The Boston Celtics have oscillated between a team that looks like they will run the table with a 16-game postseason and a ball club destined to take a trip to Cancun well before the Eastern Conference Finals even start, so it is anything but a sure thing that the Celtics will be in top form consistently in the postseason.
Seeding may be even more important than it usually is to teams in the playoffs. And so could be matchups, with a number of longer, athletic teams who are lesser in terms of talent on paper having given Boston fits during the 2022-23 regular season.
With all that in mind, The AthleticβsΒ Jay King highlighted five teams that the Celtics might prefer to avoid in the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
No. 5 – Brooklyn Nets
Mar 3, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges (1) shoots the ball against Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
King writes that the Nets βstill have a long list of quality defenders,β including Mikal Bridges.
βAlongside him, the Nets at least theoretically have enough wing size to make the Celtics comfortable.β
No. 4 – Atlanta Hawks
Mar 11, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward DeβAndre Hunter (12) and Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser (30) reach for a loose ball in the first quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
βTrae Young can hurt you from anywhere,β suggests the Athletic analyst of why Boston ought to fear the Hawks a little.
βThough Atlantaβs roster looks different than it did two years ago, some of these players had postseason success together then while reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.β
No. 3 – Chicago Bulls
Jan 9, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan (11) drive the ball against Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) in the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago? Really? Yes, really, per King. βThe Bulls own the leagueβs sixth-ranked defenseββ he notes, and cites Patrick Beverleyβs influence, and Nikola Vucevic βhas quietly delivered a bounce-back seasonβ as well.
Still, the Athletic writer is skeptical. βTheir defense has too many holes to hold up at the highest level.β
No. 2 – Toronto Raptors
Dec 5, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the net against Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) during the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
βSince acquiring Jacob Poeltl at the trade deadline, they have blasted opponents by 10.3 points per 100 possessions with him on the court,β suggests the author.
βThe Raptors probably donβt have enough top-end talent or back-end depth to pull off a major playoff upset but they do have several tough, playoff-tested veterans willing to attack a challenge.β
No. 1 – Miami Heat
Jan 24, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Max Strus (31) attempts a three-point shot over Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams (12) during the first half at Miami-Dade Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
No shocker here, as King says that even though the Heat βarenβt the same caliber they were last season,β they would be the Celticsβ most fearsome potential first-round opponent in a 2-7 matchup.β
βThatβs unfortunate for Boston because as of late Wednesday night the Heat were Bostonβs likeliest first-round opponent.β
Be sure to check out the article in full for the detailed breakdowns King provides for each team.
Listen to the βCeltics Labβ podcast on:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi
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