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Ranking the 3 biggest obstacles for the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference

By Andrew Hughes

BOSTON - DECEMBER 12: Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (21) celebrates his three-point basket in the fourth quarter as the Celtics' Daniel Theis (27, left) walks to the bench. The Boston Celtics host the Philadelphia 76ers in a regular season NBA basketball game at TD Garden in Boston on Dec. 12, 2019. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON - DECEMBER 12: Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (21) celebrates his three-point basket in the fourth quarter as the Celtics' Daniel Theis (27, left) walks to the bench. The Boston Celtics host the Philadelphia 76ers in a regular season NBA basketball game at TD Garden in Boston on Dec. 12, 2019. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /
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Boston Celtics (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

3. Indiana Pacers

The Boston Celtics are no strangers to Indiana, with the two teams squaring off in the 2019 playoffs. That was a much different version of the Pacers than the one that owns a 1-0 lead on the C’s in 2019-20.

Last May, Victor Oladipo was out with the same torn quad that keeps him sidelined to this day (he is set to return in two weeks). There weren’t players to pick up the scoring slack in his absence like there are now.

During the off-season, knowing his absence would bleed deep into the regular season, Indiana beefed up the wing positions, signing Malcom Brogdon and Jeremy Lamb, and trading for T.J. Warren from the Phoenix Suns.

That move has paid off, with the Pacers ranking seventh in overall field goal percentage and fifth in 3-point percentage. They also turn the ball over less than all 29 other teams, coughing the rock up just 13 times per game.

Keep in mind that this is all without their All-Star guard. Even if integrating Oladipo takes time, it is a scary thought pondering what the team could look like once it is at full strength come playoff time.

In the one meeting the two teams have had so far, the Pacers took a 5-point win off the strength of Malcom Brogdon (29 points, eight assists) and Domantas Sabonis (15 points, 14 rebounds). With two more meetings on the calendar, the Boston Celtics have time to establish their footing in a potential playoff rematch.

If the season ended today, Indiana wouldn’t be a concern until the conference finals, given their seeding relative to Boston. That said, Indiana is a scary team on paper when at full strength.

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