Will anyone be able to stop the defending champions? This year, the Boston Celtics made history by winning their 18th NBA Championship. The Celtics have all the tools to build a dynasty with this roster. Overpowering them in the Playoffs will prove to be an extremely difficult task for anyone in the East. However, media veteran Kenny Smith believes that there is one element that other teams can leverage to improve their chances against the Celtics.

Boston’s rivals have already made power moves to beat them. One of the latest deals includes 9x All-Star Paul George signing a 4-year, $212 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. But that’s now enough. Smith suggested that opposing teams must have more physical strength and height to compete against the Celtics.

He also noted a disparity in the Eastern Conference, which is currently not balanced. Before highlighting the solution, Smith discussed what keeps the Celtics in their championship-worthy position. The team already has Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who led the team to the 18th. Furthermore, Boston’s third best player, Kristaps Porziņģis, didn’t even play much in the postseason.

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“I don’t think that the gap has really closed in yet on Boston. I think Philadelphia’s done a great move adding Paul George, but you know to beat the Celtics you need size as well, you know, in multiple positions. So it’s going to be interesting in the West. I think the East is top-heavy and I want to see if more trades come to make that a more balance,” Kenny Smith explained in his interview with Sports Illustrated. 

George is the only active player in the NBA from his draft class. Signing a new long-term deal with the 76ers means he will have to perform under intense pressure to lead the franchise to a championship. His teammate Joel Embiid is thrilled about this new team-up.

Eastern Conference contenders are in action

Dashing the Clippers’ hope for a championship, George will join hands with Tyrese Maxey and Embiid. When asked about the new addition, Embiid said, “Yeah, I think as far as the fit, it looks amazing.”

“I don’t like to call myself a big, but when you got a player that posts up and that isos quite a bit, you need to have willing shooters and guys that are not afraid to pull the trigger,” he further explained how that can help the team’s offensive strategy. The trio might elevate the team’s position in the Eastern Conference.

Moving further, the New York Knicks have acquired Mikal Bridges with a clear plan to strengthen the team. He now completes the key link in the NCAA championship-winning roster of Villanova in the Knicks, alongside Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, and Donte DiVincenzo. Apart from these two franchises, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks will always be in contention and the Miami Heat can also show up at any time.

The Boston Celtics still have a very strong case for themselves, and as Kenny Smith suggested, balance will play a crucial role for any team in surpassing them.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.