2008-09 NBA Team Preview – Celtics Shooting For Back-To-Back Titles In 2008-09

While the Boston Celtics, (66-16 SU, 52-28-2 ATS, 36-45-1 O/U) won their 17th championship in franchise history last season and were ‘money in the bank’ on most nights for BetUS NBA bettors, the team may find winning consecutive titles tough in 2008-09 as every opponent they face league will be gunning for them on a nightly basis.

While Boston recorded a spectacular 66-16 straight up record during the regular season, the best news for BetUS NBA online basketball bettors is the fact that the Celtics went an impressive 52-28-2 against the spread, (ATS) last season to put some serious dough in bettors’ pockets.

While oddsmakers will undoubtedly adjust their thinking on the Celtics’ point spreads in 2008-09, BetUS online NBA wagering fanatics should know that this team will once again put plenty of money in the NBA betting bankroll in 2008-09 because of their overwhelming defense - even if they don’t successfully defend their league championship.

The Celtics went a stellar, 25-15-1 ATS at home and equally impressive 27-13-1 ATS on the road and used one of the league’s best defenses to record a 17-23-1 O/U mark at home and 19-22 O/U record on the road last season.

Boston averaged a respectable 100.5 points per game, (11th) on a stellar 47.5 percent shooting mark from the field, (fourth) while holding their opponents to just 90.3 points per game (2nd) on a league-leading 42.0 percent shooting mark from the field.

The Celtics drafted shooting guard J.R. Giddens out of New Mexico with its first round draft pick, (30th) before landing athletic small forward Bill Walker out of Kansas State with the No. 47 overall pick in the second round and will give both players the opportunity to learn from two of the best ever at their respective positions in veterans, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce.

The Celtics also added some size to their roster with the final selection of the draft by selecting Turkish center Semih Erden, though he likely won’t come to the U.S. for another season or two.

Boston also recently came to terms with career underachiever Darius Miles, the third overall pick in the 2000 draft who has missed the last two seasons because of microfracture surgery on his knee.

Miles, a 6-9 forward out of East St. Louis High School, last played for the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2005-06 season when he averaged a career high 14.0 points and 4.6 rebounds in 40 games.

While Boston’s additions may seem nice on the surface, I’m going on record right now to say the loss of backup swingman James Posey will undoubtedly hurt the Celtics in a big way in 2008-09.

Not only was Posey one of the best ‘lockdown’ defenders in the league, but his ability to drain open three-pointers is underrated and will definitely be missed.

However, the Celtics have nearly all of their core players back from last season and looks like a shoo-in to reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2008-09 at the very least.

Many of Boston’s younger layers from last season, (Rajon Rondo, Leon Powe, Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis) will have another year of experience under their collective belts and should be even more confident that they can get the job done when called upon.

The Celtics are + 135 to win the Eastern Conference and +280 to win the NBA Championship in the BetUS Sportsbook.