Boston Celtics: King of The East?

Boston Celtics: King of The East?

The Boston Celtics have been one of the best teams in the league. Brad Stevens, since becoming the general manager of the team, he has done one hell of a job. Surrounding his franchise player with the right talent around him. He has made the right moves to further this team's success. For example, they traded fan favorite Marcus Smart for Kristaps Porzingis. Or they traded Robert Williams III and Malcolm Brogdon for Jrue Holiday. These trades have made Boston one of the best teams in the league. They are the top team in the Eastern Conference. Everyone else is fighting for second place.

The Celtics are first in offense and first in defense. They are one of the deepest teams in the league. Brad Stevens is all in on trying to win a championship. Boston fell short six games back in 2022 when they lost to the Golden State Warriors. The past two seasons, the Celtics have made a conference final run. Continuing to make improvements to the roster. Stevens made moves for elite two-way players have been paying off for the Celtics. As it makes them elite in every position. It makes the job of their superstar, Jayson Tatum, easier.

Jayson Tatum has been incredible this year. Since entering the league, he has shown everyone that he is a star. Proving himself to be one of the best two-way players in the league. He is great at creating his own shot, and he has one of the best mid-range jumpers in the league. He is good at attacking the basket and is a talented post-up player. Shooting above league average behind the arc on 36 percent shooting. Also, he has become an underrated passer in the league. Along with averaging 5 assists per game, Tatum has been in the conversation for MVP this year. This playoff will be important for the now-25-year-old player. He is expected to make a final appearance.

Playoff Tatum has been one of the best things to happen in the past few years. Jayson has carried the load many times in the post-season. Like when he carried the Celtics after being down 3-2 against the 76ers. Or when he led the Celtics against the Heat in the 2022 Eastern Conference finals. Though he had a bad final appearance against the Warriors, One thing is guaranteed: he is a riser in the postseason. Now, the Celtics have more firepower and offensive options. The duo of the Double Jays is one of the best. The robin of the team, Jaylen Brown, has continued to be one of the best second options in the league.

Jaylen Brown has been one of the best second options in the league. Earning himself three well-deserved All-Star selections. This off-season, Brown got paid. Taking home a deal worth up to $304 million for five years. The Celtics have committed to the 27-year-old player. He is entering his prime and continues to improve his game. Brown is great at driving to the rim, as he leads the team in drives, which open up the floor for shooters. Jaylen's 3s have been weak, as he is shooting 34 percent. Despite Brown being a good robin to Jayson Tatum's Batman, the question remains: can he step up in the playoffs?

In the Eastern Conference series against the Miami Heat, Jaylen Brown looked awful. He had an abysmal performance in game 2, where he scored 16 points on 7-23 shooting. And in game 7, when Tatum got hurt, everyone expected Jaylen to step up, but he did not. In that series, he averaged 19 points per game, which is awful for a second option. This is why, when Celtics fans read that they extended Brown, they all cried their eyes out. It felt like Brown robbed the bank. Now, expectations have risen for Jaylen. He needs to win a championship for the team to live up to the contract. The Celtics have added a good third option along with their two All-Stars.

Kristaps Porzingis has been healthy this season. Something that isn't often said due to his track record. It did not work out well for KP in Dallas, as he did not see eye to eye with Luka Doncic and Rick Carlisle. Then the Wizards traded for him, allowing him to prove himself as a talented big man. This off-season, Brad Stevens made the right move by trading fan favorite Marcus Smart in a three-way trade. Porzingis has been perfect for the Celtics. He is a talented rim protector and shot blocker. KP can guard the pick and roll, which causes problems for offenses. Not only is he great at defense, but he is also a talented offensive player. Kristaps is a good three-point shooter, as he is averaging 37%. A great pick-and-pop and pick-and-roll player. Also, a good post-up player. Porzingis is a unicorn on both ends of the court. Along with Kristaps, another great two-way player is on the Celtics: Derrick White.

Derrick White has had his best season this year, posting up his best stats. Hall of Famer Reggie Miller campaigned for Derrick White to make the All-Star team. He will make the All-Defensive team this year. He has built a reputation of being a good two-way players in the league. White is good at handling the ball, as he can create shots for other players. Along with being a talented off-ball player, Derrick is good at driving to the rim. White is a good three-point shooter, as he is 43 percent from behind the arc. Derrick White does everything right for the team. The Celtics have a talented back court. With Derrick White, the Celtics have another talented guard in Jrue Holiday.

Boston went all in with the trade for former NBA champion Jrue Holiday. Giving away Robert Williams III and sixth man of the year Malcolm Brogdon. Jrue has been one of the greatest defenders in the league for the past decade. He is an amazing on-ball defender. In 2021, we saw him put Devin Booker in jail. Holiday is shooting 37% from behind the arc. But the issue is that he stinks at finishing around the rim. The Celtics having Jrue as a fourth option is scary. It makes Boston look scary. Boston is not only scary, but the depth is terrifying for other teams.

The Celtics surrounded their core four with real talent. Al Horford is the Joel Embiid killer. Despite being 37, he is still an effective big man. Xaiver Tillman, whom they traded for, is a good defensive big. Peyton Pritchard is a good backup guard, and Sam Hauser is a good 3-point shooter who is shooting 42 percent behind the arc. And Luke Kornet, who is an energy player. Brad Stevens has done such a great job building this squad up.

Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla have done a great job in Boston this season. Celtics fans questioned Joe. They did so because of his bad timeouts and adjustments. He has a lot to prove this post-season. But this season, he has shown that he can coach. The Boston Celtics are one of the best baseball organizations in the league. The East is theirs to take. I do not see the Knicks, Bucks, Heat, or Cavs being able to beat them. They are talented in every position. They are a mile ahead of every team in the conference. Boston is the king of the east, and they could prove it in the playoffs.