As the 2025 NBA All-Star break concludes, teams like the Thunder and Celtics being fueled by their standout performances and strong records are emerging as favorites to win the Finals.
The NBA All-Star break is always a great time for the teams to take a moment to assess their current situation while deciding what they want to do with their future. Being towards the top end of the Finals odd at the break always gives the teams an extra boost of motivation whether it is to stay on top or reach the top every team wants to win sooner rather than later.
The defending champions Boston Celtics, despite their slower start to the season, come in as the second most favored team to win the Finals. Their experience playing deep into the summer makes them an easy pick for analysts, but there are young teams around the league challenging their spot on the throne.
The Celtics have some red flags centered around their playstyle as it may be unreliable.
“When the 3-pointers are going in, they can barrage teams right off the court. But against quality defenses, or when it’s just a cooler shooting night, the Celtics don’t currently have a balanced enough offense to be able to win those games,” said well established ESPN analyst Andre Snellings.
The young Cavaliers team are currently the third most favored team despite having the best record in the NBA. Their postseason experience is giving them more doubters than supporters as the young team hasn’t made it to a conference finals since 2018.
There has been many speculations that the Cavs don’t match up well with other top tier teams.
“More likely than not, a promising postseason showing this year will grant Cleveland the respect for next season. Until then, the Cavaliers shouldn’t be considered title favorites,” said Brendan O’Sullivan, the known sports analyst.
The Cavs are attempting to overcome this narrative as they added the experienced wing from Atlanta in De’Andre Hunter at the trade deadline. This addition adds more depth to the roster and gives them the dominant wing that in recent history has been required to win a championship.
This addition gives the Cavs a chance to match up man to man with top teams like the Celtics and Lakers.
“He gives the Cavs a much-needed option on the wing with his 3-point shooting and his size. A perfect 3-and-D fit next to Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell, Hunter will likely spend a lot of time matched up on the best wing player for opposing teams,” said Pete Dewey, a sports analyst for SI.
