Charles Barkley Shares His Prediction, Concern for Celtics’ Championship Hopes

With a 15-5 record, the Boston Celtics are second in the NBA. Additionally, SI Sportsbook has them as championship favorites at +350 odds.

The Indiana Pacers defeated the Boston Celtics 122-112 on Monday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to send them out of the In-Season Tournament, meaning the team will not be the first to win the NBA Cup.

However, Boston has the second-best record in the league at 15-5. The C’s also own the Association’s most remarkable top six. Sam Hauser’s development into a two-way wing may even put him in the top seven.

This season, the six-foot-eight forward with excellent shooting skills is making 45.2% of his 6.3 attempts from beyond the arc.

SI Sportsbook has them as championship favorites 20 games into the 2023–24 season, with +350 odds to bring Banner 18 to the TD Garden rafters.

With enough experience, NBA analyst and former league MVP Charles Barkley declared on TNT’s NBA Tip-Off show on Monday that “the Boston Celtics are the best team in the NBA.”

The eleven-time All-Star said, “The Boston Celtics are going to win the championship,” in response to the question to double down. Promised!”

Barkley continued by expressing concern over Kristaps Porzingis’ capacity to maintain his health. Although the seven-foot-three center has struggled in the playoffs with the Dallas Mavericks, the Basketball Hall of Famer doesn’t seem to care because he thinks Boston’s big man is the fourth best player on his team.

Barkley said, “He does not have to be dominant,” in response to Shaquille O’Neal’s question about how dominant Porzingis must be in the postseason for the Celtics to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy. All he needs to do is be the NBA’s best number four.”

Additional Reading

Derrick White Talks About His “Horrible” Second Half and C’s Struggles in the Third Quarter Following the Pacers Loss