The Cleveland Cavaliers have established themselves as the favorite to win the Eastern Conference, outperforming the Boston Celtics in several key metrics. While the Celtics currently hold the second-best record in the conference, they trail the Cavaliers significantly in scoring differential and other power metrics. This disparity suggests that the Cavaliers, with their balanced offensive approach led by Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, are in a stronger position as the playoffs approach.

The Cavaliers excel in half-court efficiency, demonstrating their capability to generate high-percentage shots. This style is crucial for playoff success, especially when considering their head-to-head matchups against the Celtics, where Mitchell has consistently outperformed. In terms of betting, it might be wise to fade the Celtics at -130 to win the conference.

On the Sixth Man of the Year front, Payton Pritchard is currently favored to win, yet his odds may not reflect the competition he faces. De'Andre Hunter and Malik Beasley are viable threats due to their scoring capabilities and defensive versatility. Pritchard's shorter odds (-550) do not offer value compared to Hunter's long-shot price at 22-1, making this another area where bets should be reconsidered.