The Celtics will need to get past the Indiana Pacers if they want to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals for the second time in three years.
As expected, Boston is viewed as the overwhelming favorite in this matchup with the sixth-seeded Pacers. According to Vegas Insider, the Celtics are seen by experts as a -1300 betting favorite in the Eastern Conference Finals.
But even though the Celtics hold the edge in terms of star power and defensive fortitude against a run-and-gun Indiana offense, former NBA guard Austin Rivers offered up an ominous warning to the Celtics and their fans ahead of Boston’s bout with the underdog Pacers.