Can anyone in the NBA beat the Celtics in four games out of seven?

In Tuesday night’s Eastern Conference semifinal showdown against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Boston Celtics took an early lead, securing a convincing 120–95 victory at the TD Garden.

Jaylen Brown spearheaded the Celtics’ charge, amassing an impressive 32 points on 12-of-18 shooting, alongside six rebounds and two assists.

Post-game, Brown delivered a statement regarding the Celtics’ aspirations for the NBA championship. While his initial words mirrored the typical athlete’s response during a press conference, his ensuing quote took a somewhat bolder turn.

“Anything can happen. It’s the NBA playoffs. We’re just taking it one game at a time,” Brown said from the podium. “That’s all we can control. We try to come out an be the harder playing team. We stick to our agenda and let the chips fall where they may.”

Nothing too flashy there, but the conversation took a sharp turn.

“It’s going to be tough for a team to have to beat us four times,” Brown said. :As long as we come out and we execute on both ends, and we’re the harder playing team, I think we’ll be fine.”

Jaylen Brown’s Proclamation Might Feel Bold, but It Also Feels True

The Celtics are playing on a different level right now.

Underestimating any team in the NBA playoffs is a blunder, as Brown emphasized in the initial part of his response. However, the Celtics’ potential to clinch the title is hard to overstate at this juncture.

Throughout the regular season, Boston emerged as the NBA’s top team in offensive efficiency and ranked third in defensive efficiency. In the playoffs so far, with six games under their belt, the Celtics boast an impressive 5–1 record, triumphing by an average margin of 22.6 points in their victories.

Despite facing some injury setbacks, the current composition of the Celtics seems unstoppable. Even with the absence of big man Kristaps Porzingis due to injury, guard Derrick White has stepped up significantly in scoring, averaging 29.3 points per game.

With Brown, White, perennial MVP candidate Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, and seasoned big man Al Horford, the Celtics boast a roster designed to weather the storms of playoff basketball.

Adding to their advantage, the Celtics benefit from the intense competition among potential contenders. In the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks have faltered, leaving the New York Knicks as the probable challenger in the conference finals. Boston has dominated the Knicks this season, winning four out of five games, three by double-digit margins.

In the Western Conference, several formidable teams are already clashing in the semifinals, promising an arduous path to the finals.

As it stands, oddsmakers heavily favor the Celtics to seize the NBA championship in June, and it’s not difficult to understand why.