The Boston Celtics have oscillated between a team that looks like they will run the table with a 16-game postseason and a ball club destined to take a trip to Cancun well before the Eastern Conference Finals even start, so it is anything but a sure thing that the Celtics will be in top form consistently in the postseason.
Seeding may be even more important than it usually is to teams in the playoffs. And so could be matchups, with a number of longer, athletic teams who are lesser in terms of talent on paper having given Boston fits during the 2022-23 regular season.
With all that in mind, The Athletic’s Jay King highlighted five teams that the Celtics might prefer to avoid in the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
Celtics Lab 178: On just how scared Boston should be of the Philadelphia 76ers with Ky Carlin https://t.co/MYmGMNcjUA
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No. 5 - Brooklyn Nets
King writes that the Nets “still have a long list of quality defenders,” including Mikal Bridges.
“Alongside him, the Nets at least theoretically have enough wing size to make the Celtics comfortable.”
No. 4 - Atlanta Hawks
“Trae Young can hurt you from anywhere,” suggests the Athletic analyst of why Boston ought to fear the Hawks a little.
“Though Atlanta’s roster looks different than it did two years ago, some of these players had postseason success together then while reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.”
No. 3 - Chicago Bulls
Chicago? Really? Yes, really, per King. “The Bulls own the league’s sixth-ranked defense”‘ he notes, and cites Patrick Beverley’s influence, and Nikola Vucevic “has quietly delivered a bounce-back season” as well.
Still, the Athletic writer is skeptical. “Their defense has too many holes to hold up at the highest level.”
No. 2 - Toronto Raptors
“Since acquiring Jacob Poeltl at the trade deadline, they have blasted opponents by 10.3 points per 100 possessions with him on the court,” suggests the author.
“The Raptors probably don’t have enough top-end talent or back-end depth to pull off a major playoff upset but they do have several tough, playoff-tested veterans willing to attack a challenge.”
No. 1 - Miami Heat
No shocker here, as King says that even though the Heat “aren’t the same caliber they were last season,” they would be the Celtics’ most fearsome potential first-round opponent in a 2-7 matchup.”
“That’s unfortunate for Boston because as of late Wednesday night the Heat were Boston’s likeliest first-round opponent.”
Be sure to check out the article in full for the detailed breakdowns King provides for each team.
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