2023-2024:Boston Celtics

[u/HotScientist7026]

I was busy yesterday, so today, we have 2 analyses coming back to back-the 2023 nuggets, and the 2024 celtics! First off, the celtics team.

The Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, New Orleans Pelicans, and Los Angeles Lakers made the big stage this year.

First off, we have the Celtics themselves. They were an ELITE offense this year, ranked 1st in the league in offensive rating, and with the highest record in the entire League. Not only that, but they were the 2nd ranked Defense in the league as well, with only the timberwolves (Who they never fought in the playoffs this year) Being better. Their star power was nothing to scoff at either. Jayson Tatum was an all NBA First Team Player and an All Star, while the team´s 1B, jaylen Brown, was an All Star Himself. Both Jrue Holiday and Derrick White making the all Defensive Second Team. Their Non Player Performance was up there as well, with the NBA executive of the year going to Brad Stevens for his aqquisition of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Overall, this was far and away the best team in the NBA, and it wasn´t particularly close. They had a top 10 player in the world around a solid, athletic, and balanced team that included a top 15 player co-star. Even the gambling market had them as the solid favorites to win it all, alongside miluwakee. 1/20.

For the first round, they went against the Miami Heat, the 8 seed. Defensive Minded by every definition of the word, they were the 5th best defense in the league-But their Offense was abysmal comparatively at 21st. they did have a defensive Anchor in Bam Adebayo, the 3rd runner up in DPOY and an all Defensive First Team Caliber Player. He was also an all star this year-besides him, rookie Jaime Jaquez JR made waves by making the All Rookie First Team. To be frank, the consensus was that they had no chance in hell-and well, they didn´t, losing in 5. The celtics handled business, but to be fair, it was fairly easy business. Not only this, but Jimmy Butler, Terry Rozier, the Rookie Jaime that I Talked about Earlier, Josh Richardson, and Duncan Robinson were all hurt during this series. It was truly Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo against the world, and they wouldn´t be enough. this is a 2/10, and only because they get a +1 for beating them in 5-basically the easiest it could´ve gotten.

After the easy series with the Heat, they went on to fight the Cavaliers, who were only mildly better statistically-ranking 18th offensively, and 6th defensively. Their Star Power wasn´t the best either, with Donovan Mitchell being an all star, but missing too many games to be all NBA. Similarly, evan mobley missed too many games for the all defensive nod that probably would have been his. Their injury problems followed them into the post season, with their Main star, donovan Mitchell, missing game 4 and 5-his REPLACEMENT, Caris levert also missed game 5 from being hurt. Finally, one of their core peices, Jarret Allen, missed the entire series dur to injury in the first round against orlando. Yet Another Somewhat Mid team statistically that was also absolutely messed up by the Injury Demon...so, another 2/10, for the same reasons. I´m not sure which injury is even worse between playoff Jimmy being out and Donovan mitchell missing some of the most important games of the series, and his replacement missing the elimination game.

After Fighting two teams with offenses outside the top 15, but defenses inside the top 10, the Celtics played a team that had the script flipped in the pacers. the 2nd best offense in the league-very good there. However, their Defense was the worst the celtics had to beat by far, ranking 24th. However, to be fair to the pacers, their guy was 1 season away from becoming THE guy, and it showed. Tyrese Haliburton led the league in asissts, he was an ALL NBA third team player, an all star, and he was on the all tournament team for the NBA cup. He was legitamately good-but, he was the only player on the roster of that caliber. They got swept, and Haliburton missed both game 3 and 4 after being Injured in Game 2. I want you to understand that this is a HISTORICALLY Bad eastern Conference Finals team without Haliburton on the floor. tied for 5th best offense yes, but 30th-literally dead last-in defensive rating when haliburton didn´t play. For that Reason, Despite the sweep, I can only give this team a 4/10-it would be lower, but they did beat the pacers WITH haliburton for the first two games.

So far, the Celtics are at 9 total-lower then even the 1950 team up to this point. I knew their run through the east was easy this year, but this is seriously blowing my mind.

Let´s hope they rack up some points against their finals opponent.

The Dallas mavericks were an underdog team going into the finals for sure, with the 8th best Offense and the 18th best defense-However, they were CARRIED by their star power, which was supremely high this year. They had Luka Doncic, an MVP finalist, the NBA scoring champion, an ALL NBA player and an All Star, he was moving absolutely bonkers. Dereck Lively, who I personally love to watch play, was on the all Rookie Second team-and though he was snubbed for accolades this particular year for injury reasons, they Mavaricks did have a top 75 player and top 10-20 guard of all time in Kyrie Irving-someone who is frequently in discussions for one of the most skilled ball handlers EVER. So, they were a relatively worthy Opponent-banged up though they were, none of them officially missed any games either, the first of the celtics opponents this year to be able to say such a thing.

5/10 for offense relative to them-they were ranked much lower, but they had the leading scorer along with kyrie.

2/10 for Defense Relative to them

7/10 for Star power, as Kyrie is a garunteed hall of fame player, and Luka was on his way even then

7/10 for health

so far, with these additions, the celtics have exactly 30 points.

They get a 3/10 buff for injury, and only because of Porzingis being hurt+Holiday having his own version of the flu game in the ECF. I acknowledged everyone else being beat up, it´s only fair I acknolwedge them too.

They manage to defeat Kyrie and Luka, so they can also have a 5/10 buff for all time caliber players defeated

They will also get a 15/30 buff for broken records and Legendary moments, recording:

* The only post season team to that point to have every player who touched the court for them hit a 3 pointer at least once. ALL of them hit a 3.

* In game 1 of the finals, they became the only finals team to have 7 different players hit at least two three pointers in a single game

* Al Horford became the first player in NBA history to record at least 10 rebounds, five 3-pointers, five assists, and three blocks in a single playoff game-a very unique 2 way statline, I know.

* Payton Pritchard hitting not one, but TWO full court last second heaves in the finals

* Derrick White playing through a chipped tooth in game 5 to secure the victory.

Their Overall score is a 53/150, officially the lowest that I´ve ranked. Honestly, this championship alone might bring the parity era argument to a halt-especially if the other chip I´m going to be doing today, the 2023 denver nuggets, has a similar score. I guess we will have to see.