"So hard to repeat": NBA analyst skeptical on Boston Celtics' title defense hopes, tips rising West contender to emerge victors
The Boston Celtics remain the favorites to win the NBA Finals this season. According to the latest odds, the defending champions have the best odds to win the title, and by a large margin. However, there are still some people who are not completely convinced by the odds of them repeating.
NBA analyst Ryen Russillo chose OKC Thunder to win the title this season while speaking on "Run it Back" on Thursday. According to Russillo, while the Celtics remain a formidable force in the league, there are other factors that could bring them down.
Russillo also echoed what has held many teams from repeating title runs; the issue of complacency. He also added while injuries and age factor would play their part, the Celtics' young core can endure the season-long schedule.
"I think the only thing that gets in their way is complacency," Russillo said. "You know that Kristaps Porzingis injury. I think for three years I have been wondering how much longer can Al Horford go and he continues to go.
"But I still think they are collectively young enough... I think the core pieces of [Jayson] Tatum and [Jaylen] Brown who play all the time and are quite young enough. They should still be motivated to put this thing together."
Russillo also added that while he remains confident in the Thunder, both teams can still meet in the Finals and Boston could emerge as champions.
"I picked OKC just coz I think it's so hard to repeat but I think they meet in the Finals and I might be wrong."
In the last few months, the complacency getting in the Celtics' way to repeating the title has been echoed across the league. However, given how good the Celtics are as a team, it would be hard to bet against them.
Jaylen Brown reveals the biggest hurdle in Celtics' way to back-to-back titles
Reigning NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown is also aware of how complacency can become a big hurdle in Boston's repeating the title this season. The NBA star made an appearance on the "Hot Ones" show earlier this month.
When show host Sean Evans asked Brown what was his team's mindset going into the season after winning the title, Brown said they needed to raise the expectation level to beat complacency.
“I think the pressure and the expectation level needs to be raised,” Brown said. “Human nature kind of seeps in once you win, and makes you kind of relax. Complacency. So we got to fight that.”
Brown has put in a lot of work this offseason and he looks forward to taking his game to another level on both ends of the floor. As for the team, it remains in the safe hands of the coach and their two superstars.