Before the start of the NBA season, a lot of people were wondering if the Milwaukee Bucks or the Boston Celtics would be the best team in the Eastern Conference this season. Boston extended their lead in the Eastern Conference Standings after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers 126-115 on Christmas Day.
The Celtics are now 23-6 on the year and lead the Bucks by 1.5 games in the standings. Milwaukee has a 22-8 record this season. The Milwaukee Bucks are the two seed in the Eastern Conference and the Boston Celtics are the one seed in the Eastern Conference.
In the game on Monday night against the Lakers, the Boston Celtics had six players in double figures. Kristaps Porzingis led the way with 28 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one steal.
Jayson Tatum scored 25 points and Jaylen Brown scored 19 points as well for Boston. Those three players are the three best players on the Celtics roster. Jrue Holiday and Derrick White are also in the Celtics starting lineup.
ESPN Analyst Kendrick Perkins Tweeted on Monday night that he thinks it will be hard for anyone to beat the Celtics this season en route to another NBA Championship, including the Milwaukee Bucks:
“Yep! The Celtics are the best team in the NBA. If they stay healthy I don’t see a single team in the NBA beating them in a 7 game series. Carry the hell on…”
He could be right about that, but he could also be wrong about that. The Bucks have the best shot to beat the Celtics in the Eastern Conference, but the Denver Nuggets also have a great chance and they are the reigning defending NBA Champions after all.
The Boston Celtics Have a Much Better Defense Than the Milwaukee Bucks Do
Both offenses have been very good this season and there would be talent on both sides of the floor. The issue with the Bucks beating the Celtics is that Boston has the third-best defense in the NBA this season. They are only giving up 109.9 points per game so far this season.
As for Milwaukee, they have the 23rd-ranked defense in the NBA and are giving up 119.1 points per game. Damian Lillard is not as good of a defender as Jrue Holiday is. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the Bucks’s best defensive player.
However, the Celtics have wings that can guard the perimeter and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are also very good defenders. Boston is deeper than Milwaukee is, but that doesn’t mean the Bucks can’t beat them in a seven-game series also.
