5 Bold Predictions for Boston Celtics' Stretch Run

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2620171-5-bold-predictions-for-boston-celtics-stretch-run



5 Bold Predictions for Boston Celtics' Stretch Run


By Vytis Lasaitis , Featured Columnist

Feb 29, 2016






5 Bold Predictions for Boston Celtics' Stretch RunMark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports



The Boston Celtics have successfully emerged as that pest of an opponent that no team enjoys meeting, relieving the Memphis Grizzlies of the unofficial title.

Boston gets in your jersey, slaps you on your wrist and employs a rigorous level of physicality. Sprinkle in a reinvigorated offense, and the Celtics are a nightmare to play against on any given night.

Sitting at 35-25, the Celtics are on the rise. The team experienced form dips and consistency issues on its way to the third seed in the Eastern Conference, but a lot of the question marks have been ironed out thanks to head coach Brad Stevens' steady leadership.

With the stretch run remaining, there are still plenty of unknowns in the East. The Celtics may be among the top dogs, but they are just four games clear of the eighth seed. Schedule, ailments and tough breaks can still inject a ton of variance into the equation and mess up Boston's promising run up until this point.

Maintaining focus will be key, but the Celtics are certainly capable of an impressive final sprint. Assuming the best-case scenario, there are several milestones this gritty group could achieve.


1.  Celtics Will Emerge as Biggest Threat to Cleveland




Celtics Will Emerge as Biggest Threat to ClevelandTony Dejak/Associated Press
At the beginning of the season, the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors and Atlanta Hawks were conceivable threats to the Cleveland Cavaliers for supremacy in the East. Boston wasn't even in the conversation, but it certainly is now.

Most of the aforementioned teams have significant flaws. The Raptors are the closest to the definition of a two-way powerhouse, but they still have some internal postseason demons to exorcise, and the Celtics are right on their heels anyway.

Boston is 1-1 against the Cavs this season, with one more meeting remaining before the postseason tips off. It took an Avery Bradley corner three-pointer at the buzzer for the Celtics to grab the 104-103 victory on Feb. 5, but it sent a strong message to the reigning conference champions nonetheless.

The Celtics can't match Cleveland from a talent standpoint, but no team in the East can. Boston does, however, have some tools to threaten with. Jae Crowder matches up well with LeBron James, Stevens' speedy offense can punish the Cavs' slow feet, and there is sufficient versatility across the bench to engage in an elaborate positional chess match.

It may be difficult envisioning Boston beating Cleveland four times in seven games, but the Cavs will be overwhelming favorites regardless of the matchup in the Eastern Conference playoff bracket. Still, Boston should be regarded as a major threat.



2.  Boston's Offense Will Be Elite




Boston's Offense Will Be EliteMaddie Meyer/Getty Images


It's incredible how much progress Boston has made offensively. At the beginning of the year, the Celtics threw up a high volume of bricks and couldn't establish any consistency. That's all in the past now, and it's a joy to watch.

The Celtics have quietly climbed in the offensive efficiency rankings, currently holding the 11th spot, per ESPN.com's Hollinger stats. Boston has hovered below average in the category for most of the season but has made up a ton of ground lately.

Over the last 15 games, the Celtics are putting up 108 points per 100 possessions, according to NBA.com. Only the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder have sustained a higher figure throughout the season. It's not as much of a hot streak as a sign Boston has figured things out.

Stevens' uptempo, pass-friendly system has created solid looks all year long, but the key cogs finally look comfortable operating within it. Crowder has made enormous strides, Bradley is a more reliable threat, and Kelly Olynyk is like a fish in a pond, feasting on open threes as he pleases. With Isaiah Thomas filling the role of a master puppeteer at point guard, the Celtics collectively make up for their lack of talent.

If Boston maintains this pace, it would end up with an offensive rating of approximately 104.7 at the end of the season. That's good enough for the eighth-best ranking and is in the elite territory.


3.  Crowder Will Make Serious Run for Most Improved Player




Crowder Will Make Serious Run for Most Improved PlayerMelissa Majchrzak/Getty Images


Crowder has been incredible for the Celtics this season, and his growth has been perhaps the biggest contributing factor to the team's success.

