The Boston Celtics were one of the most feared teams in basketball until Robert Williams went down. The All-Defensive team candidate was having a career year for Boston and helped Marcus Smart in anchoring the league’s best defense. Williams remains in good spirits and prime to return second round. Let’s see what matchups could help push a deep Celtics Playoff Run.
Round 1: Get the 2 Seed
This one doesn’t actually rely on matchups. In the first round, the Celtics won’t see Philadelphia or Milwaukee yet, so needing Williams’ lengthy presence isn’t needed yet.
First, if the Celtics Playoff Run starts with the Bulls, Al Horford and Daniel Theis will have a challenge with Nikola Vucevic. Lucky for Horford and Theis, Vucevic can’t guard a fridge. While the defensive matchup will be tough, plenty of pick and roll, post-up, and switch opportunities for the Star Wing combo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Next, a potential matchup with Cleveland Cavaliers and their center duo of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen could also be a challenge for Boston’s own duo. In the two games played this year, the Cavs Center duo both nearly averaged a double-double against Boston. However, there are keys to slowing them down as Mobley had an 0-11 shooting game his next go-around against Boston.
Any other play-in team lacks an inside presence to be worried about and from there, the premiere duo in basketball will take care of things.
Round 2: Miami Heat
Despite losing to Miami in their second game without Williams, no one is winning a game when turning the ball over 18 times. A Celtics Playoff Run must come through against a team that doesn’t possess Giannis Antentokounmpo or Joel Embiid until the conference finals if Robert Williams is not present.
All due respect to Bam Adebayo, but the Celtics’ biggest worries are Miami’s perimeter shooters. With Smart, Brown, and Tatum playing elite defense on the perimeter, Horford and Theis can hold things down against Miami’s bigs.
Round 3: Get Rob Back
A Celtics Playoff Run could finish very beautifully if Rob can come back healthy for the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics at full strength can throw punches with the best of them. The 76ers or the Bucks would be the potential matchups in this scenario.
The Celtics are tied 2-2 with Philadelphia this season and 2-1 against the Bucks. These are some fairly matched teams and can make for a historic playoff matchup to head to the finals. Since Tatum entered the league, Boston is 8-1 against Philadelphia in the playoffs.
This should be the dream scenario for every Celtics fan. Winning two rounds without Williams can be difficult, but never impossible.
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