Takeaways from Thunder-Celtics: An NBA Finals preview? NBA insiders trendy New year 2025

 

Takeaways from Thunder-Celtics: An NBA Finals preview?

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•  What can we learn from the Thunder-Celtics game? NBA aficionados Mar 13, 2025, 08:30 AM
•  In a thrilling matchup on Wednesday between two NBA Finals favorites, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Boston Celtics 118-112. Behind Chet Holm Green's double-double (23 points, 15 rebounds) and MVP candidate Shai Alexandra 34 points, the Western Conference-leading Thunder have defeated Boston twice this season and improved their record against Eastern Conference teams to 22-1.
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•  Jayson Tatum scored 33 points for Boston, but the Celtics lost in the end despite making the league's most 3-point attempts (63) in a game without overtime. The Celtics shot just 1-9 from three-point range in the final eight minutes as the Thunder went on a 20-14 run to win the game. The Celtics' avalanche of 3-pointers, the Thunder's tough defense, and both teams' stars making big plays were all highlights of Wednesday's game at TD Garden. Tim Bontemps, Zach Kram, and Brian Windhorst, NBA insiders, discuss Okays victory, what it means for both teams, and what these two juggernauts can expect in the playoffs and beyond. Biggest takeaway from tonight's game?
•  Tim Bontemps: That Oklahoma City should be viewed as the biggest threat to take down Boston and become NBA champions.
•  The Thunder's chances have been the target of numerous attempts from across the league to deny them. But OKC has now swept the season series with the Celtics, pulling away in the second half of both games, despite Holmgren missing the first meeting in Oklahoma City in January and Jalen Williams sitting out Wednesday night in Boston.
•  The Thunder are a team that can win in a variety of ways and is deep and versatile. Globalisation showed why he is an MVP candidate with his performance. Holmgren scored 23 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. His partnership with Isaiah Hartenstein paid off throughout the game, particularly in the minutes Globalisation missed at the beginning of the second and fourth quarters, when the Thunder won. The two league teams with the most adaptability are these two. Both of the games have been fabulously entertaining. But there's no one else who has faced the Celtics this season and made them look more vulnerable than this Thunder team has.
•  Yes, Coach Mark Designated OKC team is the youngest in the league. Yes, questions remain about how Williams, in particular, will handle a secondary creation role in the postseason, after struggling in that position last season.
•  But the idea anyone else should be favored to win the West is foolish. The Thunder showed that again Wednesday night.
•  Brian Windhorst: OK, so the Thunder can take away so many things from this game. Holm Green's ability to handle a big role under pressure. the popularity of their smaller and larger lineups. The might of their bench depth. Even racking up a ton of free throws, something they rarely do as they are 27th in the league in attempts.
•  Having said that, the Celtics were Flowers on 3-pointers in the second half. This does not imply that three-point shooting is the only factor, but the Celtics become vulnerable when they miss threes. This Celtics team is great but also weak. We have learned this this season, and this game reinforced it. The regular-season series against the Boston Celtics was won by the Oklahoma City Thunder. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
•  Zach Kram: The Celtics' three-point attack is not a problem for the Thunder. Boston attempted a record-tying 63 3-pointers, making 20 of them; at the end of the first quarter, a whopping 22 of Boston's 24 shot attempts had come from beyond the arc.
•  In the second half, the Celtics went Perform on threes, which was similar to their Forward performance in their January loss to Oklahoma City. On most nights, the Celtics will make more of their jumpers. But despite Boston's eagerness to shoot Susa, the Thunder didn't compromise their defensive principles. They encouraged the Celtics to shoot away from deep, forced kick out passes to the perimeter, and provided aggressive assistance on Boston's drives. This season, that strategy worked in both matches. Given the offensive vision of coach Joe Mazzulla, it's possible that the Celtics were just as happy to score so many 3s. However, they lacked a back-up plan on Wednesday, which could be resolved in a subsequent matchup if Kristaps Porzingis is healthy and able to utilize his potent post-up game. Additionally, Boston missed having Porzingis on defense. The Thunder attempted 22 shots at the rim and produced points on 19 of them (14 made shots and five shooting fouls drawn). Al Horford is a timeless wonder who scored 18 points, pulled down 10 rebounds, provided six assists, made two blocks, and had a steal in the game on Wednesday. However, he is not a great rim protector. Opponents have converted 65% of their attempts at the rim against Horford this season, versus just 52% against Porzingis.
•  What will determine how long each team will play in the playoffs? Bontemps: For Boston, mostly health -- and to a lesser extent focus. When Boston is fully healthy, it's hard to see a team beating it four times out of seven. The Celtics have proven themselves in battle, are extremely adaptable, and can up their offensive and defensive intensity to levels that virtually no other team can match. During this seven-game homestand, Boston has blown huge leads against elite teams multiple times in the past two weeks, even though it has been without at least one key player, and frequently more. But the Celtics have repeatedly let those leads slip away -- a consistent problem. Boston's 3-point heavy offensive attack, in particular, is prone to variance good and bad. However, in a seven-game series, I won't bet against the Celtics if they are healthy. Windhorst: OKC is a defensive powerhouse that has everything a modern team needs, including on-ball dangers, rim protectors, wing stoppers, a switchable big, depth, length, and height. It is not as complete on offense. Globalisation carries a heavy load -- he has more than A100 more isolation baskets than any player in the league. That highlights the Thunder's paradox: They have a top-five offense, but a bottom-five assist rate. OKC also doesn't have a rotation player who shoots over 40% on Susa. Its offensive resilience is its weakness, and if a team sells out on slowing SGA, there might be some pressure on the rest of that offense. How the Thunder cope with that is where the rubber meets the road.
