The Boston Celtics are in the contention picture for the folks at ESPN — but with an asterisk.
Perhaps fitting given the entire restart is being spoken about as leading to a title that will unavoidably have an asterisk attached to it, though whether that is a good or bad thing varies based on who you’re speaking to as much as who they work for.
With the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Clippers, Lakers, Toronto Raptors and Houston Rockets ahead of Boston (in that order) for ESPN, the asterisk in question all comes down to the status of a single joint of UConn product Kemba Walker.
Kemba Walker speaks on wanting to support Cam Newton at Pats games https://t.co/YV1qOvJ1lM via @thecelticswire
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) July 2, 2020
“Walker was nowhere near himself in the weeks leading up to the shutdown in March, thanks to lingering knee issues,” observed analyst Tim Bontemps of the Bronx native’s late-season articulation travails.
“His play particularly dipped after the All-Star Game,” he added, “as he repeatedly posted poor shooting nights and failed to play with his usual burst.”
“The Celtics were thrilled by Jayson Tatum’s star turn, and they like the balanced offensive attack they have with Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward on the wing, but Walker needs to play like an All-Star if this team is going to have a chance to make it out of the East.”
While the absence of players in the restart to injury or COVID-19-related concerns may be making the Celtics’ regular season easier, the fraught situation some rosters find themselves in have not affected Boston’s chief competition to represent the East in the NBA Finals much.
WATCH: Why Marcus Smart is the Boston Celtics' secret weapon https://t.co/FKi3hRPLv8 via @thecelticswire
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) July 8, 2020
The Raptors, 76ers and especially Bucks are all intact for the restart, or functionally so.
Bontemps is likely correct in his assessment, but at least based on what we have heard from Walker himself.
Evidently, the long layoff has done much to alleviate that irritation that could be as big a barrier to Banner 18 as anything else coming down the pike.
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