Boston Celtics: Easy Postseason or Pure Talent?
The Boston Celtics' journey through the 2024 NBA playoffs has sparked considerable debate regarding the difficulty of their path to the NBA Finals. The Celtics finished the regular season with a league-best 64-18 record, securing the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference While some fans would argue that the Celtics have had an unusually easy route, there are others that would contend that their success is a testament to their skill and preparation. This article examines all perspectives, drawing on various sources and expert opinions.
First Round: Miami Heat
In the first round, the Celtics faced the Miami Heat, who clinched the No. 8 seed through the play-in tournament. The Heat were significantly weakened by the absence of their star player, Jimmy Butler, who missed the entire series due to injury. The Celtics capitalized on this advantage, winning the series 4-1.
Second Round: Cleveland Cavaliers
The semi-finals saw the Celtics match up against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers were plagued by injuries all season and it continued to unfold during the playoffs. With key players like Jarrett Allen (Ribs), Donovan Mitchell (Calf), and Caris LeVert (Left Knee) missing various games throughout the series. The Celtics won the series 4-1 with the Cavaliers staying relatively close in most of the games until the very end thus adding to the fire of the many claims of an easy path.
Eastern Conference Finals: Indiana Pacers
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers 4-0. While this series was one of the closest sweeps in NBA History2. It is important to note that the Pacers were without their star point guard, Tyrese Halliburton, for the last two games due to injury. You could say the Pacers blew a lot of their momentum with costly turnovers in each game. You could also say the discipline of the Celtics down the stretch secured those wins. This series win secured the Celtics' second NBA Finals appearance in three years.
Historical Context
Just to put it in perspective, the average regular season win total of the Celtics' playoff opponents was 47. This same debate was centered around The Denver Nuggets in 2023 with the average regular season win totals of their opponents being 43.31. This has led some to label their path as one of the easiest in recent memory. When compared to other teams in NBA history, 47 is at the top of the list, when you compare it to an all-time team like the 87’ Los Angeles Lakers who faced opponents with an average of 39.3 wins, significantly lower than the Celtics' opponents' average1.
Conclusion
While the Boston Celtics have undoubtedly benefited from facing injury-depleted teams, their path to the NBA Finals is a result of both favorable circumstances and their own excellence. The debate over the difficulty of their playoff journey highlights the complexities of evaluating a team's success. Ultimately, the Celtics' performance in the Finals will further shape the narrative of their 2024 playoff run.
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