We had left them triumphant with the ring on his fingerafter a practically perfect season culminating with a clear 4 to 1 in the final against the surprise Dallas; now we find them in second place in the Eastern Conference table behind Cleveland. We’re talking about Boston Celticswho this year will try in every way to repeat last year’s success. And to do so they will have to deal with more than one opponent, the most accredited of which is the Oklahoma City Thunder.
OK Thunder: the team of the future with ambitions in the present
Considered by all to be the team that could open a wonderful cycle in the future thanks to the quality of its young roster, the Thunder are already making waves in the present. This is because in addition to the star Gilgeous-Alexander they can field Isaiah Hartenstein, Alex Caruso and Alex Ducas, three important goals scored in the summer. Not only that, the Thunder, coached by a very prepared young coach, Mark Daigneault, and supported by one of the best executives in the entire NBA, Sam Presti, are coming off an absolutely positive season, culminating in first place in the West and the second round of the play-offs, in which they played on equal terms against the more experienced Dallas Mavericks. If Boston wants to triumph again, it will have to take all this into account, and not forget the “lesser opponents” for the title, who can still surprise: the Knicks and 76ers.
Statistics say that…
According to NBA betting odds of the month of November, the Boston Celtics remain the heavy favorites to win the ring. This is on paper, because in overseas basketball repeating yourself is never easy. The Denver Nuggets know this well, as they were unable to repeat the resounding success of the 2022-2023 season. In the 2000s, few franchises succeeded: the Los Angeles Lakers, the Miami Heat and the Golden State Warriors. Why so much difficulty? Because every year all the participants have the opportunity to strengthen themselves also thanks to the NBA Draft, an event that allows the weakest franchises to choose the strongest players first. But Boston can still smile, thanks to Jayson Tatum once again in excellent condition.
The star Tatum and more
There’s no point in beating around the bush: the fortunes of the green-and-whites necessarily pass through Tatum’s hands. Which for now are hot, very hot, as demonstrated by the 31 points scored against the Bucks. Despite aGiannis Antetokounmpo in great formMilwaukee failed to win a game that would have restored their morale, given that they are currently in second-to-last place in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics, although they are Tatum-dependent, can field the same quintet (and more) that performed excellently last year. This is because everyone has renewed their contracts: from Derrick White and Sam Hauser, no one is missing. It’s a shame that economically the Boston Celtics are the most expensive team ever. This aspect could perhaps have an impact at a management level, if managers are called upon to carry out certain obligatory operations; certainly not at a collective level, being a block, the green and white one, which has proven to always be on the ball. Even now that he is chasing the surprising Cleveland.