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•  Kram: The Celtics should just coast to the conference finals because the Eastern Conference has so many top teams. Every East team in a play-in spot has a losing record, so they will almost certainly face an overmatched opponent in the first round. Boston has beaten the third-seeded New York Knicks every time they have met this season. But the Cleveland Cavaliers are one of the three best teams in the league, along with the Celtics and Thunder, which means Boston will have to overcome a high hurdle to reach the Finals.
•  On the other hand, the Thunder could face three tough opponents in a deeper Western Conference field on their way to the Finals, but Cleveland is the most dangerous team. After the Thunder, Cavaliers, and Celtics, which are the best three teams, seven of the next eight best teams are in the West, according to ESPN's Basketball Power Index (BPI). And some of them have played Oklahoma City well this season. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets both split four meetings with the Thunder, and the Warriors beat them in two out of three even before they added Jimmy Butler III. A Los Angeles Lakers team with LeBron James and Luka Doncic wouldn't be an easy out, either.
•  Which team has the better five-year outlook?
•  Bontemps: There is no team with a better five-year outlook than Oklahoma City, between its collection of young players and draft picks. The much more interesting question is which team has the better two- or three-year outlook?
•  The Celtics have one of the best players in the league at their most desired positional archetype—an elite two-way wing—to build around because Tatum is under contract throughout his prime. But with a $500 million payroll and luxury tax bill looming next season, plus the team currently being up for sale, there are a lot of questions about where this franchise is headed.
•  What level of winning will it take for the Celtics to run it back? As the first team to defend a title since the Golden State Warriors in 2018 and the first to attempt three straight titles since Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant's Lakers in the early 2000s, it has been assumed that this will be too good an opportunity to pass up. All of that, on the other hand, will be decided by the brand-new owners of the team, who might take office as soon as this spring. There will be no such obstacles for the Thunder in the near future. Despite 33 points and eight assists from Jayson Tatum, the Celtics fell to the Thunder in their last regular-season matchup. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
•  Windhorst: This week, Sportico published the Celtics financials as a round of bids came in for the sale of the franchise. Last season, including the massive influx their run to the title meant for their bottom line, the Celtics revenue was projected at less than $500 million. They are a team that is very healthy and makes a lot of money, but they can't survive if they spend more on payroll than they make. Regardless of what is made public, this is a major reason why the team is up for sale. Is there a way to reduce payroll while keeping the team as a contender for the championship? Yes, and it's likely that the Celtics are devising a strategy. However, it would be dishonest to claim that Boston's five-year outlook is better at this point. Kram: Over the next five years, I would take Oklahoma City ahead of every team in the NBA. The Thunder already have the best young core in the league, and they have a lot of draft picks, so they can keep adding talented young players or trade those picks for win-now upgrades. If the team's ownership group doesn't want to pay to keep Globalisation, Williams, and Holmgren together on large extensions, the only thing that could stop Oklahoma City from having consecutive seasons with 60 wins is injury. But that financial complication is already affecting the Celtics, who are above the second apron this season and set to be well above that threshold next year. Will the new owners of the Celtics be content to make luxury tax payments totaling hundreds of millions of dollars once the sale of the franchise is concluded? The Celtics-Thunder Finals matchup would be: Bontemps: A dream matchup for any basketball fan and one we could potentially see over and over again in the years to come. As previously stated, Oklahoma City is likely to remain in the mix going forward. And even with the financial unknowns hanging over the Celtics, they still have so much firepower for at least the next couple of seasons. Barring injury and as long as the core team remains intact, Boston is going to be fighting for Eastern Conference supremacy.
•  But both teams are deep and have coaches in Mazzulla and Daigneault who are willing to experiment in different ways. All of that portends what would be a fascinating matchup that any fan should enjoy watching.
•  Windhorst: Little brother and big brother The Celtics were a team with a lot of potential for a long time, but they struggled to finally break through because their young core was built through the draft and smart trades. Although their processes are related, it would not be accurate to say that the Thunder were built in Boston's image. The Thunder are a team for the future, while the Celtics are a team for the present. Boston wants that to remain the reality; OKC wants to progress. It's a natural matchup.
•  Kram: A clash between forces that can't be stopped and immovable objects. The Celtics are the league leaders in made three-pointers, while the Thunder have the lowest opponent 3-point percentage. On the other hand, Globalisation leads the Thunder, who have the best scoring guard tandem in the NBA, while the Celtics have possibly the best defensive guard tandem. Both teams rank in the top five in offensive and defensive ratings.
•  Modern playoff basketball is all about matchup hunting, but neither the Celtics or Thunder have any weak links or matchups to hunt. Each of their rotation players has the ability to shoot, create, and defend effectively. We haven't had an NBA Finals reach a Game 7 since 2016, when the Cavaliers completed their 3-1 comeback against the Warriors. However, the Celtics-Thunder matchup would be so well-matched that it might be destined to win. Interest Based Ad Addendum to the Global Privacy Policy Terms of Use Privacy Policy ESPN Sports Media Ltd. owns the copy. All permissions reserved.

