The Celtics’ chances of winning the 2017-18 NBA championship were cut in half by the season-ending injury to Gordon Hayward, according to updated odds in Las Vegas.
The Westgate SuperBook listed the Celtics at 10-to-1 odds to win the title on Monday, the day before the season started, but that number skyrocketed to 20/1 when the bookmakers released new odds Wednesday, the day after Hayward broke his leg and dislocated his ankle in Boston’s loss at Cleveland.
While the Cavaliers’ championship odds remain unchanged at 4/1, the Wizards’ price was shortened from 40/1 to 30/1, and the Raptors from 80/1 to 60/1.
In the Eastern Conference futures pool, the Celtics’ odds were raised from 9/4 to 6/1 after Hayward’s injury, while Cleveland went from 1/2 to 1/3, Washington from 15/1 to 8/1, and Toronto from 20/1 to 16/1.
Hayward’s absence also put a serious dent in his teammate Kyrie Irving’s chances to win this season’s MVP award, the point guard’s odds jumping from 4/1 to 12/1.
Conversely, Celtics rookie Jayson Tatum, who figures to get significantly more minutes in Hayward’s absence, saw his rookie of the year odds tightened from 12/1 to 11/2.
