Experience, Defense and Porzingis: 3 Reasons Celtics Can Win Title
The Boston Celtics finally got their revenge on the Miami Heat after losing to them in the conference finals, sending the Heat packing early this year in the first round. Although Miami managed to take one game in the series to avoid a sweep, Boston looked like it had total control for much of the series, and now it’ll await the winner of the Cavaliers-Magic series.
NBA odds have the Celtics as the current favorite to go all the way and win the NBA title at +115, and despite them clinching the No. 1 seed for the first time since 2017, they have been in this position before. Boston has held the No. 2 seed multiple times and has looked like the favorite to win it all, however, they haven’t won a Championship since 2018. Ahead are three reasons why this could really be the Celtics’ year.
Tatum and Brown Lead Experienced Celtics Back to the Playoffs
The Celtics are no strangers to the playoffs, this is their 10th straight season playing in the postseason, making it to at least the conference finals in three of their last four seasons and making the NBA Finals two years ago.
Led by the duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who have been a part of that run for the last seven and eight years, the Celtics know what it takes to get back to the NBA Finals. With so many unfulfilled chances at a title, Tatum, Brown, and the rest of the team, are even more motivated to win, and with the postseason a whole different ball game than the regular season, that experience should be a bonus.
Porzingis: The Missing Piece for Boston’s Title Hopes?
One potential reason for the Celtics’ lack of a title run in recent years could be their center presence, which they fixed in the offseason.
Boston traded for Kristaps Porzingis ahead of the 2023-24 season, and his more established center presence has certainly been a help for the team. Although Al Horford was a solid starter last season, he didn’t pose much of a scoring threat down low, averaging 6.7 points a game in the postseason. Porzingis has made teams account for him on the inside, averaging 20.1 points a game in the regular season for third on the team, scoring 12.3 so far in the playoffs.
Though he is sidelined for the semifinals with a calf injury, Porzingis is eyeing a return to the Eastern Conference Finals. Should the Celtics meet the second-favored Nuggets in the NBA Finals, his presence inside will be crucial, as he averaged 22.5 points and 10 rebounds against them to help Boston keep both games within reach.
Celtics Defense Poised to Dominate
The Celtics also made it a point to boost their defense a bit in the offseason in hopes of making a deeper run this year.
Though Boston lost its best defender in Marcus Smart, it remedied the situation by adding Jrue Holiday. The Celtics went from limiting teams to 111.4 points a game on 46.3% shooting last season to holding teams to 109.2 points a game on 45.3% shooting this year.
However, the Celtics’ postseason defense is what really took off. Granted, there was a bigger sample size last season, and Miami was without a few key players, but so far, Boston has held the Heat to 92.2 points a game on 43.8% shooting this year, compared to allowing teams to score 108.6 points a game on 45.5% shooting last postseason. With the Celtics’ point differential also jumping from 6.5 to 11.3 in the regular season, the improved defense should continue to help as they make a run.
After one of their most successful seasons in recent years, Boston is the favorite to win it all in 2024. Whether or not you think it’ll be the Celtics or another team, don’t forget to make your NBA predictions at the sportsbook.
Questions Of The Day
What was the Celtics’ record this season?
Boston finished with a 64-18 overall record this year.
What are Boston’s odds of winning the title?
The Celtics have the best odds to win at +115.
