Boston Celtics: What are fair expectations heading into the playoffs?

Despite falling short of expectations thus far in the season, what are fair expectations for the Boston Celtics for the playoff push?

For the most part, the majority of NBA pundits will admit that the Boston Celtics, through the first 60 games of the regular season, have struggled to live up to their pre-season expectations. That much is clear.

The Celtics are 37-23, which seems like a good record on the surface and for most teams, but are sitting in the 5th seed of the Eastern Conference and are in real jeopardy of not hosting a first-round NBA playoff series despite many expecting them to bulldoze through the conference.

Entering the season, many expected the Celtics to be the favorites to come out of the East, especially with LeBron James gone, and at the very least be one of the top two seeds in the conference heading into the playoffs.

More from Sir Charles In Charge

That, through the first three quarters of the season, simply hasn’t happened. Up until recently, Gordon Hayward has really struggled to bounce back in the season after his injury. Jaylen Brown has struggled with his shot this year a bit and Kyrie Irving has really been the team’s saving grace.

With all that said, it’s a testament that this team has struggled so much yet is still only 2.5 games back of the third seed in the conference. If anything, that should tell you all you need to know about the potential of the Celtics.

Boston hasn’t been able to push the right buttons as a collective group this season, but still has managed to flash from time to time.

Question is, will they be able to put it all together when the playoffs start, regardless of where they finish in the top 5?

And that leads to the question, what are fair expectations to place on this Celtics team heading into the playoff push and, eventually, into the post-season?

Entering the year, there’s no doubt that this would’ve included an NBA Finals appearance. That was a legit expectations that I’m not sure many around the league would’ve argued with. Now, though, there is serious doubt as to whether or not the Celtics make it toe the Conference Finals.

No matte who Boston faces in the first-round, there’s no question they’ll be favored. And you can also make the case of them being the favorites in a playoff matchup against the Bucks, who have not really been playoff tested with this core, and the Raptors, who have their own history of flopping when it matters most.

Despite their struggle during the regular season, it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see the Celtics as the favorites to come out of the East once the post-season arrives.

But will they once again fall short of expectations – as they have during the regular season – during the playoffs begin? The pressure is on for Boston, and if they fall short of qualifying for the Eastern Conference Finals, there’s no question that this season will be viewed as an utter disappointment.