hits, a career Batting Average of .310 and five-time World Series Champion could become the second former player following Mariano Rivera, to receive a unanimous vote.  Should that happen, it will mark a back-to-back of two former New York Yankees teammates earning that distinction.

Last year, Curt Schilling received 60.9% of the vote last year in a very strong field (especially for pitchers) says Paruk from SportsBettingDime.com.  Less tainted by PEDS than the likes of Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds, Schilling should crack 75% if the outspoken Trump supporter doesn’t rub writers the wrong way in the next couple months.

As for Bonds and Clemens, they are both entering their eighth year of eligibility.  What once was thought as an impossible mountain to climb, the two stars both approached 60% last year.  While enshrinement this year seems unlikely, a continued rise could bode well for them in the next two years.

As for us, the one we are looking at the most is Larry Walker.  The Canadian slugger seemed to have no chance for Cooperstown a year ago, but he rocketed from 34.1% to 54.6% last year, and with him facing his final year of eligibility, we could see the first player inducted with a Colorado Rockies cap.

One thing, we know for sure is that we will be paying attention!a