WATCH: Are the Boston Celtics back in title contention?

After closing out the first half of the 2020-21 NBA season, have the Boston Celtics re-entered the contention conversation?

After closing out the first half of the 2020-21 NBA season, have the Boston Celtics re-entered the contention conversation? Or is a team currently sitting at 17 wins and 15 losses parked the Eastern Conference’s fourth-place slot more of a work in progress?

Our friends over at the CLNS podcast “Celtics Beat” get into exactly this question with Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, as they dive into what the recent four-game win streak means when weighed against the still-subpar defense contrasted with their reinvigorated offense. As the 2021 NBA trade deadline gets closer, the answer to this question becomes increasingly important in guiding what kind of moves Boston will make — if any.

https://embed.sendtonews.com/oembed/?SC=1ySTYu5wrW-1190284-8380&autoplay=on&V=2&format=json

Give the clip above a watch to get up to speed on what analysts are saying about the Celtics as they head into what might prove one of the most important moments of their current push to return to the title hunt.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

[lawrence-related id=47587,47585,47577,47575]

[listicle id=47590]