Tonight, an NBA staff’s double-digit win streak will come to an finish.
The 31-4 Cleveland Cavaliers (10 straight wins) will host the 30-5 Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (15 straight wins) in a battle of convention leaders, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Donovan Mitchell will go head-to-head for the primary time this marketing campaign.
For Celtics followers, the competition serves as a measuring stick. Which of those two juggernauts is able to compete for the title?
Each have already defeated Boston this season. After the Celtics handed the Cavaliers their first lack of the season on November nineteenth, Cleveland responded by besting the Celtics, 115-111, on December 1st. The Thunder and Celtics had their first encounter this previous Sunday, the place Oklahoma Metropolis overcame Boston’s double-digit third quarter lead and emerged victorious, 105-92.
Regardless of these disappointing exhibiting from the Celtics, their standing as defending NBA champions nonetheless has them garnering recognition as this yr’s title favorites. Whereas they might not end with the primary seed, they’ve proven they’ll win on the highest stage. Nonetheless, these two groups are viable threats to Boston’s hope of repeating as champs. If the Celtics confronted both of these groups in a seven-game collection, how do they match up?
Starting with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Celtics would probably nonetheless be thought of the favorites in a possible playoff collection. They defeated the Cavs in final yr’s playoffs, 4-1, with very comparable rosters for each groups. The most important change is within the type of Cleveland’s new coach, Kenny Atkinson, who has the Cavaliers in a a lot better place than this time final yr. Moreover, Jarrett Allen sat out for that complete collection, whereas Donovan Mitchell missed the ultimate two video games. The Celtics have been with out Kristaps Porzingis.
Matchup-wise, this may very well be a grueling collection for Boston. The Celtics at present rank 18th in opposing factors within the paint. Cleveland’s beginning lineup consists of each Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, two gamers who can pose severe threats within the publish. Donovan Mitchell averages 30.2 factors per recreation in opposition to the Celtics, a sizeable leap from his profession charge of 24.2 factors per recreation.
A Thunder-Celtics collection is far more tough to foretell. The face of their franchise, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is a real MVP candidate who’s third within the league in factors per recreation. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has solely confronted the Celtics twice within the final two seasons. In each video games, the Thunder gained at house. Oklahoma Metropolis continues to enhance and is but to play a recreation absolutely wholesome. Chet Holmgren is recovering from a hip damage, and Isaiah Hartenstein missed a bit of video games at first of the season. The Thunder lead the league in defensive ranking and internet ranking. Between their perennial MVP candidate, nice teaching, elite protection, and skill to resist accidents, it’s arduous to select any staff to beat them proper now.
Whereas it could look grim on paper, the Celtics have a definite benefit in a class that goes past the stat sheet. The hole in expertise between Boston and both of those groups is gigantic. Apart from the apparent issue of simply profitable a championship, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have performed collectively in two finals collection and 5 Jap Convention finals. Jrue Vacation has two championships. Al Horford has been within the league for 17 years. Cleveland has two gamers (Max Strus and Tristan Thompson) who’ve been to the finals, whereas Oklahoma Metropolis has one (Alex Caruso).
Moreover, it’s attainable that the Celtics file displays a “championship hangover” impact. It’s arduous to take care of motivation for all 82 video games of an NBA season, which may clarify why the Celtics have dropped greater than they’d at this level final yr.
Regardless, it’s very probably that Boston should run by way of one or each of those groups so as to increase Banner 19 on subsequent season’s opening night time. Tonight offers an ideal alternative to see which one is extra prepared for the duty of defeating the defending champions.
