The Lakers, Clippers and Bucks are drawing all the talk about which teams will compete for a title in the coming weeks, and understandably so. These three teams are all comprised of veteran players who have plenty of skills and postseason experience, and they also had the three best records in the NBA.
But it’s important not to overlook the Celtics.
The Celtics were sitting pretty, with a 43-21 record, and in third place in the Eastern Conference standings, which Sports Betting Philippines has mentioned. They were playing their best basketball when the NBA was forced to suspend play, and Jayson Tatum was finally emerging as the superstar player the team had hoped he’d become when they took him with the third overall pick in the 2017 draft.
And let’s not forget that the Celtics were one of the best road teams in the NBA, sporting a very impressive 20-12 record. This should translate well to Orlando, as no team will have the benefit of a home-court advantage, and whichever team gets accustomed to the new playing format and different arenas figures to have a leg up on its competition.
It’s also important not to overlook why the NBA was forced to suspend its season in the first place, and the effect that could have on the 22 teams in Orlando. The sports world was turned upside down when Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus on March 11 (according to the Live Esports Calendar), and the NBA has suspended play ever since, putting a damper on online gambling. It figures that younger players will have an advantage in Orlando, as they may be able to “flip the switch” — getting into playing shape — quicker than veterans can. And the Celtics are one of the younger teams in the NBA, with an average age of 24.3 years old, in looking at its roster.
Defense is also extremely important in the playoffs, and the Celtics are one of the best teams on that end of the floor in the NBA. Their youth and athleticism allows them to fly all over the floor, and they can rotate extremely quickly. Not only that, they have one of the better coaching staffs in the league, and that certainly helps their defensive structure, as well as their ability to adjust on the fly during games. Head coach Brad Stevens has developed a reputation for getting the most out of his roster — in both the NBA and collegiate level.
The Celtics are an underdog to watch out for in the NBA Playoffs for sure.