Who is the Biggest Threat to Boston in the East? (Feb. Edition)

[Who]

Mitchell remains a one way player same as Halliburton so far. Brunson plays both sides even though he's undersized.

I don't know how Brunson is considered a good defender and Donovan Mitchell is not. Brunson has been known as a bad defender throughout his career. Lacking the speed and quickness to stay in front of other guards. He switches reasonably well with his physical strength. Donovan Mitchell does well with guards of similar size and does reasonably well with guards slightly bigger than him (6-4, 6-5) but struggles with bigger wings.

Haliburton cannot defend anyone one-on-one but he is an active off ball defender using his size and length to shrink the court and get deflections. Something neither Mitchell or Brunson do much of given their lack of size. Donovan Mitchell at least has the quickness to play the passing lanes and get some steals (but not as effective at shrinking the court). Brunson does neither well.

[Phantom255x]

More and more convinced after today it's Cleveland, then Miami, then New York.

CLE is better but MIA has sort of had our number and have always played us tough since 2020 with Butler, Bam and company.

[cman88]

More and more convinced after today it's Cleveland, then Miami, then New York.

CLE is better but MIA has sort of had our number and have always played us tough since 2020 with Butler, Bam and company.

id say this. Sixers could get embiid back and be a sneaky low seed. but we always have their number.

and milwaukee I just don't see fixing their defensive issues. they may be a 1st or 2nd round exit if they continue to fall in the standings

[86MaxwellSmart]

More and more convinced after today it's Cleveland, then Miami, then New York.

CLE is better but MIA has sort of had our number and have always played us tough since 2020 with Butler, Bam and company.

id say this. Sixers could get embiid back and be a sneaky low seed. but we always have their number.

and milwaukee I just don't see fixing their defensive issues. they may be a 1st or 2nd round exit if they continue to fall in the standings

I dunno, they just signed Gallo 

[Big333223]

Milwaukee is a mess. Lopez and Middleton aren't what they used to be and their backcourt can be exploited.

Embiid's health takes the Sixers off my concerned list for the time being.

I don't think the Cavs are for real.

The Knicks are really deep with rugged guys who play hard. They have a lot of injuries concerns, too, but if they get healthy for the playoffs they're the team that scares me the most.

[footey]

Call me crazy but will worry about the Heat until we prove otherwise.

[celticinorlando]

Boston is the biggest threat to Boston.

[Surferdad]

Call me crazy but will worry about the Heat until we prove otherwise.

I feel the same way.  I think it's the coaching so I'm most worried about Miami and Indy but not about MIL or NYK (Thibs is a good coach but often doesn't get the attention of his players.)

[celticinorlando]

Not worried about Miami. Boston probably won't even see them in the playoffs and if they do they will not take them for granted.

The last time Miami went to the finals the following year they lost in the first round. Don't see a magical run this year for them.

Heat finish 6 or 7 they have to most likely go through Cleveland and the Bucks before Boston. That is a tough road.

[keevsnick]

The greatest threat to the Celtics in the East? Probably the Celtics.

But besides themselves I'd say: Ankles, Hamstrings, ACL's, MCL's, Achilles, Stress Rxn's, Hairline Fractures, Concussions and the like.

[Roy H.]

The greatest threat to the Celtics in the East? Probably the Celtics.

But besides themselves I'd say: Ankles, Hamstrings, ACL's, MCL's, Achilles, Stress Rxn's, Hairline Fractures, Concussions and the like.

Bone spurs rubbing on a tendon cost us at least two titles.

[Donoghus]

I can see some people didn't bother reading the OP 

[Celtics2021]

When healthy (so every year but 2021), the Js are 5-0 in the first round of the playoffs and 4-1 in the second round.  Accordingly, I’m most worried about our potential conference finals opponent, and that seems more and more like it will be Cleveland.

[Atzar]

With last year in mind, I think any team is a legitimate threat to get hot at the right time and beat somebody they shouldn't.  So we shouldn't feel "safe" against anybody really. 

I'd favor us in a series against anybody in the East, but the biggest threat is whoever is healthy at the right time.  If Embiid comes back undiminished, Philly is probably the biggest problem.  Big 'if' though.  Also I'd hate to face Indy in the first round, so I hope they stay out of the play-in.