The 2021-22 Boston Celtics are truly a team that can be described by the phrase “a tale of two halves.”
The Celtics overcame a terrible first half of the NBA season.
They have become a team to be feared in the 2022 playoffs, but are they true contenders to win the title?
Let us take a look first at how impressive the Celtics’ net rating has been this season:
On January 21st, past mid-season, the Celtics were 12th in the NBA in Net Rating (+1.4).
They came with a hair of leading the league. pic.twitter.com/UnRq98FVnl
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) April 11, 2022
Boston’s point differential ranks second in the league.
Only the defending Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns are better.
It has been a stellar second half for Jayson Tatum.
He snagged three Player of the Week awards, all of which came in March.
So, it was interesting to see Giannis Antetokounmpo get the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for March and April:
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo have been named the Kia NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for games played in March and April. pic.twitter.com/SqjDu2bDIb
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) April 12, 2022
Tatum has still yet to win a Player of the Month award despite the fact that he will be finding his way onto many MVP ballots this year.
Nevertheless, when talking about the Celtics as a whole, can they make noise in the playoffs?
The answer is an absolute yes, but are they true contenders to win the championship?
The answer to this question is yes, as long as Robert Williams III can contribute meaningful minutes.
There have not been many significant updates regarding his left knee injury.
However, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski thinks that his return will come in the second round:
After procedure this morning, there's some optimism of a return on the shorter end of that 4-to-6 week timeline, sources tell ESPN. The conference semifinals are expected to start around April 30-to-May 2.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 30, 2022
Woj says that there is optimism, so the Celtics big man could make an impact very soon.
Now, will the Celtics be able to play well enough in the playoffs to win the championship with Williams?
The Celtics Are True Contenders
In 2022, the Celtics have proven that they are able to play well against the best of the best.
Can they prove it in the playoffs?
Well, Boston enjoys its games at TD Garden, but the team should succeed on the road:
How good were the Celtics on the road this year?
It was not only the 2nd best road scoring margin in franchise history, it was the NBA's 3rd best in the last two decades (of 82-game seasons). pic.twitter.com/8k7MLakJmg
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) April 11, 2022
You read that correctly.
This season’s Celtics have the third-best road scoring differential over the past 20 years.
Both of the top two teams were NBA champions:
- The 2007-08 Celtics won the title in 26 games
- The 2006-07 Spurs won the title in 20 games
San Antonio put on an impressive show, as the team showed that it could succeed on the road.
Boston is hoping for some of the same in the 2022 playoffs.
This Celtics team will have to go against quite a few superstars to win their first championship since 2008.
It took Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen to get Boston the title, the franchise’s only one since 1987.
Injury luck does factor into the Celtics’ lack of championships in the last 35 years.
Boston has seen injuries to the likes of Isaiah Thomas, Kyrie Irving, Marcus Smart, and Gordon Hayward.
Last year, Boston also encountered an injury to Jaylen Brown.
The Celtics then lost in the first round of the playoffs.
This time around, Tatum and Brown are healthy, and 27-year-old Smart is at his peak.
Basketball-Reference ranked this Celtics team with the highest SRS (Simple Rating System) score in addition to having the best chance at winning the NBA Finals.
They are a true contender.
NEXT: Can Jayson Tatum Win The MVP In 2023?