The 2024 NBA title is the Celtics' to lose as they enter the conference finals as significant favorites

The champs are eliminated, and I for one did not see that coming.

My pick to go the distance and repeat as NBA champions, the Denver Nuggets were eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves Sunday in an ugly Game 7 collapse.

So, naturally, my new favorite team to win the NBA title has to be the team that knocked off the Nuggets, right? Well, the answer may not be that simple when there’s a 64-win team on the other side making its third straight trip to the conference finals.