Are the Celtics guaranteed another Eastern Conference Championship? Here's who could challenge them

The Celtics lost to the Cavaliers last night but does this spell doom for another title run?

The Boston Celtics cruised through the playoffs last season, losing only twice before meeting the Dallas Mavericks in the Finals. That team had the number one seed in the East locked up long before the playoffs began thanks to a deep roster filled with all-stars and excellent role players.

While returning almost an identical roster this season, the Celtics have yet to recapture the magic of last season for a continued stretch. This team is still brilliant and should be well within the mix for its nineteenth NBA title, but performances like last night’s demoralising 123-116 loss to the top seeded Cleveland Cavaliers are emblematic of issues facing this team. The Celtics came out blazing, opening up a 25-3 lead over the Cavaliers in just mere minutes and looked to have the game wrapped up by halftime. The Celtics were then outscored 120-91 the rest of the way thanks to a terrific performance by Cavaliers’ guard Donovan Mitchell whom the Celtics have had no answer for all season (he averaged 35.5 points per game against the Celtics this season).

The Celtics and Cavaliers have wrapped up its head-to-head regular season matchups and, barring any major developments or injuries, look destined to meet in the Eastern Conference Finals. But the playoffs are a different beast and this Celtics group is deep in playoff victories and scars having been battle tested time and time again. So it begs the question: does any team have a realistic shot of knocking off the Celtics?

Let’s take a look at the contenders:

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers has been on an incredible run since game one of the season, starting the season with an historical 15-0 record. Its first loss of the season came at the hands of the Celtics in a narrow three point loss. Riding an eight game win streak, it looked like the Cavaliers had met its match last night in Boston but instead turned the game on its heels, storming back with a statement win.

Despite having the best record in the East at the trade deadline, GM Mike Gansey doubled down on his club and made a big swing for Atlanta Hawks wing Deandre Hunter for matchups like last night’s game. The Cavaliers had four established stars in Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen but lacked a difference maker on the wing. Since joining the Cavaliers, Hunter has averaged 13.7 points per game and shot over 60% from three point range.

The Cavaliers hold the highest net rating (+11.6) of any team in the East and no team shoots better from three (39.4%). The key to knock off the Celtics in the playoffs is to beat it at its own game: three point shooting. The Celtics shoot an outrageous 48.2 threes per game, almost five more than the next closest team. When the three pointers are falling it’s near impossible to beat them.

In a seven-game series the Cavaliers will be forced to load up on stopping the likes of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown which could leave them vulnerable against shooters like Payton Pritchard.

New York Knicks

The Knicks hold the third best record in the Eastern Conference but have largely underperformed this season and struggled in match ups with NBA heavyweights. In five combined matchups against the Celtics and Cavaliers, the Knicks are a woeful 0-5 and have been outscored by an average of 21.2 point per game.

The Knicks made big moves in the offseason, acquiring Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves and Mikal Bridges from its cross-town rival Brooklyn Nets. Towns has been great this season and was named an all-star starter this season. Yet, its record against the big dogs of the East is a huge concern. Towns has serious questions about his playoff performances in the past but, to his credit, was magnificent against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets last year. Bridges’ scoring and three point shooting has dropped off this season despite not being asked to carry the same offensive load as he did with the Nets.

Realistically it does not appear the Knicks have a chance of making it to its first Conference finals since 2000 since the chances of facing either of these teams in the second round are exceedingly high. Jalen Brunson is always capable of going off against any defence and is a matchup nightmare for most guards despite his small frame, but it’s hard to see him willing his way past the vaunted Celtics roster in seven games.

Milwaukee Bucks

It’s been a strange season for the Bucks so far. Following a woefully under-achieving season last year that ended with a first round for the second consecutive year, the Bucks were unusually quiet in the offseason, signing only veteran minimum players. It still has the likes of Brook Lopez, Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton from its 2021 championship run, but the huge Damian Lillard trade does not appear to have swung the needle as intended.

Feeling pressed to make a move, the Bucks traded franchise legend Kris Middleton in exchange for Washington Wizards’ wing Kyle Kuzma. Kuzma has played about as expected since joining his new team but he is a limited player.

The Bucks have been the second best three point shooting team (38.4%) this season but only hold a +1.6 net rating despite having arguably the best player in the world in Giannis Antetokounmpo and an all-time great shooter in Damian Lillard. Brook Lopez does not have the same defensive prowess as he used to and the huge financial investments in two-max contract players have hamstrung this team’s development.

Antetokounmpo is still world class and can will his team to victory on any given night but the depth of the roster compared to teams like the Celtics and Cavaliers is where the Bucks are really lacking. Of its regular starters and rotational pieces, only three players on the roster hold an above average player efficiency rating (Antetokounmpo, Lillard and Portis). This is going to cause huge problems come playoff time when its opponents will be able to play meaningful minutes from its bench while the Bucks will be banking on Antetokounmpo and Lillard to drag this team to victory.