Which team in the East is the biggest threat to the Boston Celtics?

The NBA trade deadline has come and gone. The Celtics have a reasonably sizable lead within the standings. So subsequent up is waiting for the playoffs. I requested the workers to inform me who they think about the largest menace to the Celtics within the Jap Convention.

Ben Dupont

The Philadelphia 76ers. With their deadline acquisition of Buddy Hield and the emergence of Tyrese Maxey, Embiid has the assistance he must make it to a convention finals. The one query is whether or not or not he’s going to play. It’s very attainable that Embiid will return proper earlier than the playoffs, and the Sixers could have a nasty sufficient report that Boston should face them within the first or second spherical. That’s going to be a troublesome sequence.

Mark Aboyoun

The New York Knicks. The Knicks confirmed this season that they’re critical and gave Tom Thibodeau the instruments he must have a staff to compete with anybody. The staff is among the higher defensive groups that matches up properly towards Boston. Buying and selling for OG Anunoby offers them an elite wing/ball defender. Then you could have Brunson, Randle, and deadline day acquisition of Bogdanovic and Burks rounding out the expertise and scoring. Along with Hart and DiVincenzo do a little bit of every part, this Knicks staff is constructed for the playoffs.

Picture by Megan Briggs/Getty Pictures

Trevor Hass

To me, it’s nonetheless the Miami Warmth. I do know some people could disagree, however I believe the Warmth match up greatest with the Celtics of another contender. No staff within the East has a expertise edge over Boston, and Miami is the one one with the head-game edge.

Tim Sheils

I imagine the Cleveland Cavaliers have an opportunity to be a critical menace to the Celtics within the Jap Convention, particularly when contemplating the accidents they’ve handled up to now. After dropping each Darius Garland (fractured jaw vs Celtics) and Evan Mobley (knee surgical procedure) in December, the Cavs lastly have each key stars again of their lineup. They’re 9-1 of their final 10 video games as of February 14th, they usually’re now 2nd within the east behind Boston. With their dimension on the 4 and 5 mixed with their pace and offensive firepower on the guard spot, they pose one of many greatest challenges to the Celtics on paper (emphasis on the final half).

Sam LaFrance

For me, it’s the Celtics. [Meaning they aren’t going to get beat unless they beat themselves] They’ve performed as if they’re head and shoulders above the remainder of the convention all season and it doesn’t really feel like every of the opposite “contenders” ought to be capable to knock them off. Boston is just too deep to lose any sequence the place they’re at their greatest. Considering again, there haven’t been many video games the place the Celtics have flat-out gotten beat. There’s nearly all the time been an space that you might level to and go “Yeah, they misplaced but when they tightened this up, they’d in all probability win.” If I needed to decide one of many others, it could be Milwaukee, solely as a result of they’re probably the most proficient. They actually haven’t been enjoying on the degree that many felt they’d be capable to heading into this season. Below Doc Rivers, they’ve struggled to search out any form of stability. For the reason that exit of Adrian Griffin, they’ve received simply 4 of their 11 video games. They did, nonetheless, hand the Celtics their most lopsided lack of the season. It was a sport the place the starters didn’t play a single second within the second half as a result of they couldn’t get something going in any respect.

Mike Dynon

Cleveland has just lately ripped off win streaks of eight and 9 video games and has taken over second place within the East whereas the same old different prime groups have underachieved or been hit with accidents. The Cavs have cellular 6-11 Evan Mobley to match up with Kristaps Porzingis, plus a core of dynamic scorers – Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Caris LeVert – who’ve beforehand confirmed themselves towards Boston. And let’s not overlook former Celtic and Warmth three-point specialist Max Strus, who’s all the time particularly motivated towards the Cs. The Cavs are additionally proper there with the Celtics for greatest street report within the league. The Celtics make their solely go to to Cleveland on March 5; anticipate a playoff environment because the Cavs will certainly need to make an announcement.

Picture By Winslow Townson/Getty Pictures

Adam Taylor

The New York Knicks. I believe the additions of OG Anunoby, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Alec Burks makes them an actual menace. Tom Thibodeau now has a staff designed in his picture. All people on the roster can guard. They’ve two elite scorers in Jalen Brunson and Bogdanovic, whereas Julius Randle is a bodily x-factor for the staff.

Embiid’s harm, Milwaukee’s defensive points, and the Cavaliers lack of post-season expertise all have me inserting them behind the new-look Knicks

Jack Simone

It’s nonetheless the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo is Giannis Antetokounmpo for a motive. For all the issues which have popped up this season, expertise often wins out within the playoffs (with final 12 months being a bizarre anomaly). Damian Lillard can be straightforward to assault on protection, however the Bucks have two top-20 gamers within the NBA. Contemplating the Celtics are fairly clearly one of the best staff within the league, the one factor that ought to be capable to take them down within the playoffs is expertise and expertise. The Bucks have each.

Sara Jane Gamelli

Undoubtedly, the Miami Warmth. With a report of 30-25, they occupy the seventh seed within the Jap Convention. Taking a daring step, the Warmth acquired former Celtic Terry Rozier from the Hornets earlier than the commerce deadline. Luckily, regardless of narrowly avoiding a major knee harm, Rozier stays in play. Regardless of Jimmy Butler’s restricted appearances this season, the Warmth are managing to remain aggressive. Whereas the Cavaliers and Knicks exhibit sturdy performances, Boston frequently finds itself unable to flee its best rival. Having met the Warmth in three Jap Convention finals since 2019-2020, I wouldn’t underestimate Erik Spoelstra and his proficient younger staff. Miami concluded final season with a report of 44-38, and it’s well known why quantity 22 is dubbed “Playoff Jimmy.” This staff has a ton of expertise if wholesome, and in the event that they make it to the playoffs, particularly with Tyler Herro and rookie Jaime Jaquez. By no means rely this staff out, they’ve been residing hire free in Boston’s head. This staff has confronted Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown one too many occasions.