The Celtics are the team to beat in the Eastern Conference, according to a former NBA All-Star.
Given the quality of basketball being played by the Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers in the East, one could argue that the Conference is more evenly matched than it has been since LeBron joined the Lakers in 2018. However, the Celtics own the East, and former NBA great DeMarcus Cousins believes that no team can now surpass them.
“The Celtics team is so well put together, I just don’t really see any team getting past them,” Cousins said.Additionally, I believe that the Sixers will eventually run out of ammunition. Though I could be mistaken, my instinct tells me they’ll run out of ammunition, particularly in the postseason when defensive changes and scheme implementation take place.”
The Celtics have defeated the Sixers on few occasions in the past, but it is still far too early in the season to draw any firm conclusions. When they last faced off in the 2023 playoffs, the Celtics emerged victorious once more, having rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the series. However, the Celtics improved greatly in the offseason with a slew of deals this summer, and many still think they are the team to beat this season.
The Celtics Are Great
The Boston Celtics feature perhaps the best basketball team tandem in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Both Tatum and Brown, who are skilled on both ends of the court, have carried the Celtics for many years. Together, they have had some pretty amazing runs, which include four visits to the Conference Finals and an NBA Finals appearance in 2022. Sharpshooting big man Kristaps Porzingis was brought to the Celtics squad a few months ago to help stretch the floor and provide another scoring option behind the “big two.” A few weeks later, Boston added experienced two-way point guard Jrue Holiday, which was sufficient for many fans to declare the Cs the best team in the East.
The Celtics are currently on track to finish among the top teams in the league with an 8-2 record through 10 games, but it will be interesting to see if they can replicate their regular-season success in the postseason. As usual, Jayson Tatum is the key to the Celtics’ success, and they can only advance as far as he can. Now is Tatum’s chance to establish himself as one of the game’s top three players in 2023.
The underdog team is the 76ers.
The Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics are presently tied for the top seed in the East with an 8-2 record. With their strong play following James Harden’s departure, the Sixers have astonished both analysts and fans, making them the biggest story in the league to date. Tyrese Maxey’s breakthrough campaign has made the Sixers look better than ever, and Joel Embiid seems to have found a co-star he can finally click with.
For the Sixers, health will be the main concern. It’s been a while since the squad, and especially Embiid, has been able to play at full power for the duration of a season due to a long history of concerning ailments. The 76ers might not have enough to overcome the revamped Celtics, though, even at their best. In any case, the 2024 postseason clash between the two clubs is highly anticipated as they are headed toward a collision in the East.
Leave a Reply