Boston Celtics: 3 takeaways from 2018-19 season opener

1. Eastern Conference favorites?

It appears that the Celtics are the team to beat in the Eastern Conference entering the season. After Tuesday’s action, that looked to be even more clear. The Sixers hung around for a while, but they were trailing for almost the entire game.

Boston just looked more in-sync and better defensively. Offensively, the Sixers shot a better percentage. That statistical quirk should change when midseason rolls around. With James out of the East, the Celtics became the new favorites.

They were the top team in the East last season until the Raptors made a late season push. Injuries played a role in that, but the Celtics were a game away from making the NBA Finals. That was until they were bounced by James and the Cavaliers.

Now that he’s gone, it will be the first time in eight years that the NBA will see a new face in the Finals from the East other than James. The Raptors have a new look with Kawhi Leonard. They’re a mystery team that will be interesting to watch as the season unfolds. The Celtics will get their first in their next game.

For now, until the NBA see’s more of the other Eastern Conference, the Celtics will be the team to beat. Even after just one game, that looks to be clear.