NBA Predictions: Raptors, Bucks Lack Championship Ingredients, Celtics Best In The East

The Boston Celtics had a pretty poor regular season in this year’s NBA campaign finishing fourth in the Eastern Conference after being tipped as the pre-season favorites to dominate the East. But Brad Stevens’ team have shown why regular season form goes out the window when the NBA playoffs come around.

The NBA’s most successful franchise dispatched the Indiana Pacers 4-0 in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs and are now going up against NBA’s best regular season team Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo is almost certain to be awarded the MVP, but he was unable to produce his consistent brand of basketball as they lost 112-90 to the Celtics in the opening game.

NBA insider Colin Cowherd believes the Celtics have all the ingredients necessary to win the NBA championship and also stated that they are the only team from the Eastern Conference capable of doing so. He does not rate the Toronto Raptors or the Bucks on the same level as the Celtics when it comes to possessing the “right ingredients”.

The 55-year-old host of “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” feels the Celtics possess the right ingredients in terms of a top head coach in Brad Stevens, playoff winning experience – as this entire roster made it to the East finals last season – and arguably the best closer in the game in Kyrie Irving. He feels the Raptors and Bucks, two of the best in the regular season, do not possess all the ingredients despite having star names in Kawhi Leonard and Antetokounmpo.

“Toronto does not have championship ingredients. Championship ingredients are a top head coach, winning playoff experience, and two stars and one has to be a great closer. Toronto does not have the ingredients to be a champion, their second best player is Kyle Lowry – he scored…Nothing!” Cowherd said.

The NBA expert also questioned the Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers' ability to challenge for the title. He admits that the latter has a talented squad, but believes they lack the experience needed to win when the going gets tough. The 76ers are currently tied 1-1 with the Raptors in the other Eastern Conference semifinals.

Cowherd believes there are just three teams in the playoffs that have the ability to go all the way and lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy. The Celtics, Houston Rockets and reigning back-to-back champions Golden State Warriors.

But the Rockets and Warriors are facing each other in the Western Conference semifinals this season, with the latter currently leading the seven-game series 1-0 after a narrow 104-100 win in Game 1.