The Boston Celtics are no longer just a feel-good underdog story. Instead, they're closing the regular season as a top Eastern Conference contender.
Boston improved to 40-20 after Sunday's 114-98 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. The Celtics have won 11 of their last 13 games, and Jayson Tatum could potentially return in time for the playoffs.
That has the Celtics emerging among the favorites in a wide-open East. They're tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers at +260 on FanDuel Sportsbook for the shortest odds to capture the conference championship, noticably ahead of the New York Knicks (+410) and top-seeded Detroit Pistons (+430).
Lou Williams has no problem with those odds. The three-time Sixth Man of the Year endorsed the Celtics as his pick to win the East on Monday's "Run It Back."
"I still like Boston. I like Boston coming out of the East right now," Williams said. "I like a lot of these teams, but if I'm picking a front-runner right now, I'm giving Boston that respect."
Williams acknowledged that he's bounced back and forth throughout the season on which Eastern Conference squad he considers the team to beat. The former NBA guard may revise his stance before the postseason begins.
"I've changed my mind a few times," Williams admitted. "This week, it's Boston."
The Celtics will attempt to stay hot against a returning Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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