Dave Portnoy Says He'd Be 'Surprised' By This Celtics Playoff Outcome originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After waxing the Philadelphia 76ers by 32 points for the second time in eight days, the Boston Celtics are on the cusp of advancing to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the fifth straight season. All they need to do is win one more game against the reeling Sixers, which they'll likely do at home on Tuesday.
The Celtics have been the most dominant team in the Eastern Conference Playoffs so far, as they're the only team in the conference with a 3-1 series lead entering play on Monday. The New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers have all faced more resistance than expected in the first round.
Boston is playing the best basketball in the East right now and is favored to win the conference, which Dave Portnoy expects them to do.
"I'd be surprised not to see the Celtics in the Finals." - @stoolpresidentepic.twitter.com/qyvSz6vZd8
— Wake Up Barstool (@wakeupbarstool) April 27, 2026
"They're healthy. They look good," Portnoy said on Monday's episode of "Wake Up Barstool." "I think the West obviously poses a far more serious challenge. I'd be surprised not to see the Celtics in the Finals."
At this point, the Celtics falling short of the Finals would be extremely surprising. While the Western Conference is more talented than the East, Portnoy thinks Boston can compete with whichever team wins the West, most likely the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs.
"This is a championship team. This is a team that has won a title," Portnoy added. "If it does come down to... OKC-Celtics. Maybe San Antonio-Celtics. I think that's gonna be a helluva series. I don't think there's any blink in the Celtics. They'll be an underdog, but would it shock me if they won that series? No, it wouldn't."
The Celtics have the second-best title odds behind the Thunder, so they're a legit championship contender. OKC may be a bit better, but in a best-of-seven series, anything can happen.
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