Brian Windhorst shares humorous warning about the Boston Celtics' title chances

Brian Windhorst had a humorous warning to those doubting the Boston Celtics during the 2024 postseason: "Ignore them at your own risk."

“The Celtics are 8-2 with seven double-digit wins this postseason. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are averaging a combined 60 points and 14 rebounds per game. Boston is ranked No. 2 in offense and No. 3 in defense in the playoffs despite missing star center Kristaps Porziņģis,” Windhorst wrote (h/t NESN). “Yet, people are abandoning the Celtics as title contenders. Their postseason opponents (the Miami Heat and the Cavaliers) had injury issues, but the Celtics had little trouble against them. Ignore them at your own risk.”

Who exactly is ignoring the Celtics as title contenders? Not sportsbooks. Boston has minus-odds to win the NBA Championship. Not bettors aka the public, since those odds are influenced by betting action.

Could it be the media itself? Kevin O'Connor claimed that the Cs wouldn't win the championship after losing Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series against the Miami Heat. Charles Barkley said Boston can't win with the offense they run. Shaquille O'Neal also thinks they won't win it all.

Ah, so Windhorst was talking to his fellow national media figures with this comment. Got it.

Boston Celtics' title hopes reliant on Kristaps Porzingis's return

The Celtics could likely escape the Eastern Conference without Kristaps Porzingis, but if they run into Nikola Jokic, Rudy Gobert, Chet Holmgren, or even Daniel Gafford, there will be serious issues for Boston's frontcourt.

Porzingis will reportedly miss Game 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but there's hope that he'll return at some point during the series. That's good news for the Cs. Great news, even.

Because there's likely no Banner 18 if the Latvian big isn't back in Boston's lineup during a potential Finals series.