The Boston Celtics are constructed for the postseason

A good friend of mine (a Knicks fan) requested me the opposite day if I assumed the Celtics had what it takes to win all of it this season. I paused for a cut up second as a result of some small a part of my thoughts at all times triggers a combat or flight response to questions that might be thought-about a “jinx.”

Then I at all times do not forget that Pink Auerbach actually lit victory cigars on the bench nicely earlier than the top of video games.

My quick reply was, “yeah, I believe they’ll.” And I went on to elucidate that our bench goes to be led by Malcolm Brogdon, Derrick White, and Grant Williams. These three guys could be beginning on most different playoff groups.

However it received me pondering just a little extra, and I assumed I’d jot down a couple of extra explanation why I consider on this workforce.

Elite Shot Makers

All of it begins with the celebs, doesn’t it? You don’t win a title with out a man who’s within the dialog for MVP. And that man can’t do it alone, so it usually requires not less than one different elite participant. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have made big strides within the final 12 months and a half by way of playmaking, caring for the ball, and trusting their teammates. However within the playoffs, when defensive effort is ratcheted up and opposing groups have had time to scout out and modify to each wrinkle in your playbook, typically you simply want a man to go get a bucket.

Photograph by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Photographs

Tatum has proven that he’s a 3 degree scorer. There are occasions when he begins off slowly, going 1-for-7 in a half. I’m seldom apprehensive as a result of like an AI bot, he’s at all times studying. Take away choices A, B, and C and he’ll simply begin destroying the protection utilizing X, Y, and Z. Instantly, you lookup in the course of the 4th quarter and he’s received 30 factors on an “off-night.” (Replace: or like final evening, he’s hitting the sport winner to complete off the Sixers)

Jaylen Brown is relentless. Positive, there are occasions when he will get in his personal head, however that’s not going to cease him from attacking. We’ve seen him have terrible capturing nights the place he turns the ball over and misses defensive assignments, solely to hit a sport saving 3-pointer and dominate in extra time. He’s develop into elite within the midrange, too. The sport has largely gone away from midrange photographs for all be the most effective within the sport, and Jaylen is in that dialog, which is all of the more practical as a result of defenses are taught to guard the rim and the 3-point line on the expense of the midrange.

Having two guys on the wing that may merely go on the market and get buckets is a large benefit for the Celtics.

Photograph by Erin Clark/The Boston Globe through Getty Photographs

Excessive Finish Bench Expertise

As I alluded to earlier, the Celtics have the posh of getting guys on their bench that will be starters elsewhere. Derrick White struggled at factors within the playoffs final 12 months, however you possibly can chalk not less than a few of that as much as becoming a member of the workforce later within the season. Each he and Malcolm Brogdon have had a complete season to combine with the Celtics and are doing so at a really excessive degree. Grant Williams has been round longer however has actually added additional parts to his sport this 12 months making him extra than simply the spot up shooter that he was final season.

A string of accidents have pressured the Celtics to go deep into their bench which have pressured these guys into bigger roles. However assuming moderately good well being and tightened playoff rotations, these three might be taking part in the majority of the bench minutes. There simply aren’t any weak spots within the Celtics prime 8.

And if quick time period accidents crop up, the Celtics can nonetheless name on Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Luke Kornet, Blake Griffin, and Mike Muscala. Having that degree of out of doors capturing to name on in a pinch is one other luxurious.

Protection Wins Championships

The Celtics presently rank within the top-5 for each offense and protection. That usually is a good mannequin for championship contenders. Contemplating how slowly they began the season on protection (hey, they had been blowing groups out) their top-5 ranking on protection is much more spectacular.

It is smart if you lookup and down the roster, too. The normal beginning 5 (which hasn’t had an opportunity to play a lot collectively) has no obtrusive defensive holes. Marcus Good is the reigning DPOY and you may make the case that Robert Williams III might need much more affect on that finish. Al Horford is like Yoda. Generally he appears like he’s pacing himself, however when he throws the cane apart, you’re going to get a present.

Dealing with Embiid? We’ve received waves of bigs to throw at him. Have to decelerate Giannis? Type a wall. Donovan is heating up? Marcus could make his life tougher. Working the ball to the 2nd or third possibility? Watch as Tatum and Brown beat them to the spot. Suppose you’ve received White beat off the dribble? Oops, he’s simply blocked you from behind.

The pattern this 12 months has favored offenses. Scores are up throughout the league. Which makes it that rather more essential to get stops within the postseason. It’s going to be a variety of enjoyable watching this workforce defend within the playoffs.

Versatility

Within the common season you possibly can typically get away with sticking to a script and executing it on an elite degree. When the playoffs begin and groups have an opportunity to make changes, not simply sport to sport however quarter to quarter and typically play to play.

Which means a title contender has to have the ability to modify on the fly and excel with a number of completely different appears. Many occasions, groups have to choose their poison. To get extra capturing on the ground, they generally should sacrifice protection or to “go small,” they’ve to surrender rebounding.

As talked about, the Celtics don’t have any obtrusive weak spots on protection, to allow them to combine and match on offense and nonetheless really feel assured of their matchups on the opposite finish. They’ve elite double-big lineups. They will go small with waves of dynamic guards and wings and nonetheless seize boards. In opposition to man protection they’ll hunt mismatches and create driving lanes with screens and ball motion. In opposition to zones they’ll discover Horford or Rob within the excessive publish and decide the protection aside with passing, reducing, and capturing from throughout the arc. There’s simply a variety of methods this workforce can thrive.

Caveat: Nonetheless Want Luck

As a lot as I’d prefer to proceed gushing on this love letter to my beloved obsession, I do should admit that this workforce isn’t flawless. They are often streaky, careless, unfocused, and downright complicated at occasions. They’re human and errors are made.

Additionally, no title has been received with out some degree of luck going the workforce’s manner. Generally that simply means “a lot of the key gamers are comparatively wholesome.” Different occasions it means a workforce that poses a troublesome matchup will get knocked out in an earlier spherical by one other workforce. Generally it’s simply the suitable bounce of a ball (proper, Kawhi?). Any variety of dangerous luck issues may forestall a workforce from successful a title. Fortunately this one has a little bit of historical past with good luck.

So yeah, I consider on this workforce.