Who’s the Boston Celtics’ hardest matchup within the East? (Workers Roundtable)

I requested the employees to present us the Celtics hardest matchup within the Jap Convention. Realizing that the majority would probably say the Bucks, I additionally requested for his or her subsequent decisions.

Benjamin Torbert

I might say the Bucks for positive, however with them off the desk, I’ll take the Cavs. Mobley and Allen are elite defenders and rim protectors that may make life troublesome on the Jays driving to the rim. And Donovan Mitchell and Garland are elite guard scorers which have given the Celtics issues prior to now and are able to profitable video games shut video games late even in opposition to nice protection.

Harris Rubenstein

If it’s not the Bucks, it’s nonetheless the Miami Warmth for me. Their common season file/efficiency is nearly meaningless to me, I believe come playoff time, that workforce will lock in and be an actual downside. Bam has taken a leap offensively and the highest 7 of their rotation remains to be actually good. Oh, and so they additionally nonetheless have perhaps the very best coach in basketball in Eric Spoelstra. They’ve been actually good at residence this season, 19-10 on the ASB, so this looks like a sleeping tiger to me. The much less Jimmy Butler I’ve to see within the playoffs the higher.

Daniel Poarch

The Milwaukee Bucks are probably the most gifted workforce within the convention outdoors of Boston, and the one workforce apart from Philadelphia that may make an argument for having the very best particular person participant in a sequence in opposition to the Celtics. They’re the most important risk by default for these causes.

Exterior of the Bucks, although, the Cleveland Cavaliers are the workforce that provides me probably the most pause. The highlight has shifted away from them a bit after their scorching begin to the season, however they’re quietly sitting on the second-best web score (+5.8) within the NBA. Donovan Mitchell has been a world-beater this season and is a battle-tested playoff performer, and the frontcourt duo of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley have proven the flexibility to place stress on the Celtics’ frontcourt depth in a manner few groups can handle. I’m unsure that is The 12 months for Cleveland — the dearth of wing depth to test Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown is a obtrusive weak spot — however they’re deep, gifted and on the upswing. A Celtics-Cavs playoff sequence can be an extended one, I believe.

William Weir

Bucks are for positive the reply right here but when I’m trying past them, I believe the reply is the Cavs. They lack depth however their 2 massive males are elite defensively and their backcourt is probably going the very best within the NBA. Donovan Mitchell is a giant time playoff performer and provides them the late sport scorer that may put a scare into any workforce and if Mobley decides the playoffs are the time to start out taking a “leap” they may very well be hassle. If Boston weren’t at full power, this may very well be a sequence that provides them some hassle.

Trevor Hass

I agree with the bulk. It’s the Bucks, however after that, it’s the Cavaliers. They’ve performed the Celtics robust within the common season, and their athleticism is super. Donovan Mitchell is an issue, and the items round him mesh nicely. I believe the Cavs would be the subsequent Jap Convention workforce to win a championship after the Celtics, however it gained’t occur this 12 months.

Ben Vallis

It’s the Bucks, however the Cavs are a detailed second. The Celtics have usually struggled in opposition to inside dimension, one thing the Cavs have an abundance of. I’d nonetheless take the Celtics over both workforce, however there shall be loads of challenges on the street again to the finals.

Robbie Hodin

Consider it or not, I’m type of involved concerning the Sixers this 12 months (and the Bucks, in fact). They’ve been enjoying some wonderful basketball, and if Embiid and the remainder of the crew are wholesome come playoff time, they may very well be harmful regardless of their previous blunders in opposition to Boston. Though the Cavs can pose some attention-grabbing issues, I don’t actually view them as being prepared or skilled sufficient to compete in a playoff surroundings, particularly in opposition to the Celtics.

Mike Dynon

Since my reply is the Bucks, the subsequent most troublesome can be Miami. The Warmth are at the moment in seventh place and will find yourself as Boston’s first-round opponent. We all know they’re well-coached, and so they have a number of gamers – Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Kyle Lowry – who’ve put up massive numbers usually in opposition to the Celtics. Off the bench, Gabe Vincent has proven indicators of being a Celtics-killer, and ex-Celtic Max Strus’ three-point taking pictures has tormented his former workforce on a number of events. Clearly, the Warmth would even be motivated to realize revenge after shedding Recreation 7 to Boston at residence final season. The Celtics may positively beat the Warmth once more, however it could be an actual battle.

Bobby Manning

It’s the Cavaliers. Between their imposing entrance line and their smaller, shifty guards that the larger Celtics lineups can have hassle guarding, Cleveland nonetheless seems to be like a workforce to worry regardless of their lack of wing depth to defend Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. The Bucks is likely to be the toughest workforce to remove, however Cavs personal the very best likelihood of truly upsetting the Celtics attributable to their defensive posture blended with Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland’s skill to match Brown and Tatum’s scoring output. Milwaukee may return to this standing if Khris Middleton regains his previous kind, which we haven’t seen but.

Tim Sheils

I believe the Bucks are the clearly risk within the East, however the workforce I’d be extra involved about is the Cavaliers. I really feel extra assured with Boston being acquainted with Milwaukee, and the best way the Celtics defend Giannis is efficient. Cleveland’s athleticism and flexibility poses a frightening matchup downside, particularly Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. Donovan Mitchell is having a implausible season, and is a scary participant within the clutch. They’re a detailed second the Bucks in my record of opponents to be careful for.

Jeff Clark

Giannis alone makes the Bucks the right alternative right here. Including in Vacation, a wholesome Middleton, and an elite protection is simply extra gas for the hearth. Plus they’ve Championship expertise, so it gained’t be simple it doesn’t matter what.

With all that stated, I’m not ruling out the Cavs and 76ers because the hardest out. The Cavs is likely to be slightly too inexperienced and the Sixers stars have failed within the playoffs earlier than, however all it takes is one nice run to vary these narratives perpetually.

In the end I’ll nonetheless say the Bucks, however these different groups aren’t far behind.