Tonight, an NBA crew’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 12 months’s title favorites. Whereas they could 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 sequence, how do they match up?
Starting with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Celtics would possible nonetheless be thought-about the favorites in a possible playoff sequence. They defeated the Cavs in final 12 months’s playoffs, 4-1, with very comparable rosters for each groups. The largest 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 12 months. Moreover, Jarrett Allen sat out for that complete sequence, 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 sequence for Boston. The Celtics at the moment rank 18th in opposing factors within the paint. Cleveland’s beginning lineup contains each Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, two gamers who can pose severe threats within the put up. Donovan Mitchell averages 30.2 factors per recreation in opposition to the Celtics, a sizeable leap from his profession fee of 24.2 factors per recreation.
A Thunder-Celtics sequence is way more troublesome 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 totally wholesome. Chet Holmgren is recovering from a hip harm, and Isaiah Hartenstein missed a bit of video games initially of the season. The Thunder lead the league in defensive score and internet score. Between their perennial MVP candidate, nice teaching, elite protection, and skill to face up to accidents, it’s arduous to choose any crew to beat them proper now.
Whereas it might 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. In addition to the plain issue of simply profitable a championship, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have performed collectively in two finals sequence 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 doable that the Celtics report displays a “championship hangover” impact. It’s arduous to keep up motivation for all 82 video games of an NBA season, which might clarify why the Celtics have dropped greater than they’d at this level final 12 months.
Regardless, it’s very possible that Boston must run by way of one or each of those groups with a view to elevate Banner 19 on subsequent season’s opening night time. Tonight gives an incredible alternative to see which one is extra prepared for the duty of defeating the defending champions.
