The Boston Celtics Have Proved They’re Not a Fluke
By Jeremy Karll
The Celtics are the third best team in the Eastern Conference, and they’ve proven it
The Boston Celtics are one of the most surprising teams in the NBA this season. They have one of the best point guards in the league in Isaiah Thomas, own one of the deepest benches in the league, and have the reigning Eastern Conference Coach of the Month guiding them. Yet, a lot of people don’t know if this team is for real.
If you’re talking about their chances in the postseason then you have a point. Boston plays at one of the fastest tempos in the NBA, and don’t shoot the ball particularly well. Their defense has also been lacking at times. Besides, the only playoff experience for most of the team was last year’s postseason where they got swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.
However, that didn’t stop Bovada from giving the Celtics the seventh best odds to win the NBA title at +4000, and the third best odds to represent the Eastern Conference at +1000. The next best odds to win the championship or Eastern Conference are the Chicago Bulls, who have been anything but impressive this season. It’s clear that Bovada and a lot of other betting sites believe the Celtics are clearly the third best team in the Eastern Conference.
In mid-January, the Celtics were fresh off a four game losing streak and sat at 19-19. They managed to go 4-2 over their next six games before their game evolved into what many people around the NBA associate them with today.
At 36-25, the Celtics have given themselves a two game cushion over the Miami Heat for third in the Eastern Conference, 2.5 games over the Atlanta Hawks, and 4.5 games over the sixth seeded Charlotte Hornets. Despite the Toronto Raptors holding a 4.5 game lead over Boston, it’s clear that the Celtics are the third best team in the East and could make some noise in the playoffs this year.
On a stretch in which the Celtics have gone 13-4, they have taken out two of the top four teams in the East, and the Los Angeles Clippers, who have quietly been a powerhouse in the West. At the beginning of their amazing stretch, it seemed like Boston was just a fluke this season, still a year or two away. They were only able to beat teams like the Washington Wizards, Orlando Magic, and Philadelphia 76ers. Yet, even after their huge win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, there were still questions about Boston.
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For one, they won on a controversial foul call. Second, they didn’t look overly impressive during their win, and the Cavaliers were able to point out some key issues. Either way, they won and have continued to do so. They have shown grit, talent, perseverance, and drive throughout the past 17 games, all key factors in a championship team. The intangibles are all there for the Celtics to make the next step, the question is, will they?
The idea of catching the Raptors or Cavaliers in the standings this season is hard to believe, however, it could still happen. Either way, the Celtics have proven that they’re for real and not a young team that just went through a good stretch. Their previous two wins, which came late in the game, proves this as they were able to hit clutch shots against potential playoff teams.
Jared Sullinger has recently stepped up his game with the absence of Kelly Olynyk. While Evan Turner has turned into arguably the best all-around player on the team, and is in the running for Sixth Man of the Year. The depth that Boston holds matches up to nearly every team in the NBA, and head coach Brad Stevens has orchestrated the team perfectly.
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Realistically, this team is still built to win a playoff series and the lose in a tough matchup against the Raptors. However, the doubts of losing to a team like the Indiana Pacers or Charlotte Hornets are starting to dwindle, although it will still be a tough matchup. A lot of people don’t want to buy into this team because of “their lack of a true star.” However, Jae Crowder said it best, “We’re one superstar.” It’s time to buy into this Celtics’ team, because they’re one of the great, young teams in the NBA, and they’re really fun to watch.