A week ago we recommended you back the Washington Wizards at 13/8 with Bet Victor to win the Southeast Division and the Boston Celtics at 6/5 with Coral to win the Atlantic Division. We hope you followed that advice because in the past week both teams have won all their games and surged clear at the top of those divisions. They are both now odds-on to win them: the Wizards have gone in from 13/8 to 10/11, with Sky Bet, William Hill and Betway offering the best odds; while the Celtics have gone from 6/5 to being heavy favourites, with Betway offering the best price at 3/4. In the past week the Celtics’ closest rivals, the Toronto Raptors, have lost twice, while the Hawks and the Hornets, who are vying with Washington in the Southeast Division, have also stumbled. The Celtics and Wizards have great momentum, and if you did not back them a week ago, 10/11 and 3/4 still makes a nice double. Or you could try a six-fold: Utah Jazz, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards all to win their divisions.
Eastern Conference
In the Western Conference, the Golden State Warriors are on fire and should make another Finals, despite the superb form of the San Antonio Spurs. But things are much more interesting in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers, last season’s NBA Championship winners led by LeBron James, have been heavy favourites to win it all season, but the Cavs have struggled to build momentum this season. They cannot seem to post a long run of consecutive wins and have lost five of their last 10. No such problems for the Celtics, who are on a seven-game winning streak, or the Wizards, who have also won seven in a row. Both could really give the Cavs a run for their money in the Eastern Conference. Of the two, the Celtics are the most likely. Boston guard Isaiah Thomas has scored 20 or more points in 34 consecutive games and that has been the driving force behind their superb run since Christmas. The Wizards, meanwhile, have won 16 consecutive home games and are 23-9 since December 1. It’s currently advantage Cleveland in the playoff race, as the defending champs are 34-15, but the Celtics are hot on the tail, with 33-18, while the Wizards are back on 30-20. Cleveland is in the driving seat, but either could steal the top seed from them. The best price you can get on Cleveland winning the conference is a lowly 4/11, but the 12/1 on offer at 888 Sport on the Celtics looks appealing, as does the longer shot of 33/1 available at Paddy Power on the Wizards.
Upcoming Games
The Celtics travel to Sacramento on Thursday to face the Kings, who are low on confidence after recently blowing double-digit leads to lose three times in a row and are 20-31. The Celtics are a juggernaut right now and should win that one comfortably. On the same day, the in-form Wizards travel to Brooklyn to play the Nets, who are pretty much the worst team in the league right now. The Nets have lost nine in a row and 12 in a row at home, so the Wizards should crush them. A double of the Celtics and Wizards to cover the spread looks good here. To broaden it out to a treble, the Spurs play the 76ers in Philadelphia and should be confident of a resounding win. After the Warriors, the Spurs have the best record in the league this season and the 76ers are on a three-game losing streak and looking short of ideas.
