As a former sports writer, I understand the game. In order to find something to write about, it needs to seem important. So what if the NBA regular season is not a direct corollary to post-season success? When the Celtics dropped four straight (including getting killed by LeBron & Co.), the skeptics appeared, saying the Celtics need to sign so-and-so, or Doc Rivers needs to wake up, or whatever.
Now, the Celtics have righted the ship. But was the ship ever really in disarray? No. The Celtics were unlikely to win 70 games. They're just not that deep, and the Eastern Division possibly has the league's best three teams (and then has a steep drop off). The current Celtics are not the '86 Celtics (who also played in a top-heavy conference), or the '96 Bulls. They are not super deep (though some bench players are really starting to improve), and Doc Rivers is not, in my humble opinion, a great coach, only a good one.
So Celtic fans, relax. Are we bound for another title? Well, winning the East is not going to be easy. Cleveland will be very scary. Orlando is solid. Detroit could be dangerous. And does anyone want to face Dwayne Wade and the Heat?
My prediction today: Celtics face San Antonio in the finals, Boston in 6.
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