Fansided

NBA Season Preview 2017-18: 5 teams that can beat the Warriors

By Luke Norris

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 19: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets and Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers shake hands before the game on December 19, 2015 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 19: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets and Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers shake hands before the game on December 19, 2015 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2015 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 2: Kyrie Irving
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 2: Kyrie Irving /

5. Boston Celtics

Okay, Kyrie Irving now has his own team exactly like he wanted. Now we wait and see how he responds to that kind of pressure, especially on a legendary franchise that comes into the 2017-18 season expecting to dethrone LeBron James in the Eastern Conference.

It’s sometimes easy to forget that the Celtics were actually the top seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs a season ago. Their team leader, Isaiah Thomas, is gone and 10 others from last year’s team are out as well. It’s not often that a roster gets an overhaul like that after a season like the Celtics just had, but Danny Ainge is going all in while also setting up his team for the future.

After drafting highly-touted prospect Jayson Tatum from Duke, he added free agent All-Star Gordon Hayward from Utah, Marcus Morris from Detroit and then pulled off the blockbuster trade of the offseason that sent his MVP candidate and Jae Crowder to the Cavs for Irving. There were a few hoops to jump through to get the deal finalized but it got done and Boston now has a very good chance to win the Eastern Conference.

There’s a lot of talent on this team, especially in the starting lineup, beginning with a guy in Irving who knows what it’s like to beat the Warriors and hoist an NBA trophy. However, with so many new faces, the problem here might be getting comfortable with one another. Team chemistry is what drives a team like Golden State.

However, with the scoring options and physical abilities of the personnel they do have, the Celtics do have a chance this season. They have to get past Cleveland first but the future is very bright in Boston.