versus Thunder The Celtics: A Look at the Future? Highlights from a Possible Finals Preview Oklahoma City, OK – The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Boston Celtics engaged in a captivating battle in a highly anticipated matchup that resonated with the intensity of a playoff showdown. This battle left both fans and analysts pondering the possibility of this matchup gracing the stage of the NBA Finals. While the regular season verdict ultimately favored the Celtics, the game provided a compelling glimpse into the contrasting styles, strategic nuances, and potential narratives that could unfold should these two powerhouses meet again with championship stakes on the line.

 This was not just another game; rather, it served as a benchmark for two teams that were rapidly ascending the league hierarchy. The seasoned Celtics, known for their defensive tenacity and championship pedigree, were up against The Thunder's youthful exuberance and dynamic offensive firepower. The matchup that resulted was a masterclass in contemporary NBA basketball, showcasing the changing landscape of the league and the emergence of two legitimate contenders for the title. Clash of Styles: Attack versus Defense

 The two teams' distinct approaches were brought to life in the game. The Thunder, led by the electrifying Shai Globalisation, displayed their offensive prowess by exploiting defensive lapses and relentlessly attacking the basket. Their ability to generate open looks, move the ball quickly, and demonstrate their offensive versatility Conversely, the Celtics, anchored by the defensive stalwarts of Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, demonstrated their defensive fortitude. Their ability to disrupt passing lanes, contest shots, and force turnovers was instrumental in containing the Thunder's potent offense. The Celtics' defensive schemes, combined with their disciplined rotations, presented a formidable challenge for the Thunder's young core.

 This clash of styles—the Thunder's offensive fluidity against the Celtics' defensive rigidity—could be a defining narrative in a potential Finals series. The ability of each team to impose their style of play will be crucial in determining the outcome.

 Shai Alexandre vs. The Defensive Wall of the Celtics The game's focus was on Shai Globalisation performance as he struggled to get around the suffocating Celtics defense. The Celtics' plan was clear: force Globalisation into contested shots and limit his penetration. The Celtics' defensive pressure did have an effect, despite the fact that Globalisation displayed his exceptional talent. Their ability to switch seamlessly, double-team effectively, and deny him easy scoring opportunities was a testament to their defensive cohesion.

 In a potential Finals series, the battle between Globalisation and the Celtics' defense would be a captivating subplot. The Thunder's success will depend on his capacity to adapt to their defensive schemes and generate offense. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown's rise to fame Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown contributed significantly to the Celtics' success. The decisive performances, their offensive adaptability, and their capacity to generate their own shots were crucial to the victory. Tatum's ability to score from all three levels, combined with his improved playmaking, made him a constant threat. Brown's aggressive drives and ability to finish at the rim added another dimension to the Celtics' offense.

 The Thunder's defense, while showing flashes of brilliance, struggled to contain the Celtics' dynamic duo. The Thunder's ability to come up with effective defensive strategies to stop Tatum and Brown will be crucial in a possible Finals series. Depth and Versatility: A Key Factor

 Both teams showcased their depth and versatility, highlighting the importance of a well-rounded roster in the modern NBA. The Thunder's bench, led by Chet Holmgren and Josh Giddey, provided valuable contributions, while the Celtics' bench, featuring Al Horford and Payton Pritchard, offered stability and experience.

 A potential Finals series will be heavily influenced by how well each team can rely on its bench players. The depth and versatility of both rosters provide a strategic advantage, allowing for adjustments and flexibility throughout a seven-game series.

