Boston Celtics Playoff Preview: The Most Dangerous Team In The East?

X-Factors

An obvious X-factor for the C’s is Isaiah Thomas. Without his consistent offensive outputs, the Celtics would barely be able to run a functional NBA offense. Since his arrival from Phoenix last year, his play has completely transformed the Boston offense. What was previously a hard to watch, slow moving offense now ranks behind just the Kings and Warriors in pace, and is among the league’s top third in offensive efficiency.

Without him, the Celtics would not be the favorable position they find themselves in now.

That being said, a slightly more understated, but equally if not more important player in Boston is 25-year-old forward Jae Crowder. Arriving last December as a seemingly ancillary piece of the deal that sent Rajon Rondo to Dallas, Crowder has become one of the most critical members of the team’s rotation. His full impact on the court cannot be captured by a boxscore, but his stats alone do speak for themselves.

This season, Crowder has reached careers highs in PPG, RPG, and steals, averaging 14.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and nearly two steals a game. Without him, the Celtics flounder.

After suffering a sprained ankle against the Houston Rockets in mid-March, Crowder missed eight games. During that stretch, Boston went 4-4, with all four losses coming against playoffs teams. Three of those losses were by double digits.

The size, athleticism, and lineup versatility that Jae Crowder bring to the Celtics are things that the team’s incredibly deep roster can’t replace. With him in the lineup, the Celtics have the ability to compete with any team in the Eastern Conference.

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