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Why the Boston Celtics Should Win the Lottery

By Joshua Bateman

Apr 28, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) reacts against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half in game six of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) reacts against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half in game six of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /
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To say the Boston Celtics deserve to win the lottery would be a bit of a stretch. They are the most successful franchise in the history of the NBA, have a championship within the last 10 years, and are already on track to be a contending team. There are teams who have never won the lottery and are in desperate need of a franchise spark. Those are the teams that need to win the lottery the most but the Celtics should win it for a completely different reason.

As we approach the NBA Finals, it has become clear how lopsided the top end of the conferences are. The Western conference has an injured Clippers squad and a historically great Spurs team sitting at home, while the Cleveland Cavaliers are well on their way to sweeping their was to the playoffs.

The Toronto Raptors had a truly great season. They put things together in a special way and separated themselves from the the pack during the regular season. The problem is that as great as they have been, great enough to make them the second best team in the east, they still cannot compare, talent wise, to the top teams. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan have struggled throughout the playoffs and that will finally be exploited by the Cavaliers.

No other team in the lottery has an opportunity to bring the parity needed back to the eastern conference. LeBron James is looking to make his sixth straight NBA Finals and it is about time he got some more legitimate competition to represent the eastern conference. The Pacers established good competition against James, despite never taking him down. But, James is looking to make it back to bcd sweeps in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Western conference has the 73 win Warriors, the 40-1 at home Spurs, and the only team in the league with two top 5 players in the league in the Thunder. The bottom end of the East may have surpassed the bottom of the West this season but the East simply does not have as many true contending teams as the West.

Mar 5, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99) during the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 120-103. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99) during the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 120-103. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

While the Celtics are still not as the point where they can be considered a true contender, winning the draft lottery can put them on the brink of giving the Cavaliers the kind of competition that is in the western conference.

The Celtics are in a truly unique position where a potential top three team in the East can get the best player in the draft. No other playoff team has a chance to get the kind of talent the Celtics do in this draft, and no other lottery team is as close to becoming a true contender as the Celtics. Perhaps a case can be made for the Timberwolves, who have seen their players win back to back rookie of the years. However, there still is a reason they were bottom dwellers in the west.

Thanks to brilliant rebuilding by Danny Ainge, the Celtics have been rebuilding faster than most teams dream of. If the East wants to have the kind of high end competition that is so thrilling in the West, they need the Celtics to win this lottery, continuing to cement one of the better young cores in the NBA. Throw in what having that pick can do to help them in free agency and the Celtics could be the most improved team this offseason.

One rookie will not be enough to propel the Celtics to the level of the Cavaliers, but it should only be a matter of time before all their young talent develops well enough for Brad Stevens to give James the best competition he has had since the last time the Celtics were contenders.

Next: Top 5 Centers in the 2016 NBA Draft

The Boston Celtics have had more than their fair share of winning and many may think there are other franchises that deserve to get that best opportunity at transcendent talent by winning the lottery. Unfortunately, that will only continue James’ unparalleled dominance of the eastern conference that may reach a high point this season with an opportunity to enter the NBA Finals 12-0.

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