Celtics Hit Hard by Scorching Heat Wave, Losing Ground in Rivalry!
An unexpected East team might test Boston's dominance in a series.
Bleacher Report Names Celtics' Potential 'Nightmare' Playoff Matchup originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Boston Celtics have continued to look great since Jayson Tatum's return from his Achilles injury, now posting a 44-23 record and holding firm in second place in the Eastern Conference.
Jaylen Brown carried the load admirably in Tatum's absence, earning MVP buzz with his all-around play. But even with their star duo reunited, not every playoff matchup would be a cakewalk for the 2024 NBA champions. Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley recently dove into potential tough draws for top NBA contenders, and for the Celtics, he pointed to a rising Charlotte Hornets squad that could match their firepower.
“The Celtics are sending real 'The East still runs through us' vibes since getting Jayson Tatum back,” Buckley wrote . “Remember, they were showcasing contending-level credentials without him (complete with a full-fledged MVP candidate in Jaylen Brown), and now they again have the services of someone selected All-NBA first team each of the past four seasons. " "It feels appropriate, then, to go a bit against the grain here and highlight the Hornets instead of the more frequently cited Eastern Conference roadblocks," Buckley continued.
"It's not that Charlotte is for sure a bad matchup for Boston, but rather you can see how the red-hot Hornets—2026's most efficient team—could give the Shamrocks some challenges in a seven-game shootout. " "The Buzz City ballers might legitimately have enough firepower to go shot-for-shot with Boston," Buckley added. "In fact, on the season, the Hornets have made more threes (16.