Unlike other contenders this year, the Boston Celtics are projected to have an easy path towards the Finals. But for Miami Heat icon Udonis Haslem, though, the lack of challenges along the way can be more of a detriment for the team.
Before the playoffs started, the Celtics dominated the league by putting up a record of 64 wins and 18 losses. The team boasted a top-ranked offense and a 3rd place defense out of 30 teams in the NBA. As a result, Boston earned the Eastern Conference’s top seed and the right to face the Miami Heat in the first round.
Throughout that series, the Heat were playing with a huge handicap against the Jayson Tatum-led team. For one, they didn’t have Jimmy Butler with them and the remaining players in the roster weren’t up to the level of Boston’s stars. As a result, Boston took care of business against their longtime-rivals in five games.
After dispatching the Heat, Boston then faced Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round. Thanks to injuries and the weariness of a seven-game series prior, the Cavs have found themselves in a 3-1 hole against the Celtics.
While the Celtics are in the midst of their series against Cleveland, Haslem gave his take on them and their current playoff run. In a video posted by NBA on ESPN’s official account:
“They haven’t been battle tested. … I don’t know if you want to be battle tested in the finals.” @ThisIsUD on the Celtics. pic.twitter.com/18YncoGDz1
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 14, 2024
Haslem made a fair point as the Celtics haven’t gone through any major difficulties in their postseason run this year. The teams coming out of the West, though, are much tougher and more dangerous than anything Boston has faced so far.
It’s not yet known how the Celtics will fare for the remainder of the playoffs. What’s certain, though, is that Boston needs to play flawlessly in the coming weeks if they want to win a championship.
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