30 in 30: Can a reloaded Boston Celtics team return to the top of the East?

Was last season an aberration for the Boston Celtics?

This is a big question that many will likely have regarding the Celtics. Are they talented? Absolutely. Are Tatum and Brown one of the best duos in the league? Yes. But there is a theory that their run to the NBA Finals last season was more luck than skill.

Let’s look at their run in last year’s postseason.

In the first round, the Celtics disposed of a dysfunctional Brooklyn Nets team that was without Ben Simmons. That was a bad situation and that came to light during the offseason when Kevin Durant requested a trade almost as soon as the transaction window opened. The Nets somewhat salvaged what was shaping up to be a terrible situation but they (clearly) weren’t focused at all in the postseason.

Then in the second round, the Celtics outlasted an injured Milwaukee Bucks team that was without Khris Middleton for the entirety of the series. And still, the Celtics had to overcome a 3-2 series deficit to pull out the win.

Then, in the conference finals, the Celtics beat a Miami Heat team that, at that point, was limping toward the finish line. Tyler Herro was out for most of that series, Jimmy Butler didn’t look like himself for two games, and Kyle Lowry was a shell of himself due to injury when he did play.

All that said, it’s not like the Celtics were 100 percent either. I suppose you have to consider that too. Nevertheless, the Celtics are going to have to prove their worth as a championship contender again.