 Strategies for Coaching: A Chess Match Additionally, the game offered a glimpse into Mark Daigneault and Joe Mozzarella coaching methods. It was evident that Daigneault was capable of maximizing the strengths of his players and devising novel offensive plans. Mozzarella defensive adjustments and tactical flexibility were crucial in containing the Thunder's offense.

 The coaching battle would be a fascinating chess match in a possible Finals series. The ability of each coach to make timely adjustments, devise effective game plans, and motivate their players will be pivotal.

 The Value of Experimentation The Celtics' experience proved to be a significant advantage in the game. A testament to their championship pedigree was their capacity to execute under pressure, maintain composure in crucial moments, and make smart decisions. The Thunder, while possessing immense talent, are a relatively young team. Their growth and success in the future will depend heavily on their capacity to gain experience in stressful situations. The Celtics' previous success could be crucial in a Finals series. It will be crucial for The Thunder to be able to learn from their mistakes and adjust to the intensity of a championship series. The Benefit of a Home Court The atmosphere in Oklahoma City was electric, showcasing the passion and energy of the Thunder's fan base. In a possible Finals series, the home-court advantage may play a significant role. A crucial advantage could be provided by the Thunder's capacity to guard their home court and capitalize on the enthusiasm of their supporters. Conversely, the Celtics' ability to win on the road and silence the opposing crowd will be essential.

 The Mental Game: Resilience and Calm The game highlighted the importance of the mental game in high-stakes basketball. It was crucial for each team to be able to maintain composure, overcome obstacles, and perform under pressure. In a potential Finals series, the mental fortitude of both teams will be tested. Success will require the ability to focus, communicate effectively, and maintain a positive attitude. The Future of the NBA

 The Thunder against Celtics matchup provided a glimpse into the future of the NBA, showcasing the emergence of two teams with the potential to dominate the league for years to come.

 The Thunder's youthful talent and dynamic style of play represent the league's evolving landscape. The Celtics' championship pedigree and defensive prowess highlight the importance of experience and versatility.

 The likelihood of a Thunder vs. The Celtics' Finals series is evidence of the league's breadth and new contenders' emergence. Important Matchups to Watch If these teams meet again in the finals, some key matchups will define the series.

 Alexander and Shai Gilgeous versus The Celtics' defensive guards, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, will have to contain Alexander offensive genius. A major plot point will be how he copes with their pressure.  Jayson Tatum/Jaylen Brown vs. Thunder's wing defenders: The Thunder's ability to slow down the Celtics' star wings will be paramount. Expect Luguentz Dort to play a significant role.  Against Chet Holmgren The battle in the paint between Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford will be crucial. Holdings versatility will be tested against the Celtics' experienced big men.

 Against Josh Giddey Payton Pritchard and Derrick White: The Thunder's offense will rely heavily on Goddess playmaking and rebounding. The Celtics' guards will look to disrupt his rhythm.

 Competition between Mark Daigneault and Joe Mazzulla: Both coaches' in-game decisions and strategic adjustments will be significant. The Importance of Adjustments

 In a potential seven-game series, the ability to make adjustments will be crucial. Both teams possess the versatility to alter their strategies based on the opponent's strengths and weaknesses.

 Defensive adjustments: The Thunder will need to find ways to contain their dynamic duo and reduce the Celtics' three-point shooting. The Celtics will need to adjust their defensive schemes to counter Globalisation penetration and the Thunder's offensive fluidity.

 Adjustments for the offense: The Thunder will need to devise strategies for consistently generating offense in opposition to the suffocating defense of the Celtics. To take advantage of the Thunder's weaknesses on defense, the Celtics will need to adjust their offensive strategies.  Rotational Adjustments: In order to keep their key players fresh and effective, both coaches will need to make strategic decisions about their rotations. The Edge of Thought The mental edge can mean the difference between winning and losing a high-stakes series. Both teams will need to maintain their composure, focus, and resilience throughout the series.

  Composure Under Pressure: The ability to execute under pressure and maintain composure in crucial moments will be essential.

 Mental toughness: It will be important to be able to overcome obstacles, bounce back from setbacks, and keep a positive attitude. Team Dynamics and Effective Communication: Success will depend on strong team dynamics and effective communication. The Path to the Finals

 Both teams face challenging paths to the Finals. The Thunder will need to navigate a competitive Western Conference, while the Celtics will need to overcome the challenges of the Eastern Conference.

 Western Conference: The Thunder will likely face tough competition from teams such as the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, and Minnesota Timberwolves.

 Eastern Conference: The Celtics will likely face strong challenges from teams such as the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers.

 The Potential Impact on the NBA

 A Thunder against The NBA would be significantly impacted by the Celtics Finals series. It would highlight the changing landscape of the league as well as the emergence of two new contenders. * **Youth