Celtics are ‘scariest’ crew within the East
Boston Celtics
The Celtics, winners of 9 of their final 10, are turning heads within the Jap Convention.
The Celtics have gained 9 of their final 10 video games. They’re one win away from sweeping their present West Coast street journey, having overwhelmed Golden State, Los Angeles, and Phoenix this previous week.
Boston, four-and-a-half video games out of first place, stays No. 2 within the Jap Convention behind Detroit.
Some may say these Jayson Tatum-less Celtics have emerged as a darkish horse to win the East. Others, similar to TNT’s Reggie Miller say the Celtics are wanting downright scary as of late.
“With or with out Tatum, even when Tatum doesn’t come again, the Celtics are the scariest crew within the Jap Convention,” Miller mentioned throughout a latest look on The Dan Patrick Present. “The reason is is that there aren’t any expectations. Folks thought this was going to be a niche 12 months with out Tatum.”
Jaylen Brown has had lots to do with the Celtics’ success. He has performed his manner into being thought-about as a fringe MVP candidate. He’s fourth within the league in scoring at 29.2 factors per recreation, whereas grabbing seven rebounds and 4.7 assists per recreation.
“Jaylen Brown, his title actually belongs within the MVP dialogue together with Cade Cunningham,” Miller mentioned. “These two. I do know SGA and I do know Jokic, I give each of all of them their flowers. However, with what Cade has achieved in Detroit and particularly with what Jaylen Brown has achieved with the Celtics, with or with out Tatum coming again, the Celtics are an actual risk to win the Jap Convention.”
Defensively, the Celtics are holding opponents to a league-best 107.6 factors per recreation. Boston can be seventh in defensive ranking.
They’ve dropped to nineteenth within the league in factors per recreation (115.0), however their mixture of protection, hustle, and rebounding seems to be making up for it.
“They’re effectively coached by coach Mazzulla. They’re deep, they’ll play a variety of methods. They’ll play massive, small, and I believe the pickup of [Nikola] Vucevic down low – he can play along with his again to the basket, he can knock down threes.
“They play a sure manner, they’re going to jack up quite a lot of threes. Most of their photographs come from 16 ft out and additional. They get after you defensively. I’m simply telling individuals. I do know they’re excessive on the Knicks, excessive on Detroit, and rightfully so. Cleveland’s on their manner up as effectively, however individuals take note of Boston.”
Including Tatum to the combination actually wouldn’t damage their possibilities, Miller mentioned.
“I believe it’s going to be a seamless transition as a result of he’s been over there all season lengthy, and he doesn’t wish to disrupt something,” Miller mentioned. “Individuals are like ‘oh he’s going to disrupt rhythm and throw it off’. I might reasonably have an All-NBA man play 20 minutes than under no circumstances. So, if he does come again, and that is his determination solely, I believe it’s solely going to assist Boston.”
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