Celtics CAN win the NBA title

After the trade of starting center Kendrick Perkins at the deadline, it appeared the Celtics were removing themselves from title contention and onto the list to play golf at Concord Country Club. However, that trade will actually be a good thing in the end for the Celtics and hopefully, the opportunity to win another title. True, Shaquille O’Neal is rehabbing nagging injuries and Jermaine O’Neal is a stiff breeze from being hurt again, but the Celtics are in good shape. Nenad Krstic and Troy Murphy will be able to provide the Celtics with flexibility as well as solid rebounding. On top of that, the big piece in the Perkins trade was Jeff Green. Green can give the Celtics size, scoring, and versatility while also giving rest to Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Kevin Garnett is having one of his best seasons as a Celtic and Rondo is the best point guard in the playoffs not named Derrick Rose. Most importantly, the Celtics are getting healthy at the right time of the year. When everyone becomes healthy, there is no team in the league that deep. The Celtics in the last three years have won the title, lost in the semi-finals, and lost in the finals. Teams like the Bulls and Heat have nowhere near the same experience. As long as the Celtics are healthy, no one in the league can stop them, including the Lakers. Look for the Celtics to win banner 18.

Celtics CANNOT win the title

The Celtics have had a fantastic season. At this point however, I don’t think they can pull in banner eighteen. The team has appeared disinterested and lacks the size that is needed to beat Chicago or Orlando. Shaq played about 6 minutes before he re-injured his calf and now, the Celtics will be lucky if Shaq can be productive in the playoffs. Shaq has been a big disappointment, but the Celtics have shown they can be successful without him. The Celtics lack postseason chemistry that was obtained with Kendrick Perkins. The new guys such as Carlos Arroyo and Jeff Green may lack the poise, focus, and intensity that it takes to win big in the postseason.

The biggest reason the Celtics can’t pull a championship in is how stacked and top heavy the NBA is this year. In the East, there are 4 or 5 teams with multiple superstars that will give the Celtics “Big 4” fits in a 7 game series. Even if the Celtics manage to get out of the conference (unlikely), they will have to contend with a Western Conference powerhouse. The Lakers and the Spurs have been stellar this season, and over a 7 game series the Celtics will not be able to compete with the Lakers’ inside presence or the Spurs’ experience. The NBA postseason is a physical slugfest, not a finesse scoring exhibition. Without a big presence to crash the glass, the Celtics will run into trouble. This just is not the year for the Celtics.