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As the NBA season officially tips off, ESPN has unveiled its Basketball Power Index’s (BPI) prediction for which team will hoist the Larry O’Brien next summer.
And according to the network’s analytics, there’s no back-to-back in the Denver Nuggets’ future. It’s instead the Boston Celtics that will finally breakthrough with a league-leading 15.2% chance to win the title.
Here’s a look at how the rest of the NBA’s chances stack up per the BPI:
- Boston Celtics (15.2%)
- Milwaukee Bucks (15.1%)
- Denver Nuggets (8.8%)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (7.7%)
- LA Clippers (6.8%)
- Golden State Warriors (6.3%)
- Los Angeles Lakers (5.6%)
- Philadelphia 76ers (5.5%)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (5.2%)
- Miami Heat (4.1%)
Surprisingly, the Phoenix Suns led by Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal are only being given a 2.5% chance to win the championship according to the numbers. Which is less than the Atlanta Hawks.
The Celtics get the season started tonight with an exciting Atlantic Division matchup at The Mecca vs. the Knicks.
Last year, Boston fell to the Miami Heat in seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals.