In what many predicted to be a lost season without superstar Jayson Tatum, the Boston Celtics set the standard for elite play. Finishing as the second seed in the Eastern Conference at a record of 56-26, the Celtics haven’t missed a step.
The team has two all-NBA level wings in Tatum and superstar forward Jaylen Brown, elite shooting, defensive versatility, and one of the deepest rotations in basketball. On paper, this is a team built for the finals.
But as the playoffs arrive, the idea of a clear path to the NBA Finals starts to get muddy.
The East might not have a dominant superteam this year, but it is filled with solid matchups, styles, and problems that can turn any playoff series into a war. The Celtics will have the Philadelphia 76ers coming to town Sunday, April 19 at 1:00 P.M. on ABC.
The East isn’t Soft — It’s Just Different
The most misleading narrative heading into the playoffs is that the East is wide open in a way that makes Boston’s path easy.
Sure, there is no Tyrese Haliburton with the Indiana Pacers, or Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Milwaukee Bucks, but there are a plethora of teams in the East that could cause problems for the Celtics.
First, there’s the NBA’s biggest surprise this year, the first seed Detroit Pistons. Led by superstar guard Cade Cunningham and center Jalen Duren, this Pistons team is probably the biggest threat to stopping the Celtics. Cunningham put up 23.9 points and 9.9 assists per game this season, while Duren added 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds.
Detroit plays fast, fearless basketball, despite a lack of overall playoff experience compared to the Celtics. But they still average 18 fast break points per game, and have the third best shooting percentage in the NBA at 48.5%.
The number three seeded New York Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, are always a threat to take down the Celtics. They did last year in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, and this season they defeated Boston three times in four games. Their identity consists of physical defense, with half-court pressure that can slow games down to force the Cs into isolation-heavy possessions late in the shot clock.
Then there’s the four-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, a team built around discipline and offensive structure behind Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. The Cavs ranked fourth in points per game this season, with Mitchell scoring 27.9 points per game, and Mobley averaging 18.2 points with nine rebounds. Despite failing to make it to the Conference Finals since the 2017–18 season, Cleveland remains a threat due to their offensive talent and should not be taken lightly.
So, when analysts or fans say the East is “open,” what they really mean is: There is no dominant obstacle, but there are plenty of ways to get slowed down.
This matters to the Celtics because they don’t need to defeat an unbeatable team like the LeBron James-led Cavaliers in the 2010s.
Boston’s roster is built around spacing, switching defense, and high-volume shooting, with 1,268 threes made during the season — the third most in the league. When it’s working, Boston’s play style can overwhelm teams quickly.
But that style of basketball comes with unpredictability.
The Celtics offense relies heavily on the three ball shooting, averaging 15.5 threes a game during the regular season. If that stops hitting, then they will struggle. While Boston had a record of 38-5 when shooting better than 36% from the three, the other 21 losses on the season came when shooting under that mark. Playoff games are much different than regular season as the pace slows down, and it can be hard to go on runs. Other top teams in the East have a chance to take them down if the Celtics go cold.
The Stars Still Define Everything
At the center of everything is still Tatum.
Since Tatum’s return to action in March, he has come back with elite all-around production for someone returning from an Achilles tear. Tatum is averaging 21.8 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game across 16 games this season, while also maintaining his role as a defensive weapon.
But the Celtics’ true number one guy this year has been Brown. Brown stepped up during Tatum’s absence and has become a superstar in his own right, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game, giving Boston someone who can generate offense independently when defenses key in on Tatum, or vice versa.
Brown’s play has put him fifth in the Kia MVP Ladder and he may pick up some votes for the award, despite likely not winning it.
The duo of Brown and Tatum alone makes the Celtics a championship threat.
Depth is the Real Separator
Derrick White has emerged as one of the most important two-way guards in the league, averaging 16.5 points per game and about a block and steal per game.
Payton Pritchard has become an impactful member of this Celtics squad, averaging 17 points per game and shooting 37 percent from three this season. Other key players like Sam Hauser and Nikola Vučević have contributed all season long with their shooting and defensive ability.
The West Looms
Even if the Celtics survive the East and reach the NBA Finals once again, the Western Conference presents a completely different level of difficulty.
The West is deeper, more physical, and more tested from top to bottom.
Nobody in the East won more than 60 games, yet out West, the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs won 64 and 62 games respectively, and have two of the top three MVP candidates in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama.
The Denver Nuggets have a three-time MVP in Nikola Jokić, the Houston Rockets have Kevin Durant and a slew of young stars, and the list goes on for the talent in the West.
These teams have spent the entire season in high-intensity matchups that resemble playoff basketball.
If Boston reaches the Finals after navigating a volatile East, they may face a team that has already been battle-tested for months.
That contrast becomes real visable in June.
So, Can the Celtics Win It All?
The answer is yes, but it might not be as comfortable as 2024.
The Celtics are still one of the most complete teams in basketball. They have Tatum and Brown, elite shooting ability, and one of the deepest rotations in the league.
But the Eastern Conference is not a formality: It’s a collection of matchup problems that can test Boston in different ways every round.
Physical teams like New York, defensive grinders like Cleveland, wildcard offenses like Detroit, and the constant pressure of expectations could stop Boston from even making it out of the East.
I believe the Celtics can get to the Finals, but it might take a seven-game series or two to get there. Whoever they may face in the Finals themselves won’t be any easier.
No team is a dominant obstacle for Boston in the East, but there are plenty of ways to get slowed down.
And for the Celtics, that might be the hardest part of all.
