Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics entered their Eastern Conference semifinals series against the New York Knicks as -900 betting favorites. The defending champions were also the overwhelming favorites to represent the East in the 2025 NBA Finals. Boston shockingly lost its first two home games to New York, falling to a 2-0 deficit in the seven-game series. Longtime Celtics fan and analyst Bill Simmons has cited “arrogance” as the biggest reason