Are the Celtics the next in line like the Pistons were in the late 80’s?
We can all agree that LeBron James is the best player in the world since Michael Jordan. Some might even argue that LeBron is greater than Michael, but that’s another debate for another time. If one thing is for sure, there is going to be a team that dethrones LeBron James just like how the Detroit Pistons did to Michael Jordan and the Bulls.
The only question is: Who will that team be?
The Boston Celtics are in the perfect position to be that team. Boston obviously can’t be as physical with the Cavs as the ‘Bad Boys’ were with Jordan and the Bulls due to the NBA being far less aggressive as it was during the 1980s. But the Celtics will always play a tough, gritty game against Cleveland which makes for a pretty intense feeling every time.
While the Pistons had an Isiah Thomas who is undoubtedly one of the best all-around point guards ever (maybe even one of the greatest point guards ever). The Celtics have an Isaiah Thomas who is a prolific scorer at any spot on the floor. Now Thomas from the Celtics may have a lot of catching up to do (especially defensively) to become better than Detroit’s Thomas, as Kevin Pelton also touched on the subject of who is the better Thomas. Isaiah is actually in a similar situation as Isiah was when it comes to dethroning the best player in the league, and all of Boston wants to see Isaiah Thomas raise up trophies just like Isiah Thomas did.
For the ‘Bad Boys’ in Detroit, it all started with a draft pick, where they picked Isiah Thomas with the second overall pick in the 1981 NBA Draft. While the Celtics currently have Thomas, they also have a guaranteed top-4 pick in a loaded NBA Draft class of 2017. Should the Celtics land the top pick in the draft, they would have so many options of what they would use that pick for. Whether they draft Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, Josh Jackson, or if they trade away the pick for another superstar. Whatever they do with the pick, it will help out the Celtics tremendously kind of like the Pistons traded for Bill Laimbeer and Vinnie Johnson.
What the Boston Celtics Need to Do to Get Past LeBron
Do not back down. That’s the most important piece of that Detroit Pistons ‘Bad Boys’ team. They never backed down from the reign of Jordan or anybody. Isiah Thomas and company went straight to their opponent and didn’t stop until the came out on top. Jalen Rose even praised their efforts in an ESPN podcast in 2013, “I loved how they played and how they didn’t back down, they just went out and kicked the other teams’ butts.”
If the Boston Celtics take a very similar approach, they will dethrone James and finally get back to the NBA Finals. People might say this is the year it could be done, as the Cavaliers are still struggling as they have dropped 4 games in a row and have lost 6 of their last 10 to end the season. Cleveland, desperate for help, waived Larry Sanders on Tuesday and signed Walter ‘Edy’ Tavares from the D-League.
Boston has reclaimed the 1st-seed for the first time since the year they won the championship in 2008. The Boston Celtics will head into the playoffs with a first-round matchup against the Chicago Bulls.
Boston ‘Bad Boys’?
We all know there never will be another team like the Detroit Pistons ‘Bad Boys’, but there will always be comparisons for everything, and this is just another comparison. When you sit back and truly think about it, the Boston Celtics are legitimately in a position to be the team that takes down James. Whether it be this year or in the next 2 or 3 years, they will continue to test LeBron and the Cavs until they fall. Also, it’s not like they’re running out of time, the Celtics have so much young talent and assets to potentially be great for a long time.
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The Celtics will keep pushing and pushing and eventually, they will come out on top and might even come away with Isaiah Thomas having more NBA Championships than Isiah Thomas. But for now, let’s focus on the NBA Playoffs!