Now that football season is over, the Boston sports fan base will now have its eyes on the Boston Celtics. Can they deliver something the Patriots could not?
Boo-hoo. The Patriots lost the Super Bowl. For most cities, that would destroy morale for weeks on end. But not in Boston. It’s time for the Boston Celtics to take over the headlines.
Thirty miles up the road, the Celtics look poised to fill the empty championship void in New England. Sitting at first place in the East, the Celtics should make a strong push in the playoffs this year. As quickly as we can, let’s move on from a disappointing Super Bowl loss. Put all your energy into thinking about how the Celtics could win the NBA Finals for the first time in eleven years. Focus on who stands in their way of Banner 18.
There are really only four serious threats. In the Eastern Conference, the much improved Raptors and the Cavaliers are on the radar. In the West, the juggernauts of Houston and Golden State offer the biggest challenge.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Unlike the past few years, the Cavs are actually the least of the Celtics trouble. Cleveland is on a downward spiral that is headed towards a LeBron James departure this summer. As far as the Celtics are concerned, the only significance Cleveland has is how soon they will give the Eastern Conference belt back to Boston.
But still, LeBron James is going to be on the Cavs roster in the playoffs. No matter how bad they get, a team with LeBron is going to have a hint of a chance. While unlikely, there is a scenario where LeBron single-handedly carries Cleveland to its fourth and his eighth straight Finals. I can’t wait until we Celtics fans can stop writing paragraphs like these.
So far this season, the Celtics and Cavs have split the season series. I’m willing to throw away the Gordon Hayward Injury Game, (aka Jae Crowder’s most productive moment as a Cavalier) which leaves an early January game where the Celtics ran the Cavs off the floor. It should be interesting when the two teams do meet this Sunday. It will be Isaiah Thomas’ first game playing in Boston since Game 1 of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics might score 150 points.
Toronto Raptors
Before Tuesday’s game, the Boston Celtics and Raptors had met just once this year. Way back in November, the Celtics beat Toronto 95-94 thanks to Al Horford (21 points), Jaylen Brown (18 points), Marcus Smart (14-9-5), and a DeMar DeRozan miss as time expired.
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The Celtics also did not have Kyrie Irving due to a face injury, but the Raptors were not playing as well as they are now. After last night’s 111-91 domination, the Raptors cannot be overlooked. DeMar DeRozan is a legitimate MVP candidate, Kyle Lowry is an All-Star again, and players like Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet are having career years off the bench.
Toronto is also the only team in the NBA to rank in the top 7 in both offensive and defensive rating. A very easy argument could be made that the Raptors are the best all-around team in the NBA right now.
Still, last night could have been an aberration. When these two teams match up, the games are usually close and low scoring. In their previous eleven meetings, the Raptors had six wins to the Celtics five. The average margin of victory was just 7 and the average number of points scored was 102.
If the two teams were to meet in the playoffs for the first time, I would give the advantage to the Celtics. With the skill level of the two teams being so close, the Celtics win because they would have the best player in the series: Kyrie Irving.
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.
Golden State Warriors
Before I start, I want to say that the Warriors have the advantage over any team in the NBA. They are the favorite and rightfully so. That is also not very fun. Let me make a slim yet conceivable case that the Celtics can beat the Warriors.
In the past two years only the Celtics and Spurs do not have a losing record against Golden State. In this same time span, no team has held the Warriors to less points per game than the Boston Celtics. When Golden State sees Boston on the schedule, they know a tough game will be in store. Stout defense could wear a team down in a seven game series.
Also, whether it be coincidental or not, the Celtics have the personnel to guard every player on the Warriors. On defense, it is all about containing and not allowing anybody to have a huge night.
Steph Curry? I feel confident with Marcus Smart taking the majority of the reps (please don’t trade him, Danny) and Kyrie managing down the stretch.
Boston Celtics
Klay Thompson? Jaylen Brown is adept at running through screens and chasing shooters around.
Kevin Durant? A formidable opponent, but containable. In his three games with the Warriors, Durant is averaging 22 PPG on 53 FG% and 33 3PT% against the Boston Celtics. Compared to 26 PPG on 53 FG% and 40 3PT% against every other team, it is clear that the Celtics are doing something right. At the very least, Kevin Durant would not be the only reason why the Warriors would beat the Celtics.
On the other hand, for the Celtics, a win would almost certainly rely on one player: Kyrie Irving. Turns out they are in luck. Kyrie has stepped up big against the Warriors in the past. Besides, the obvious dagger in the Finals, he has some great numbers in the past two years. In his last two years, Kyrie is averaging 24 PPG, 6 APG, 4 RPG, 43 FG%, and 43 3PT% against the reigning champs.
If Kyrie goes crazy and plays even more like last week’s game against Golden State, not only would Boston have a chance they might even win. A strong defense and an unconscious offensive performance by a star player with others chipping in is the key to beat the Warriors. Just ask LeBron James.
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Sadly, that sounds like two many “ifs”. The Warriors should beat the Celtics in five to six games. But they play the games for a reason. Maybe the Boston Celtics could muster up a miraculous run.