Celtics odds have dropped from +2500 to +1600 since the all-star break, but this is still massively disconnected from objective metrics when considering their odds relative to: Suns +330, Nets +475, Warriors +550, Bucks +700, Sixers +750, Heat +1000, Jazz +1800 (DraftKings). And especially when considering how weak the East is relative to the West. 538 has Celtics as the best team, with a 21% chance of winning the title.
My head/eye test tells me the Nets and Sixers are going to be better than the Celtics when high leverage playoff possessions boil down to nothing more than creating mismatches and getting buckets out of iso against switching defenses. I don't buy the Suns, Bucks or Heat being better than the Celtics using any subjective or objective criteria, though, other than "these cores have made the Finals in recent years." After years of consistently proving what they are in the playoffs, the Jazz shouldn't be anywhere close to this version of the Celtics.
I hate what the Pistons are doing. In this draft, their rise might be a good thing, though. Any scenario where Paolo Banchero is completely off the table is a net positive. Falling to the 5-7 range gets them AJ Griffin or Shaedon Sharpe.