For the last 2 years, the Boston Celtics haveactually been the class of the Atlantic Division, however it hasn’t come without a push from at least 2 other groups.
In 2021-22, the Philadelphia 76ers fresh off a mid-season trade for James Harden matched Boston’s 51 wins, just losing the department on tiebreakers.
Last season, it was the Brooklyn Nets who looked as though they may lastly be a hazard to Boston. Then, Kyrie Irving’s trade demand led to a series of moves to takeapart that lineup.
However, after an offseason where Boston made trades to acquire Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday — and the Sixers’ president handled to tick off Harden — the Celtics appear to lastly be the runaway favorites in 2023-24 and a major competitor to return to the NBA Finals.
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Two years eliminated from the NBA Finals, the Celtics still have the duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the method, however this is a much various group than the one we’ve been accustomed to.
In the offer to acquire Porzingis, they traded Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies. And for their brand-new point guard, Holiday, they sentout Robert Williams and Malcolm Brogdon to the Portland Trail Blazers.
So, while they might haveactually updated the skill at the leading of their lineup, concerns still stay about how deep this group is. But those will be concerns for the playoffs more than the routine season. The Celtics oughtto be one of the 2 finest groups in the Eastern Conference, and if their depth shows appropriate, they’ll have a genuine shot at making it back to the finals.
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The Nets, Knicks and Sixers all made the playoffs last season, and though I wear’t think any of them push the Celtics at the leading of the conference, I do believe they can all return this season. The situations under which they make it back might modification dramatically, .
76ers
The Sixers and Harden legend still hasn’t come to a conclusion, and it doesn’t appear like it’ll end in any method other than Harden being moved. So Philly might end up looking a lot various extremely quickly, which is why I’m no longer ready to location them in the leading tier of groups in the East. With ruling MVP Joel Embiid leading the method, they’ll still be great sufficient to make the playoffs, however this might be a season complete of turbulence.
Knicks
It’s kind of odd having the Knicks as the group that represents some type of stability and connection in the department, however that’s precisely where they are right now. After endingup 5th in the conference and pressing through to the 2nd round of the playoffs, New York didn’t make any huge modifications to the lineup, however they needto be great adequate to eclipse 45 wins onceagain.
Nets
The Nets go into this season with a various core than the one they went into last season with, so I wear’t believe they cruise to a top-six seed onceagain. Remember, Irving and Kevin Durant offered them a big playoff cushion before they were traded away last year. Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson are actually excellent structure b