Boston Celtics 5 biggest weaknesses as NBA Playoffs approach

Despite fierce competition, the Boston Celtics have established themselves as the top team in the NBA this season. Their recent 135-100 victory over the OKC Thunder secured home court advantage for the playoffs. With a record of 60-16 and only six games remaining, the team boasts the most impressive offense and displays remarkable consistency.

The team’s starting lineup is also the most dominant in the league, as they currently have the top-ranked offense and the third-ranked defense for this season.

Despite ranking second in the league in scoring with 121.0 ppg and fifth in scoring defense, the Celtics possess a few weaknesses that could hinder their chances of winning their first title since 2008. Let’s examine five potential flaws within this dominant squad.

Challenges Facing the Boston Celtics

No. 5 – Passing and Playmaking

Despite their strong performance, the Celtics often face challenges due to the absence of a reliable point guard. As a team, they rank 22nd in the league in assist rate this season. This could prove detrimental if one of their star players is struggling to score and there is no skilled playmaker to facilitate opportunities for their teammates.

Without a playmaking ball handler, the offense may become stagnant as the defense toughens up in the playoffs.

No. 4 – Monitoring Kristaps Porzingis’ Recovery and Return to the Court

Despite his talent, Porzingis has consistently battled injuries throughout his career, leading to missed seasons. As a result, the Boston Celtics will rely on his availability in order to achieve their maximum potential.

As of now, Porzingis has the highest number of missed games among the main rotation players for the Celtics, totaling 22 games this season.

No. 3 – Jaylen Brown’s Dominant Left Hand

Despite showing significant improvement throughout the current season, Brown’s deficiencies in ball-handling remain a topic of discussion. With the potential for facing multiple opponents in a series, opposing teams may strategize defensively to exploit his weaker left hand and limit his ability to drive to the basket.

Despite the NBA world’s recognition of Brown’s weaknesses in his handling game last season, it remains a potential obstacle for him during this postseason.

2. Lack of Depth

Although having a stronger starting five may not always make a difference, the Boston Celtics face a significant decline in talent when it comes to their second unit. In order to succeed in the playoffs, they will have to heavily rely on players such as Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, and Luke Kornet to play significant minutes due to their limited rotation.

It is possible that those individuals may become defensive targets during a playoff series and could be quickly substituted back to the bench, resulting in the starters having to play extended periods of time.

The Dominance of Jayson Tatum in the Clutch

Despite being recognized as one of the league’s rising stars, Jayson Tatum continues to face criticism for his playoff performances and late-game shot selection.

Despite making the playoffs in all six of his NBA seasons, Tatum has only reached the NBA Finals once with the Celtics and has fallen short in the conference finals three times. In the past two playoff seasons, his average points per game have decreased slightly. In 2022, he averaged 26.9 ppg but then dropped to 25.6 ppg during the playoffs. Similarly, in 2023, he scored 30.1 ppg but his average dropped to 27.2 ppg in the playoffs.

If Tatum fails to perform in crucial moments and the Boston Celtics rely solely on him, it could result in an earlier-than-anticipated elimination for them.