Currently sitting at 48-13 and leading the NBA by 5 and a half games over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Celtics are playing the best basketball of their season and are11 and 1 in the past 12 games. As the season winds down, the chance at a "Banner 18" is much more possible compared to past years.
As the season's end closes in, the Celtics maintain one of the most deep and young rosters in the NBA, with a veteran core of Jayson Tatum, Jalen Brown, Kristaps Porzingus and Jrue Holiday. The Celtics have only lost consecutive games twice this season following their losses to Cleveland and Denver. They currently sit 2nd in the Eastern Conference at points per game and their opponents points per game sits in the top 5 as well.
Seeing these great stats and this large desparity between the Celtics and the rest of the pack, the idea of the Celtics making a finals run is much more believable than the past years. The reason for the Celtics success is clearly their great prowess from the three. With strong shooters such as Derrick White and Jayson Tatum coupled with a multitude of others who can consistently put the ball in the basket, the Celtics can run through teams, regardless of skill, with speed and accuracy from the field.
To get to the finals, the Celtics have a few road blocks to pass through, all of which are not impossible to mount. First, the Cavaliers continue to present the Celtics with challenges, having beaten them without Donovan Mitchell and the Celtics fully healthy. They also will have to get through the Miami Heat, a team which has given them issues regardless of how their regular season was.
Led by Jimmy Butler, the Heat match up well against the Celtics, also being a very explosive shooting team with the powerhouse of Bam Adebayo in the post. Despite this, this new Celtics roster matches up much better compared to the last series, now with Kristaps Porzingus. Kristaps is unmatched by the Heat, who lack a level of height and length which Kristaps provides. Jrue Holiday also provides serious assistance, having the skill to pass and score at an extremely high level.
As the season ticks down, the Celtics hope to get back to the finals this coming summer, and the path and chance to do so is the highest they have been since the era of Paul Pierce.
~Tyler Rath
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