BOSTON — The Celtics played another mediocre game by their standards in Game 1 against the Cavaliers on Tuesday night and it did not matter.
With the Cavs looking like easy competition beyond a hobbling Donovan Mitchell, it’s hard not to notice just how well the stars are aligning for this Celtics squad.
They also lack the creativity with their scheming to throw the Celtics off balance.
That should lead to predictable results throughout this series as evidenced by a Game 1 when Jayson Tatum didn’t even play well and Boston ran away with it.
Denver swept the season series against Boston but they look unlikely to escape the second-round after digging themselves a big hole.
All of this sets the stage for a Celtics squad that has as favorable of a path to the NBA Finals as we’ve seen in years lying ahead of them.
The Wolves or Thunder could be a tough test in a potential NBA Finals matchup but both of those teams are unproven on that stage, which could bode well for Boston.
We’re just taking it one game at a time and that’s all we can control.
Boston — The Cavaliers defeated the Celtics Tuesday night despite the Celtics playing another lackluster game by their standards. At TD Garden, Boston overcame a late deficit to win 120-95, marking their fifth straight postseason victory by double digits in six games.
It’s difficult to ignore how fantastic this Celtics team is playing when the Cavaliers appear to be easy opposition aside from a hobbling Donovan Mitchell. Despite Kristaps Porzingis’s injury, Cleveland lacks the firepower to stay up with this team. Their clever plans to deceive the Celtics are likewise lacking in originality. As demonstrated by a Game 1 in which Boston easily defeated Jayson Tatum despite Tatum’s lackluster performance, that ought to result in predictable outcomes throughout this series.
A glance at the rest of the NBA playoff field should instill little fear in the overwhelming favorites to win the championship, with the Celtics expected to coast into the East Finals barring catastrophe. After Julius Randle and Mitchell Robinson were both ruled out of the postseason, the Knicks, who are leading the Pacers 1-0 in the other East series, will now be without their two best big men for the time being.
Although they are playing well, New York’s depth is already extremely limited due to the mounting injuries, so on paper they shouldn’t present a serious threat to Boston. Tyrese Halliburton, a star player for the up-and-coming Pacers, has appeared to be a shadow of his former self during the second half of the season.
Boston may benefit from the many surprises that the Western Conference is presenting in the interim. The backcourt injuries and poor performances from players like Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic have left the reigning champion Nuggets trailing the Wolves 2-0. Murray’s play is indicating that he is limited by a calf injury. Denver defeated Boston in the season series, but they have dug themselves a deep hole and don’t seem likely to come out of it in the second round.
After Luka Doncic and the Mavericks lost Game 1 to the Thunder on Tuesday night, another MVP contender in the West is also having injury problems. Since sustaining a knee injury in Game 3 against the Clippers, Doncic (19 points on 19 shots) is shooting just 38% from the field. After appearing like hollow shells this postseason, he now joins a long list of celebrities.
Everything puts the Celtics team in position for one of the most advantageous paths to the NBA Finals in recent memory. An NBA Finals matchup between the Wolves and Thunder could provide a difficult test, but Boston may have an advantage because neither club has shown much success there.
Similar to the Nuggets from the previous campaign, the Celtics appear ready to avoid enduring a great deal of wear and tear in the upcoming weeks as they prepare for that matchup. They know they won’t let their guard down after recent playoff disappointments, so they will need to work hard on their way there if Game 1 against the Cavs was any indication.
Jaylen Brown stated, “Anything can happen.”. These are the NBA Playoffs. It’s one game at a time, that’s all we have control over. We also strive to be the team that plays the hardest. We follow our plan and let things unfold naturally. A team will find it difficult to defeat us four times. Still, we’re the team that plays harder as long as we emerge victorious and fulfill our end of the bargain. I anticipate no problems. “.
