BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - FEBRUARY 29: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets dribbles past Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics during the first half of the game at TD Garden on February 29, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics lost out on James Harden, road through East is a challenge
Wednesday’s stunning news the blockbuster trade that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets eliminated any hopes of him joining the Boston Celtics.
Wednesday’s stunning news the blockbuster trade that sent James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets eliminated any hopes of joining the Boston Celtics. That move alone catapults Brooklyn from the favorite conversation to a place known as the prohibitive favorite. Why would it not do that?
Kevin Durant, the newly returned Kyrie Irving, and now James Harden? That’s a dream team, and the Celtics are back to square one, right? How can Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, or even Kemba Walker, contend with that?
Also to be taken into consideration is the Milwaukee Bucks. Led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, known simply as the “Greek Freak,” Milwaukee and Brooklyn are at the top of a majority of major betting or projection services. Boston? They are missing.
How can Boston overcome all of that if they can’t even beat Brooklyn when Harden was not around? Furthermore, given how competitive the East actually is and that the Celtics have not been able to get through for the last few years, how is Boston to navigate through this time?
The answer is quite simple. The pressure has decreased. At first thought, many would scratch their heads and ask why? There’s always pressure in Boston. None more apparent than what took place in the NBA Finals last year when the Lakers tied the Celtics for the most titles in NBA History with 17. In fact, it’s simply the opposite.
The Boston Celtics have pressure to win, but not so much as before the trade.
Contrary to popular belief, the pressure squarely is centered on Brooklyn and Milwaukee, both of whom are betting favorites to win. They both have the names on their roster that will attract viewers and ratings. That does make them a favorite to win, right?
Not so fast. The deal for Harden is indeed a seismic move and one that rocked the conference. The Greek Freak’s mere presence means that the Bucks have a chance. But the move for Harden did not win the Nets a championship just yet, and Antetokounmpo has struggled in the postseason so far in his career.
Furthermore, it’s not all about the names on a team. It’s the cohesion and chemistry that counts. Brooklyn had to give up some key reserve players, including Caris Levert, in order to acquire Harden. Additionally, in Milwaukee, the postseason hasn’t been kind in the last few years, including last year when the Bucks were the top overall seed and fell to the 5-seed and eventual Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat in round 2.
As for Boston, they should know that names don’t always mean success. Back in 2017, when Boston added Irving and Gordon Hayward, a star for head coach Brad Stevens at Butler, the expectations went through the roof. There were thoughts of winning it all and making a statement. In the end, there was no championship and no finals appearance to show for. Instead, it was constant bickering.
Additionally, outside of Tatum, Brown, and Walker, there is no name on the roster that is constantly going to be spoken about on sports shows or via social media unless they have a breakout performance. The fans in Beantown want to win, and they have their own expectations, as does the team. But what should be realized is just how relaxed the team can play now. A luxury that Brooklyn and Milwaukee cannot afford at this point.
