Ranking the 5 teams most likely to win the 2019 NBA Finals

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images /
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3. Boston Celtics

Consider this: The Boston Celtics took LeBron James to Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals…without Kyrie Irving or Gordon Hayward playing a single minute in the series. This speaks to both the promising future and the biggest potential problem with the talent Danny Ainge has amassed in Beantown.

More than anything else, it’s a great problem to have: The Celtics might have too much talent and depth at each position. Al Horford was the unsung hero on both ends for Boston, but watching Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum rise to the occasion as big-time playoff performers, imposing defenders and competent scorers was a delight.

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That’s without even mentioning Terry Rozier, who looked like a starting-caliber point guard, befriended Drew Bledsoe (much to Eric Bledsoe‘s detriment) and proved Ainge’s love for him was not misplaced. Throw in a healthy Kyrie and Hayward and this team might be the favorite to win the East next year regardless of where LeBron James ends up.

However, there are several pitfalls that could impact this team, aside from the obvious injury concerns for Irving, Hayward and an aging Horford. Marcus Smart is a restricted free agent, and a large offer from another team could put the Celtics in a tricky position of overpaying for a bench player or just letting him walk. He’s intrinsic to their defense, versatility and that beloved blue collar work ethic Bostonians go nuts for, but his shooting woes still limit his upside.

Aron Baynes was another sneaky contributor who may have played his way out of the Celtics’ checkbook. LeBron James’ potential interest in Boston could easily upset the locker room chemistry with Kyrie. Even if he didn’t join the Celtics, and even in a league where multi-positional wing defenders are at a premium, there’d only be so much time to go around for Brown, Tatum, Hayward and Marcus Morris, especially with Kyrie/Rozier at the 1 and Smart possibly re-signing.

This team could be a prime candidate for the “disease of more” before ever winning a title or letting its young players reach their primes. Again, talent is a great problem to have, and for the 2018-19 season, it shouldn’t be an issue, but it’s definitely something to keep an eye on as this team goes about its summer looking to return to the NBA Finals.