Analysis

The Cavaliers have an impressive 8-1 record since acquiring James Harden, indicating strengthened team dynamics. However, the Celtics are championship contenders with Tatum back, which is a crucial factor. Cleveland's recent dominance might not fully translate against a high-caliber team like Boston. The key is Boston's ability to counter Cleveland's new offensive structure, bolstered by Harden, and their strong team defense. Despite Cleveland's improved standing, the matchup favors the Celtics slightly in terms of winning probability given Tatum's pivotal return and Boston's historical resilience in critical games. This suggests the market may be underestimating the Celtics' chance to win, justifying a slight edge in prediction towards Boston.