Boston Celtics: There is very much at stake for the C’s in the playoffs

Entering the playoffs, the Boston Celtics are playing for much more than this season

The Boston Celtics entered this season as one of the overwhelming favorites to potentially upset the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. At the very least, they were expected to make it out of the Eastern Conference with little-to-no resistance.

However, as we sit roughly two weeks from the start of the NBA Playoffs. the Celtics are not even being mentioned as much of a threat at all. And if so, there are so many “ifs” involved in the Celtics making a deep run in the playoffs.

Instead, the Bucks, Raptors and 76ers are the three Eastern Conference teams that many view as the favorites, over the Celtics, to meet the Warriors in this year’s NBA Finals.

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Though, entering as the likely 4th seed in the post-season, there is so much more that the Celtics are playing for than just this season. Surely, Brad Stevens and Celtics’ brass don’t want to look back at this year as a waste or a failure, but with so many uncertainties this summer the Celtics are playing for much more than just a return to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The whispers are only growing when it comes to Kyrie Irving‘s impending free agency, and there’s big decisions to be made all the way around this roster – including whether this team will seriously considering going all-in on a pursuit for Anthony Davis at the NBA Draft.

While most teams are just playing for this season, it’s almost as if a few of the Celtics players are playing for their futures. What happens if Boston gets knocked out early in the playoffs, and if Kyrie decides to pursuit Madison Square Garden? Would the Celtics immediately unload their veterans and embrace the youth movement?

That could all be dictated by what happens over the course of the next few weeks and months. But to say that the Celtics are entering the playoffs with no pressure, because of the amount of young assets and talent that hits team possesses on its roster, would be absolutely false.

The Boston Celtics are playing for so much heading into the playoffs, and only a small fraction of it revolves around considering this season an overall success.