(Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for HBO)
On Thursday night, the Milwaukee Bucks are hosting the Boston Celtics in what could be a preview of this season’s Eastern Conference Finals.
While the Bucks have a strong 25-12 record, they have been streaky, and their defense has been the main culprit.
Meanwhile, Boston has the best record in the league at 29-8 and are second in both offensive and defensive rating.
During TNT’s pregame show, Charles Barkley said what many feel around the league — that the Celtics are the best team in basketball.
“There’s nobody in the NBA on the level with the Celtics right now. They are the best team. I think they are the best team by far,” Barkley said.
“There’s nobody in the NBA on the level with the Celtics right now. They are the best team. I think they are the best team by far.”
– Charles Barkley
(via @NBAonTNT)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 12, 2024
The Celtics have been an elite team over the last few years and have reached the Eastern Conference Finals five times in the last seven seasons.
But this season, they have a different look thanks to moves they made this past summer that sent out Marcus Smart and Malcolm Brogdon while bringing them Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis.
Many agree they have the best starting five in basketball, and they appear to have a great chance of reaching the NBA Finals for the second time in three years.
If there is a concern for Boston, it is their bench, which ranks last in the league in points per game.
Even though teams traditionally shorten their rotations come playoff time, the lack of a reliable sixth, seventh, and eighth man, especially on offense, could threaten to derail Boston’s championship hopes.
While the Bucks have their own problems right now, they have a much more productive bench, and a best-of-seven between these two teams in May could be very riveting.
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