Can the Boston Celtics dethrone a potential dynasty?
When the Minnesota Timberwolves took a 2-0 series lead on the Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics fans jumped for joy. It appeared that the defending champions, who defeated the Cs twice this season, were on their way out of the postseason.
Flash forward a week later and the Nuggets have taken a 3-2 series lead, striking fear in Celtics faithful. With the Nuggets and star Nikola Jokić back on track and looking better than ever, the question remains: Can the Celtics dethrone the Nuggets?
The Cs are cruising through this postseason with a record of 7-2 heading into action on Wednesday night. Although Boston has not looked great at times, they have taken care of business, which should open up an easier path to the NBA Finals.
Having an easier path with fewer games played is one of the few real edges I see the Celtics having over the Nuggets.
nothing better than playoff games on the parquet ☘️ pic.twitter.com/DONOvnzEfX
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 15, 2024
If you look ahead to a potential matchup with the Nuggets, it's hard to come up with things that you should feel good about as a Cs fan. In the series, the Nuggets would have the best player in Jokić, the best duo in Jokić/Jamal Murray, the best coach in Michael Malone, and the experience of having already won a title.
Usually, the team that has the best player in the series wins, which puts the Celtics behind. Some believe they don't even have the second-best player of the two teams.
Nikola Jokic took the Timberwolves to school tonight
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 15, 2024
Just watch 🤯
(🎥 @Digits3App ) pic.twitter.com/y7lUOCKwFv
Boston Celtics must unleash killer instinct to stave off a Nuggets dynasty
The biggest thing for the Celtics in their hopes of taking down the Nuggets is they will have to show the world something they have not shown in the Jayson Tatum/Jaylen Brown era: A killer instinct. The Celtics have not given enough evidence for fans to believe that they have what it takes to rip the title from a team that has already won it.
I have serious doubts about whether the Cs can match the Nugget's toughness and intelligence throughout a seven-game series.
Ultimately, taking down the Nuggets could prove to be the most challenging obstacle of Tatum and Brown's career.