Are the Celtics or Bruins finest geared up to win a title this season?
“Cake or ice cream?”
You need each. Even if it rots your enamel and balloons your waistline. But you solely get one immediately.
Bruins GM Don Sweeney is making this a straightforward selection. The Bruins locked down David Pastrnak with an 8-year, $90 million extension Thursday. It’s one of the best deal Sweeney has ever made. That overshadowed the acquisition of Tyler Bertuzzi earlier. And Sweeney’s win-win cope with Washington final month.
We are conscious of the 15,000-word disclaimer essential to preface this dialogue.
How far again in time does one want to return to exhibit first-hand information of playoff calamity following success within the common season?
Is 52 years sufficient? We warned you concerning the 1970-71 Boston Bruins in January. They stacked 121 factors and nonetheless obtained Cup-blocked by the Montreal Canadiens and rookie goalie Ken Dryden within the first spherical. The Bruins gained the President’s Trophy in 2012 however obtained stonewalled by Washington netminder Braden Holtby in Round 1. Holtby had performed in simply 21 profession regular-season video games.
The 1966-67 Celtics boasted a beginning 5 of future Hall of Famers. They gained 60 video games. They obtained bounced in 5 video games by Philly within the Eastern Conference finals. Wilt Chamberlain outrebounded Bill Russell in 4 of these video games, together with a 41-board, 48-minute efficiency in Game 3.
Wilt’s third-greatest efficiency on or off the court docket.
Saying the Bruins and/or Celtics may win a championship has now change into the type of contrarian, anti-establishment, hot-take that electrifies afternoon drive-time airwaves and social media 24/7.
Green Teamers and Black and Gold Hats face criticism, scorn, and vitriol normally reserved for indoor people who smoke.
I used to be baptized in each the Greek Orthodox Church and unrepentant Calvinistic cynicism.
This unholy view of divine windfall usurped the enjoyment of Tom Brady’s six titles in New England, for some. The identical doomsters telling us Patrick Mahomes is the “next Tom Brady” as a result of Mahomes has gained two Super Bowls blasted Brady for 9 years as a result of he solely gained three.
The battle between pessimism and optimism stays as a lot part of the Bay State as Red Line delays, malfeasance on Beacon Hill, or preventing over space-savers.
Everyone acknowledges regular-season success ensures nothing come April, May, or June. But it’s OK to suppose it will probably.
Oddsmakers favor each groups to win all of it. The Celtics are +270 at WynnBET/Encore and +300 at BetMGM/MGM Springfield. The Bruins are an NHL-best +475 at DraftKings to Bring Home The Cup.
The Bruins personal one of the best report within the NHL.
The Celtics slipped out of the highest spot within the NBA and Eastern Conference this week. Home court docket within the East is a vital ingredient within the recipe for Banner 18. Boston and nuclear-hot Milwaukee are separated by one recreation within the loss column.
The Jays are having fun with stellar seasons. Marcus Smart’s evolution is actual. Boston can generate offense off the bench within the type of Sixth Player of the Year favourite Malcolm Brogdon.
A totally wholesome Celtics crew with house court docket has no excuse for failing to acquire Banner 18.
But Derrick White is the lone Celtic to play in all of Boston’s 63 video games. The sturdiness of Robert Williams and Al Horford, above everybody else whose identify doesn’t start with “Jay,” will decide how deep into the spring the Celtics journey. Neither comes with a assure. Between the 2, they’ve performed in 60.3% of a attainable 126 video games.
Intangibles are a doubtlessly deadly concern. Jayson Tatum was ejected for the primary time in his profession Monday and wore it as a badge of honor. Perhaps. Tatum is just not Larry Bird, LeBron James, or Michael Jordan in relation to jaw-boning refs. He has but to earn the credibility that comes with a title. He’s additionally taking part in a ton of minutes. In February and March.
The Celtics temperament and incapability to take care of management – see 100 turnovers within the Finals – denied Boston a championship in 2022. Steph, Draymond, Klay, and the sinister-yet-brilliant Steve Kerr performed their half.
Joe Mazzulla has but to be playoff-tested as a head coach, however he was there final June. He presumably is aware of what must be performed to not get outsmarted and outplayed when it counts probably the most.
The Celtics can’t rewrite that narrative till they prevail within the Finals. If they’ll get that far.
The Bruins have gone full Super Bowl 56 Champion LA Rams of their Cup Quest this season. They personal these intangibles that elevate concern with the Celtics. Four gamers have gained a Cup because of the addition of Dmitry Orlov. The B’s cope with Washington crammed a pair of vital wants: dimension up entrance and depth on protection. Bertuzzi gained’t damage, both.
Jake DeBrusk has skated from the outhouse to the penthouse on a damaged leg. His productive presence on Boston’s first line supplies an antidote to opposing groups that when loaded up their defensive bigs towards the OG “Perfection Line.”
The Eastern Conference playoffs might be a Squid Game on ice. New Jersey, the New York Rangers (Patrick Kane), Tampa Bay, and Toronto have additionally gone all-in forward of the commerce deadline. But the stink of 2019 continues to be recent inside TD Garden, particularly these three losses at house within the Cup finals.
Boston is all however assured house ice by means of the Finals. The Bruins have sufficient of a cushion to verify their high expertise is tanned, rested and able to be taking part in on Mother’s Day, by no means thoughts Father’s Day.
Boston’s largest query mark – or maybe its ace – is Linus Ullmark. His objective towards Vancouver Saturday (a primary for a goalie within the crew’s 99-year historical past) and his 54-save efficiency Tuesday at Calgary are the stuff of championship DVDs.
Beware the new goaltender.
The Bruins may be on the proper finish of 1 this time.
Pass the ice cream.
Bill Speros (@RealOBF) may be reached at [email protected].
Source: www.bostonherald.com