The Most Improved Player award rarely goes to the truly most deserving individual. It's usually handed out to someone who was already good but simply is provided with significantly more playing time to showcase his talent. Crowder has certainly been given an expanded role, but he has also made strides in just about every area of his game.

The small forward has developed a decent jumper, has become an even smarter cutter and is now more decisive in his decision-making. His defense remains solid, and the positional versatility he offers opens up unique possibilities for Stevens. He can't carry an offense or manufacture looks for his teammates, but he thrives in just about every other area of the game.

Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum has probably already locked up the award this year, as his raw production has naturally skyrocketed following a promotion from the bench and into the starting lineup. But a logical case can be made for Crowder as well.

ESPN.com's Zach Lowe suggested on his podcast that Crowder might be the Celtics' best player even amid Thomas' spectacular All-Star year, and he could be right. If an individual goes from being an intriguing piece to arguably the most important player on a top-three seed in one year, it's impossible to exclude him from the conversation.

Crowder should give McCollum a run for his money, and even a second-place finish among voters would be a great testament to his improvement.



4.  Isaiah Thomas Will Make All-NBA Team




Isaiah Thomas Will Make All-NBA TeamMaddie Meyer/Getty Images


It's rare for NBA general managers to come out with their tail between the legs in front of the media the way Phoenix Suns GM Ryan McDonough did on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, where he admitted that his team made a critical error when trading Thomas to Boston. The 5'9" point guard has emerged as an elite player, and the Suns didn't quite cash in on that value.

Thomas made his All-Star debut this season, and he is the catalyst for everything within Boston's surging offense. All the ball movement, cutting and passing would be meaningless without Thomas creating the initial penetration with his pick-and-roll wizardry.

But the road doesn't stop here for Thomas, who shared that an All-NBA nomination remains a lucrative accolade he'd like capture this season, per Jay King of MassLive.com:

Ever since I got the All-Star bid, I kinda was thinking, 'What else can I get in this season, other than making the playoffs or trying to go as far as possible?' And that's when it came about. That's another goal of mine that I'm going to try to push towards and see where it takes me.

Thomas will inevitably face tough competition—there are only six guard spots up for grabs and plenty of worthy candidates. Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Stephen Curry and Kyle Lowry are practically locks for the first four, and it doesn't get much easier from there. The likes of Damian Lillard, John Wall, Jimmy Butler, James Harden and DeMar DeRozan will likely duke it out for the remaining two spots.

Despite the fierce competition, Thomas will still have a compelling case, especially if Boston finishes the season on a high note.


5.  Boston Will Win 50 Games




Boston Will Win 50 GamesJason Miller/Getty Images


Considering the circumstances, this may seem borderline crazy. The Celtics are currently 35-25 with 22 games remaining, and they'd need to go 15-7 over the course of the stretch run to make this prediction come true.

Even though 12 of those 22 contests will be played at TD Garden, where the Celtics are currently enjoying a comfortable 10-game win streak, the upcoming opposition will be anything but kind.

Boston's 22 upcoming opponents will have an average win rate of 0.516, a figure that would have the Celtics at the top of ESPN.com's strength of schedule rankings over a whole season. After enjoying the statistically second-easiest sleigh of opponents across its first 60 games, Boston is entering its toughest period of the year.

Even with that in mind, the Celtics have what it takes to plow through the final stretch. With a stabilized offense, Boston has solved a lot of its consistency issues that were so prevalent over the course of the season. Head-scratching losses against inferior opponents have become rare, and that will be a key habit to maintain.

Grabbing 50 wins isn't necessarily the Celtics' priority, but maintaining home-court advantage in the playoffs is. This team isn't going to coast, and the persistent urgency will add to its win total.


bob


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Here is my take!

The biggest threat in the East to Cleveland is Toronto.  This is dependent on Carroll coming back.  He is the Raptors Crowder.

Boston offense will not be Elite until they become a better 3 point shooting club.  The needle for that is unlikely to chnage much this season as Boston still lacks better 3 point shooters.

Crowder has already made a case for being the most mproved player

IT will make the All- NBA 3rd team

The Celtics will win 50 games this year in keeping with the overall predicition from the board.

dboss