It looks like the Boston Celtics have everything needed to win the NBA championship.
They have more talent and depth than their competitors, and they have largely dominated them. They have Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, two current All-Stars. Two former All-Stars, Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, have been incorporated. They have the strongest starting lineup in the league based on statistical analysis as well as the eye test.
But can Boston combine those elements sufficiently to prepare a winning recipe? The Celtics aren’t technically able to respond to that question until the playoffs start in April. But ever since Boston failed to respond to that issue during one NBA Finals run (2022) and five Eastern Conference Finals appearances (2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023) during the previous seven years, the question has persisted.
To believe that the Celtics are immune to any turmoil during the NBA playoffs would be foolish. Milwaukee, New York, and Cleveland are still strong contenders in the Eastern Conference. There are probably even more in the Western Conference, with the defending NBA champions (Denver), two youthful teams (Minnesota, Oklahoma City), and a few teams (Clippers, Suns, Pelicans, Lakers, Warriors) that may contend if they can maintain their health. And regardless of the Celtics’ skill, harmony, and depth, any untimely injury to one or more of their studs would drastically alter their situation.
Set those important disclaimers aside for the time being. Even though it’s unclear how the final 1.5 months of the regular season will determine the precise playoff seeding, the NBA landscape is obvious. All things considered, Boston seems to be the clear favourite to win the NBA championship this year.
The Celtics have a tonne of reasons to believe they can break the tie with the Lakers and win their first Larry O’Brien trophy since overcoming their bitter rival in 2008 by setting an NBA record for the most titles in franchise history (17). The Boston (46-12) team leads the Eastern Conference by seven and a half points going into their game against the Dallas Mavericks (34-25), but there are more reasons to be concerned.
Above all, Tatum has performed at his highest level of basketball during his seven-year NBA career.
He has averaged 27.0 points on 47.5% shooting, 8.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists, which show the depth and development of his game. In comparison to the previous season, he has averaged almost three fewer points and two fewer shots per game, indicating his willingness to lessen his isolation-heavy approach in order to maintain team balance. The fact that he is on pace to finish with a career-high number of assists indicates that the Celtics have strengthened their depth, which will allow Tatum to develop as a facilitator.
There are a few worthy contenders in the NBA regular-season MVP race, as there usually are. Tatum is certainly deserving of a spot in that group. Instead of being penalised for having dependable teammates, he ought to be rewarded more for his outstanding play that helped the winning team. Tatum’s unselfishness has also played a role in the team’s equilibrium. Boston, on the other hand, has solidified themselves with one of the top starting lineups in the league.
Similar to previous seasons, Jaylen Brown has demonstrated growth in his ability to get along with Tatum. Because he doesn’t have to handle the ball as much, his tendency to settle for isolation ball is lessened and his left-hand deficiencies are concealed. As Tatum develops as a facilitator, Brown will be able to score points off the glass as well. The Tatum-Brown tandem is something the Celtics have long since decided to invest more in rather than split up. This season, their stock has increased since then.
The Celtics’ offseason acquisitions of Holiday and Porzingis are partially responsible for that growth.
As a shooter, playmaker, and facilitator, Porzingis has adapted to his new role with ease, surpassing his performance with Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic over their two and a half seasons (2019–22). The Celtics have written off Porzingis’s right knee, left calf, and lower back injuries, despite the fact that he has missed a total of 14 games due to them. Following his two and a half-year stay in Washington (2022-23), Porzingis has grown more resilient. The Celtics think Porzingis can largely stay healthy because he has shown better lower body strength with a thinner frame, stronger balance, and less strain on his joints.
After nine NBA seasons, Marcus Smart was a defensive specialist, a reliable 3-point shooter, and a leader in the locker room. Boston had to make the difficult decision to part ways with him. With Holiday providing all of those attributes at the expense of his previous team, Milwaukee, which aspires to challenge Boston in the playoffs, the Celtics have lessened the impact of his absence. Holiday has virtually flourished in the same role with Boston after excelling as the team’s best perimeter defender and a supplementary scorer to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton of Milwaukee during their NBA title run (2021) and three playoff appearances (2021–2023).
Although the Celtics’ four elite players still play a major role in the team’s success, their effectiveness has increased when they have depth around them. Derrick White, the guard for the Boston Celtics, made clutch plays with timely shoots and defensive stops after his put-back forced a Game 7 against Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals. Joe Mazzulla seems more experienced with his rotations, timeouts, and play calling after handling Ime Udoka’s abrupt dismissal and the natural learning curves associated with becoming a head coach in his first season.
