Hardwood Houdini
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5 roadblocks that can stop the Boston Celtics from winning the title

By Justin Alcaide

Hardwood Houdini takes a look at five potential roadblocks in the way of the Boston Celtics raising Banner 18 after the 2023-24 season Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Hardwood Houdini takes a look at five potential roadblocks in the way of the Boston Celtics raising Banner 18 after the 2023-24 season Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Boston Celtics are a favorite to win the NBA Championship through the first week of the 2023-24 season.

The acquisitions of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday have certainly given the Boston Celtics the best starting five in the NBA. Boston currently has a starting lineup of Holiday, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Porzingis; potentially an all-time great starting lineup ever.

With the Celtics being so strong the question on the Houdini’s mind is who could potentially ruin the C’s plan of hanging Banner 18 at the end of the season.

Here are 5 roadblocks that can stop the Boston Celtics from winning the title

Denver Nuggets

The first team that may prevent the Boston Celtics from winning the NBA Championship is the reigning champion Denver Nuggets. The depth of the Nuggets and the amazing play of Nikola Jokic makes them a true threat to the Boston Celtics if the two teams meet in the NBA Finals.

Denver’s size in the frontcourt may also be a major challenge for the Boston Celtics with their own shallow stable of bigs. While the Celtics should be the team to beat in the entire NBA, the Nuggets pose the biggest threat out west.

Milwaukee Bucks

With the big acquisition of Damian Lillard, everyone knows that the Bucks are viewed as the biggest threat in the Eastern Conference to the Celtics. With their size and dynamic duo of Giannis and Dame, Boston Celtics will have their hands full with Milwaukee every time the two teams match up.

The Bucks are without a doubt the biggest threat to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference.

New York Knicks

A team that can bring the Celtics a tough matchup in the early to mid-rounds playoffs is their longtime rival, the New York Knicks. While Boston should feel confident in a playoff matchup against the Knicks they should not underestimate the size and physicality of the Knicks.

Their Tom Thibodeau-instilled ironclad defense can be a real issue for the Boston Celtics in a seven-game series, and if not taken seriously, the Knicks could potentially stun the Cs in the postseason.

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat are a team that simply seems to show up in the biggest games. Last season, Miami eliminated the Celtics in the playoffs and they could be a team that does that this season as well.

The Heat have the biggest playoff game-changer on either side, Jimmy Butler, and seemingly produce capable role players from thin air. Miami is always a tough playoff matchup the Celtics likely want no part of again given the results of two of the past four postseasons.

Oklahoma City Thunder

What may come as a surprise is the rise of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who has so much young talent that is getting better and better. OKC certainly can get out of the Western Conference if their top draft picks develop well together, and they could be a nightmare of a matchup to the Celtics in a hypothetical Finals series.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the leader of the Thunder and this quick-rising superstar is taking the league by storm — and his running mates want to rise to that next level as well. Sleep on OKC at your peril.

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