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With the way the NBA offseason transpired, the level of competition, or lack thereof, is at an all-time low. Or is it? Los Angeles Clippers sharpshooter JJ Redick said it best when he stated that, in the previous 6 seasons, we have seen 5 different NBA champions. That has ensued under the reign of the Miami super-team(s), and the 73-9 Warriors. Therefore the conclusion that the Golden State Warriors, with the addition of Kevin Durant, are the automatic winners, may be a preconceived notion that might not come to fruition. When Lebron James and Chris Bosh went down south to Miami, NBA fans alike saw the demise of their teams for the next 5-6 years. However, they did succumb to Dallas their first year. That being said, in a more competitive Eastern Conference, a team like the Boston Celtics could make some serious noise. But are they true title contenders?
Pre-season rankings had the Celtics inside of the top 7 teams heading into the season. They are clearly one of the top 3 or 4 teams out east. The clear number 1 happens to be the reigning champion Cleveland Cavaliers. But after that, the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, and Indiana Pacers will all be in competition to capture that second seed come playoff time. Boston did their job in the offseason. Danny Ainge made it a priority to fill the void at center with one of the game's best, Al Horford. He also ensured that the draft was a success as well. Drafting the likes of a Jalen Brown adds to the depth of the bench. But how do they stack up against the East's elite, and the West?
It is safe to say, barring catastrophic incidences, the Cleveland Cavaliers will return to the ECF. It is rather inevitable. They are the reigning champions, and Lebron James has been to 6 straight Eastern Conference Finals. How does Boston matchup? Isaiah Thomas can hold his own against Kyrie Irving. Kyrie, the shifty, dynamic scorer, also packs an underrated defensive arsenal. However, Isaiah is the guy in Boston, and performs when it counts most. Avery Bradley has a considerable advantage over JR Smith on both ends of the floor. An all defensive caliber guard, with a much improved offensive repertoire trumps a streaky scorer any day. It goes without saying how the small forward predicament plays out. At the power forward position, Kevin Love holds the advantage over Jonas Jerebko. Both stretch 4's with mediocre defense, Love is just a much bigger body with superstar upside, but all-star production. Jerebko doesn't have the body or defense to hold Kevin Love on the block. And at center, Horford's versatility is almost evenly matched by Tristan Thompson's relentlessness and defensive prowess.
The benches also play a role. Both teams have very deep benches. What separates them is experience. Marcus Smart may have a slight edge on Mo Williams with younger legs and better defense. But a forgotten weapon happens to be Channing Frye. Frye, who shot better than 60% from behind the arc in last year's playoffs, is another matchup problem that would leave the likes of Kelly Olynyk scrambling on pick and rolls. So what's the overall takeaway?
The Celtics have revamped their lineup and are definitely poised to make it out of the first round this year. However, getting past the Raptors or Pacers in the second round is a new ordeal in and of itself. The Raptors are prone to choking in big moments. Their run to the ECF last year was fueled by heroics on the part of Jonas Valanciunas, and his backup Bismack Biyombo. "All-Star" point guard Kyle Lowry had a bad showing for the 3rd straight playoffs. Demar Derozan, without an outside shot, is also prone to stinking up the joint on occasion. The Celtics would have a good chance of getting past the Canadiens in round 2, but the Pacers pose another problem in and of itself. The Pacers are stacked positions 1-5. Jeff Teague, Monta Ellis, Paul George, Thaddeus Young, and Myles Turner are all viable offensive and defensive options. The bench, headlined by Rodney Stuckey and Al Jefferson has veterans who are playoff hardened, and also solid offensive contributors. The Celtics would not be favored in such a matchup, but would have a chance of winning.
The final takeaway? The Celtics are playoff contenders certainly. But the uncertainty that comes with advancing past the semi-finals cannot solidify them as title contenders, at least not yet. Even if they do make it to the ECF and dethrone the Cavs, they are heavily outclassed at every single position (to the exception of center) and even benches, in comparison to the Warriors. They would most probably be swept in an NBA Finals series against Golden State, and wouldn't last any more than 5 games against the San Antonio Spurs either. Therefore, the Celtics main priority should be to continue to develop and gain playoff experience, and build camaraderie. They are a couple years of maturity, and a couple pieces away from being the top dogs in the east, but for now we can only wait and see. The NBA is where amazing happens after all, and they could disprove everything mentioned above this season, for better or worse.