Can the Boston Celtics Win A Championship?

By Steve Atkinson 

The Boston Celtics have the best record in the league but can they win when it matters the most. Like the Bruins they have great regular seasons but seem to choke in the playoffs. Are Tatum and Brown not able to deliver when it’s a Game 7 in the playoffs? That’s been the case the last few years. With the loss of Marcus Smart and the additions like Porzingis and Holiday they should be able to get over that hump.

The Boston Celtics Crush the bad teams and Struggle with the Good ones

The Celtics had a tough game against the Lakers without LeBron and Anthony Davis. But had no problem beating the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday who were without 11 starters including Marcus Smart. Smart got a standing ovation from the crowd and a video tribute played. Marcus Smart spoke to the media before Memphis played the Celtics on Sunday

“Boston is definitely a second home for me,” Smart told reporters in the media room inside TD Garden. “I spent a little bit over half of my life here, almost. I got here when I was 20. Now, I’m about to be turning 30 in March. So, whew, I can go on all day about everything that I’ve experienced here. Just the way that Boston took me in. We all know playing in this city isn’t the easiest, an there are plenty of times where they let us know about it, especially me. But everything is always great here, and I speak for everybody, opposing teams and guys who have played here, that it’s nothing like playing in this place and playing in this city and with these fans,” he said.

The Celtics are a better team without Smart. Don’t people remember last year when Smart was acting like the head coach and said that Joe Mazzulla has gotten rightfully criticized? What player who isn’t the star player publicly says that? Tatum or Brown have never said that publicly about Mazzulla however, Smart had no problem.

The Celtics still feel like home for Marcus Smart

Joe Mazzulla won’t publicly say the Celtics are better without Smart but he knows they are.

You don’t replace him. It just looks different,” Mazzulla said. “[Jayson] Tatum dove on the floor for a loose ball. Derrick [White]’s making winning plays and the back tips in transition. Jrue [Holiday]’s [got] constant intensity and focusing on everyone’s strengths and what they’re able to do. Jaylen’s individual defense, that’s just as tough as what another player does. It just looks different. So, I think you just have to highlight each person’s definition of toughness and how that pertains to helping our team win as well.”

The biggest win for the Celtics could be Doc Rivers now the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. Rivers, who last won a championship in 2008 with Boston has been one and done in the playoffs since then. Between the Clippers and 76ers doesn’t matter how good the team they lose with Rivers as a head coach.

NBA Trade Deadline This Week

The NBA trade deadline is Thursday and it’ll be interesting to see what the Celtics do. Does Brad Stevens think they have what it takes to win or does he look to add one more piece to bring a championship back to Boston?