5 realistic contenders that can put a stop to the Boston Celtics winning Banner 19

It is very seldom a championship team retains its whole core rotation. Call it rarified air, but can the Celtics withstand these contending teams?

The NBA has a ton of talent right now, and the Boston Celtics can be at risk of being caught slipping against these 5 teams / Sam Hodde/GettyImages

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Philadelphia Sixers

Any way you want to slice it, the Philadelphia Sixers are major winners this off-season. The headline would be winning the coveted Paul George sweepstakes and assembling what looks to be on paper as the best big three in the league with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.

The draft landed them two NBA-ready talents in Jared McCain and Adem Bona. Free agency has landed them the likes of retaining Kelly Oubre Jr and adding three solid role players in Andre Drummond, Caleb Martin, and Eric Gordon.

There is still a gap between the Boston Celtics and the rest of the Eastern Conference, but the Sixers on paper could close it. The biggest argument against what Daryl Morey has created is the inevitable injury bug that seems to hit both PG and Embiid every season. Barring injuries, this should be the second-seed team in the East. Three stars that can all take over a game and quality depth.

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