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Boston Celtics Favored in East According to ESPN BPI

By Joshua Bateman

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 1: Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward pose for a picture holding their jerseys before their introduction as Boston Celtics on September 1, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 1: Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward pose for a picture holding their jerseys before their introduction as Boston Celtics on September 1, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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ESPN’s BPI has the Boston Celtics as favorites to win the Eastern Conference

All eyes are going to be on the Boston Celtics this season. Not only did Danny Ainge finally cash in his assets, giving the team the talent they need to contend. But he did so by pulling off one of the craziest trades we have ever seen with the team that has dominated the East with ease of the past few years.

Some people are not even sure that trade made the Celtics better. It is hard to imagine any player having a better offensive season that Isaiah Thomas last year, and with only four players returning from last year there could be a lot of chemistry issues.

That being said, the Celtics managed to get the top seed after the regular season a year ago, and bringing in Gordon Hayward alone puts them in a stronger position than last year.

ESPN has just released their basketball power index, and they seem to believe in Kyrie Irving‘s ability to be the difference in the Celtics Cavaliers rivalry.

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Of course, they are the top two in the East and they are very close, but the Celtics beat top them 4.9 to 3.8. It is hard to imagine LeBron James ever being the underdog in any situation in the Easter Conference, but the Celtics are finally being looked at as the caliber of team that can take him down.

This is going to be uncharted territories for the Celtics. Even going into last season, they were massive underdogs to have any chance of claiming the top seed. This season, all of that is over. Even if more people are likely to stick to picking to James, the Celtics are still expected to take him down.

The Celtics are no longer the underdog story, and Brad Stevens has one of the most talented rosters in the NBA. The Celtics need to figure out how to win as front runners this season, and that is on top of an incredibly long list of things the Celtics need to figure out.

I am not going to be the one to doubt Brad Stevens, but a disappointing start to the season is a real possibility right now. ESPN’s BPI is just one example of how, no matter how things go, the Celtics have a new standard this season.

Next: Always a Celtics: A Letter to Isaiah Thomas

Even if all these moves were done to make sure the team continues to get better in the future, rather than just have a short championship window, there are going to be no excuses for this team.

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