Subscribe
Follow Us
The Boston Celtics defeated the Brooklyn Nets Sunday, 126-120. It was their third straight win and 14th victory in the last 16 games. The Celtics have moved all the way from the near bottom of the Eastern Conference to the #5 seed. They are only four and a half games behind the Miami Heat for the top spot in the conference.
Click here for our Risk Free $1000 Bet!
*To claim, new users need to register, make a first deposit, and then simply place their first real-money wager on FanDuel Sportsbook up to $1000! If a user loses their first wager, we’ll refund their losses in the form of a free bet up to $1000!*
It's been a complete turnaround for a team that many were calling dead just a couple months ago. You remember that, right? Everyone said Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown can't play together. This team can't play any defense. They have no depth or leadership. They have a rookie coach who doesn't know what he is doing. Now you remember, right?
Well, it turns out all of the pundits were wrong. Boston is 39-27 and getting better seemingly every game. That leads me to believe this team is just as capable at making a deep run as any of the other elites in the east.
Here are 3 reasons why the Boston Celtics should be considered true title contenders.
3 Reasons Why the Boston Celtics Should Be Championship Contenders
3. JAYSON TATUM IS TRULY ELITE
It goes without saying that Tatum is one of the best young stars in the NBA today. But he might just be greater than we all realized. On Sunday, he dropped a season-high 54 points in the win versus Kevin Durant and the Nets. He knocked down eight triples in the victory. It was his fourth career 50-point game of his young career. That ties Larry Bird for the most in franchise history. But this kid is 24 years old. Yeah, exactly.
Most 50-point games in Celtics history:
4 — Jayson Tatum
4 — Larry Bird pic.twitter.com/SZ2U12y1Kq— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 6, 2022
It's already been well established that the Celtics brass has no desire to let him leave the city of Boston. So that mark will fall, sooner than later. Who knows, it might happen in the next week.
But Tatum isn't just a great shooter. He is an all-around elite scorer. Tatum can shoot from distance, he has mid-range game, he can jump-stop, he can drive and finish near the tin and he can throw it down. He is an excellent free-throw shooter to boot. But Tatum is not only useful on one end and a liability on the other like many players. He is an above average defender as well.
The Boston superstar has shown he can flat out take over games as well, as witnessed Sunday. Sometimes, that's the difference in the playoffs.
2. TEAM DEFENSE
Early on this season when the Celtics were struggling, especially defensively. Some people were calling for coach Ime Udoka to be fired. Players were calling each other out. It was complete disarray. Yet, here they are, dominating as we head down the stretch, and it is the Celtics' calling card, their defense, leading the way.
Article Continues Below
Boston's starting five might just be the best in the NBA. I know that sounds a little crazy, but the numbers back it up. While on the court together, they average allowing 89.6 points per game (extrapolated), best in the NBA. Their NET of both offense and defense is a +26.6 points per game, also the best in the league.
ESPN's Doris Burke broke down on video exactly what makes this defense so dominant.
the Celtics defense is so special pic.twitter.com/ZSvKrSazvQ
— ᴊᴏʜɴɴʏ☘️ (@BantonioClown) March 6, 2022
The Celtics properly rotate. They have elite one-on-one defenders in Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown. The Celtics lead the NBA in opponents field goal percentage and points per game. Using just about any metric, they are the best defense in the league.
Everyone knows that when playoff time comes, games get tighter. Possessions get longer, meaning there is less of them and even less scoring. That bodes well for Boston.
Adding Derrick White at the trade deadline also helps the depth of this squad.
1. CELTICS RISE TO THEIR COMPETITION
For many years, the eastern conference was considered a joke. It's been a long time since an NBA fan can openly say that the east is better than the west. But that time is now. The Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, and Boston Celtics can all beat anyone in the west. I'n not saying they all would, just that they are all capable.
You can only say the same about the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and maybe the Memphis Grizzlies out west.
Knowing the depth the east has, it has only made Boston stronger. Currently, Boston is the ONLY team in the Eastern Conference with a winning record against teams above .500. They have beaten Philadelphia by 50, hammered the Nets a couple times then beat them when KD scored 37 Sunday. The Celtics have owned Miami this season. The Hawks can barely break 90 against them. They just easily took care of business against the white hot Grizzlies last week. Yet, no one talks about them as title contenders. Well, I am.
Bet against this team at your own peril.
