Chowder and Champions
Fansided

Boston Celtics: 4 teams in the path of banner 18

By Dylan Woods

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 28: The Boston Celtics raise 2008 World Championship banner during the 2008 NBA World Championship ceremony before a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the TD Banknorth Garden on October 28, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 28: The Boston Celtics raise 2008 World Championship banner during the 2008 NBA World Championship ceremony before a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the TD Banknorth Garden on October 28, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /
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Celtics opponent James Harden
Celtics opponent James Harden /

Houston Rockets

First of all, if you told someone that the Rockets and Boston Celtics would be meeting in the 2018 NBA Finals right after the Finals ended last year, they would ask you where the Warriors and Cavs team plane crashed. Now, nearing the All-Star break, the scenario isn’t that unlikely.

The Rockets are the NBA’s hottest team and have the highest ceiling of just about any offense in the league. Yet the real surprise of the Rockets this season is how much better their defense has been. Houston is 8th in the NBA in defensive rating and is holding opponents to 105.7 PPG (compared to 18th in DRTNG and 109.6 PPG last year). Not to mention they have the MVP front-runner James Harden putting up 60 point triple-doubles.

In their sole meeting so far this year, the Celtics edged the Rockets in one of the best NBA games of the year. As you probably remember, James Harden attempted murder on Marcus Smart two times in the last minute and the Celtics came back from 24-point halftime deficit.

However, the Rockets were without Chris Paul and Clint Capela in that game. A fully healthy Rockets team almost certainly would have won that night. Still, that doesn’t mean a matchup with both teams at full strength wouldn’t be exhilarating.

Like the potential Celtics-Raptors bout, I would give the slight edge to the team with the best player in the series: James Harden and the Rockets. But it really is 51-49. I wouldn’t count out another James Harden meltdown and some ’86 Celtics magic carrying the C’s to another win over the Rockets.

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