Bulls vs Celtics odds – Defending champs without Garnett

Bulls vs Celtics odds took a big hit this weekend when it was learned Kevin Garnett will miss the series with a knee injury. Sports betting handicappers might be surprised to even see the Bulls in this series, as they were No. 6 and likely facing Orlando entering the last day of the regular season.

After losing to the Raptors to close out the year, though, they must now head to Boston and face the defending champs.

Bulls vs Celtics odds: Even without Garnett, Celtics should roll

• WHO: Celtics vs Bulls odds
• WHAT: Best-of-seven Eastern quarter-fFinals
• WHEN: Game 1 begins Sat. April 18, 12:30 p.m.
• WHERE: TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, MA
• KEY STAT: Celtics won regular season series 2-1
• THE PICK: Celtics in six

Celtics odds list Boston as the favorite in the sportsbook but there are some real holes in their game right now. A lot of people have the impression that the Celtics are still the untouchable champions from last season, remembering the record-setting way the Celtics opened this season. The Celtics 27-2 start was the best in NBA history and their 19-game win streak was impressive, but Boston finished the season 21-11 in its last 32 games.

Almost any team in the NBA would be happy with a 21-11 finish, but the Celtics have set the bar high for themselves. One team that would love a 21-11 stretch at any point in the season would be the Bulls, who finished with a 41-41 record.

NBA odds for the Bulls aren’t fantastic for this series because they just aren’t far along enough in their development to really pull an upset. The Bulls have played well since the All-Star break and did have a 12-3 stretch prior to their ugly season-ending loss to the Raptors, but they are still worlds apart from the Celtics.

The biggest red flag about betting on the Bulls is the fact that they looked so careless in their loss to the Raptors. With their own playoff destiny on the line, the Bulls were barely competitive as they were trailing by as many as 20 points in the second quarter.

While examining Bulls vs Celtics odds, a lot of people will assume that Kevin Garnett will miss the series and thus make the Bulls the healthier, favored team. That’s not the case as the Bulls will be without Luol Deng (right tibia contusion), and small forward John Salmons, Deng’s replacement, has been playing through a groin strain.

CRAIG’S PICK: The Celtics might be without Garnett, but expect a big series out of Leon Powe and Glen Davis, both of whom are in contract seasons. The Bulls vs Celtics odds are heavily skewed for a reason. Look for the veteran Celtics to advance rather easily. Bet on the Boston Celtics.

Check out the betonline.com Betting Edge as we preview Bulls vs Celtics odds and NBA betting for all eight first-round series.

Craig Parsons is an avid sports fan, but his true love has always been basketball. Too short to realize his dream of playing in the NBA, he did the next best thing: sports betting and covering basketball for a living. Thoughts or questions?