The Boston Celtics are winning the East

Yes, I know Kawhi Leonard got traded to the Raptors. And yes, it’s duly noted that the Raptros won 59 games last year and that “big mountain” called LeBron James is no longer in the East.

In all fairness to other teams, I think it will be a battle.

76ers fans surely don’t like this but I’m more excited and worried about the Bucks under coach Mike Budenholzer.

The Bucks have tremendous talent, length and their defensive woes were inexcusable last year.

It is my strong belief that Milwaukee poses a bigger threat to Boston than Toronto does.

Let’s face it. Masai Ujiri traded DeMar DeRozan a bonafide star for a player that is better than him (when healthy)

But, we haven’t seen Kawhi Leonard on the floor in more than a year. He played 8 games last season but the sample size too small to pretend that it’s a given that he’ll be the Kawhi we once knew.

In my opinion, the Celtics have clear cut advantages:

Brad Stevens is the best coach in the NBA. This will probably be coach Poppovich’s last season and that debate will be put to an end after that.

With all due respect to one of the greatest coaches ever, Stevens is a genius and had the whole NBA jaw-dropping with his injury-plagued Celtics last year.

Also, I don’t think people understand just how good Jason Tatum is. He may very well be the best young player in the league and the special circumstances last season surely benefited the second-year man out of Duke.

Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward are expected to be ready for training camp and coach Stevens is going to orchestrate one of the most competitive 5-on-5 practices in the history of the NBA.

The team might see a sight dip in their defensive numbers with Kyrie and Hayward in the lineup but that won’t be the case on the offensive end.

The Celtics’ version of the “death line-up” would feature Kyrie Irving, Jason Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward and Al Horford.

As much as I love Giannis and the Bucks I don’t see how this team doesn’t make the finals.

After missing the finals in last season’s game 7 and with LeBron come I think it’s time for this young group reach their first NBA finals (and eventually lose to the Warriors).

Take Boston to win the East at -125/1.80

The price is a little expensive but definitely worth it.