The Boston Celtics clinched the number one seed in the Eastern Conference with a 64-18 record. Although they did not look great towards the end of the season, the seventeen-time champions are one of the teams to beat in the East. During the offseason, the Celtics made some moves that raised a lot of questions, but their stellar form has proven that Brad Stevens was right in making those trades.
One of the most shocking moves was giving up Marcus Smart, who was considered to be the heart of the team. He was drafted by the Celtics and put in some great performances for them. The previous season he even won the Defensive Player of the Year award for his brilliance. However, the franchise saw a chance to bring in a player like Kristaps Porzingis and grabbed it, which meant that Smart would have to go to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Another trade that has helped the Boston Celtics is Jrue Holiday. The 33-year-old is one of the best perimeter guards in the league and pairing him with Derrick White had strengthened the Celtics’ backcourt on both ends. Led by Jayson Tatum, the franchise finished Top 5 in both the offensive and defensive categories. This could be attributed to the fact that they have players who can play on both ends of the floor.
Another major boost the Celtics have is their depth. Their starting five is one of the best in the league, but they also have solid options off the bench. Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Xavier Tillman Sr. and Oshae Brissett have all elevated their performances this season. Coach Joe Mazulla has given the bench and role players enough time on the court during the regular season, which will prove to be helpful for them during the postseason.
Can the Boston Celtics win the NBA championship this season?
The Boston Celtics will be looking to carry their regular season form into the playoffs. Their first-round matchup will be against the winners of the Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls Play-In matchup. The oddsmakers will certainly pick the Celtics to come out victorious, but the Eastern Conference playoffs have seen upsets over the last few years. Boston is well aware of the challenge the Miami Heat brings. Both these sides played in a seven-game series which brought some of the best defensive performances from both sides.
The Chicago Bulls are also a tough side and would demand the best out of the Celtics. The seventeen-time champions are expected to come out of the first round comfortably as their roster is stacked as compared to the two other teams they are possibly going to be matched up against. If they manage to come out successful in the first round, they will be facing the winners of the Cleveland Cavaliers vs Orlando Magic matchup in the Conference Semis.
Although both of these are talented teams, the Celtics are a side who have the experience of playing in the playoffs. They have the likes of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who have gone to several Conference Finals and even made it to the NBA Finals once. The recent recruitment of Jrue Holiday means that the team have an NBA championship in their midst and he will be looking to lead the way for them in these challenging games.
The Boston Celtics could represent the East in the NBA Finals
If things work right, the Boston Celtics road to the Conference Finals seems favourable for them. However, that is one stage where the team have had some problems in the past. The team have lost at this stage four of the last five times they have been there. They could be matched up against teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks or the Philadelphia 76ers. A series against any of these teams would be difficult, but the Celtics will have to overcome this challenge if they want to win their eighteenth championship.
Boston’s strength lies in their two-way ability. Their star players fight through screens and give their everything on the defensive end as well. This is an attribute not a lot of teams can boast of in the league. Everything points to the Boston Celtics making a deep run in the playoffs. However, they know more than anyone that this team is capable of winning it all.
