For many die-hard fans, seeing the Celtics maintain the momentum of their three-game win streak with a dominant win against the 76ers following the all–star break was remarkably refreshing. They had set a disappointing pattern in the last few years of letting up that first game back. However, as we have seen repeatedly, as a franchise, the Boston Celtics have proven remarkably adept at identifying and solving problems. Whatever Head Coach Joe Mazzula said in the locker room before that game clearly worked, carrying the Celtics to 2-1 this season against Philadelphia.
With two months until the playoff season, it is undeniable that we will need more of that energy moving forward. The Celtics have certainly had their lowlights this season, winning at a high level but also letting up games to under .500 teams at home. For fans, this has raised an important question. Are there any teams in the East that stand a chance against Boston?
From my own research, there are two teams who continuously come up as threats to Boston in the Eastern Conference playoffs: the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Let’s begin with the easiest answer, which concerns the Celtics’ chances against NYC. This season, the Celtics have been incredibly dominant against the Knicks. As Matt Geagan for CBS News reported, the Boston Celtics have “won all three of their regular-season meetings with the Knicks by an average of 21 points.” Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have shined in each, rising to the occasion along with their other teammates to make a mockery of New York. To put it frankly, the Boston Celtics own the Knicks.
Next, let’s examine a more dangerous threat, the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Celtics remain 7.5 games back from them in the standings, and will need to go on a serious run for any hope of the 1st seed. That being said, we have not let this gap entirely faze us in our four games against them. Despite letting up the second and fourth matchups, the 1st and the 3rd were intense wins that gave me confidence in our abilities. At full strength and health, with Kristaps Porzingus and Jrue Holiday back, it is hard to imagine an unfavorable playoff matchup against them.
On the other side of the league, the Western Conference team that the Celtics could play in the Finals is far from determined. The Oklahoma City Thunder are serious contenders, with a young core and plenty of draft capital in the coming years. However, their lack of playoff experience could be their downfall in a series against experienced veteran teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets. Regardless, I am confident that the Celtics present a potent threat to any team in a 7-game series, and their path to a second championship is bright.
