The Boston Celtics are still NBA Finals favorites, but their lead on the odds board has been whittled down to next to nothing.

But if there are other issues -- injuries, poor fits, or other teams figuring out how to defend Boston, to name a few possibilities -- that are holding the Celtics back, there might be good reason for fans to be a bit concerned.

Where do we see a team that is currently on pace to win slightly less than 60 games ending up in terms of total wins?

Or at least that is the position that was taken by the Boson Globe Celtics beat writer Gary Washburn on a recent episode of the CLNS Media "Celtics Beat" podcast in conversation with cohosts Adam Kaufman and Evan Valenti.

The ongoing verbal clash involving former NBA guard Brandon Jennings and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum welcomed another member Wednesday -- the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors defeated the Celtics 110-97,

As Boston's best player, Jayson Tatum has done a good job of playing solid basketball. Despite that, the Celtics are just 2-2 in their last four games, and they barely survived a win over the Pelicans.