Where will Celtics finish in East? Roundup of staff predictions

Are the Boston Celtics for real?

After going 25-25 in their first 50 games, the Celtics ripped off nine wins in 10 contests before the NBA All-Star break to move just 4.5 games behind the No. 1 seed Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference. Boston's core four of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Robert Williams has been stellar on both ends of the floor, while trade deadline acquisition Derrick White looks like a great long-term fit.

So, there's plenty of reason for optimism on Causeway Street. But the East is loaded with legitimate contenders, and even if the Celtics finish strong over their final 22 regular-season games, they'll face a tall task in the postseason.

How far can Celtics go? Simulating team's final 22 games and playoffs

How high can Boston climb in the postseason, and which players will be most important to the team's success? As the C's return from the All-Star break to face the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night, we posed four big-picture questions to our staff to gauge the level of confidence in the green.

Here's how they responded.

Amina Smith, Host, Celtics Pregame Live

1. Where will the Celtics finish in the Eastern Conference?

I think the Celtics finish fifth or sixth in the East. Health, offense, and consistent effort will be key down the stretch in a jumbled-up Eastern Conference. 

2. How far will the Celtics advance in the playoffs?

If the Celtics finish the regular season a fifth or sixth seed they could go as far as the Eastern Conference Finals. The Nets with a healthy KD and available Kyrie eventually eliminate the Celtics.

3. Who will be the X factor (other than the Jays) if the Celtics are going to have success down the stretch and in the postseason?

Robert Williams. Big defensive presence around the rim. Can also throw it down and can quietly put up double figures offensively. 

4. NBA Finals matchup and champion?

Nets vs. Suns. Phoenix returns to the NBA Finals to win it all.

John Tomase, Red Sox Insider

1. Where will the Celtics finish in the Eastern Conference?

The Celtics will finish sixth in the East.

2. How far will the Celtics advance in the playoffs?

Boston will beat the Bulls in the first round and then lose to Bucks in six.

3. Who will be the X factor (other than the Jays) if the Celtics are going to have success down the stretch and in the postseason?

The X-factor is Derrick White, who can shoot a little, defend a lot, and most importantly, he moves the ball.

4. NBA Finals matchup and champion?

Warriors over Heat. Steph's last stand.

DJ Bean, Co-host, Boston Sports Tonight

1. Where will the Celtics finish in the Eastern Conference?

This is ambitious, but they get to fifth. Don't ask me which of the three logjammed teams ahead of them slips, but the Celtics are going to do the unthinkable and play out the stretch strong.

2. How far will the Celtics advance in the playoffs?

Let's say the Sixers in the second round. Seven games. That's tough to believe because the Joel Embiid-era Sixers don't exactly instill fear in Celtics fans, but if the Celtics win a round and lose in the second round, that's progress. 

3. Who will be the X factor (other than the Jays) if the Celtics are going to have success down the stretch and in the postseason?

If Robert Williams qualifies, this is an easy one. The real X factor, as always, is his health.

4. NBA Finals matchup and champion?

Warriors over the Sixers. I don't even really believe in the Sixers; I think this season is just weird enough in the East for this to finally be when they make their run. 

Adam Hart, Manager, Creative Content

1. Where will the Celtics finish in the Eastern Conference?

The Celtics finish third and get some buzz building toward the playoffs. Brad Stevens and Ime Udoka are looking like a legit leadership tandem.

2. How far will the Celtics advance in the playoffs?

Phoenix Suns. Yeah, I'm saying they make the Finals. East teams have flaws and the Celtics mask theirs on this run. But Celtics lose in five.

3. Who will be the X factor (other than the Jays) if the Celtics are going to have success down the stretch and in the postseason?

Derrick White has irreversibly changed the way the Celtics play, and this will push the team to new heights.

4. NBA Finals matchup and champion?

Suns-Celtics. Phoenix takes it in a landslide. 

Rob Snyder, Producer, Boston Sports Tonight

1. Where will the Celtics finish in the Eastern Conference?

Fifth seed. I think the Celtics move up a spot because of the way they’re playing, but I find it far too daunting to move up much further than one spot.

2. How far will the Celtics advance in the playoffs?

First round. This was tough. I almost had the Celtics in the second round. But when push comes to shove, I think the Bulls are better fit for tight games so I picked them in a coin flip.

3. Who will be the X factor (other than the Jays) if the Celtics are going to have success down the stretch and in the postseason?

Marcus Smart. I’m not as high on Smart as most, but let’s face it, most of the Celtics' big win streaks over the years are usually coinciding with a Smart hot streak. It’s also the reverse when he’s playing poorly.

4. NBA Finals matchup and champion?

Suns over Bucks. It was hard to pick an East team and I hate NBA Finals rematches but this is the pick. Suns get revenge this time around due to the fact that Giannis Antetokounmpo's supporting cast just isn’t as consistent as they were last season.

Dave Cherubin, Multi-platform Producer

1. Where will the Celtics finish in the Eastern Conference?

The Celtics will finish at least fourth in the East. The conference is wide open plus the Celtics have discovered their identity under Ime Udoka. Their defensive stats speak for themselves. The elite defense will help them finish strong.  

2. How far will the Celtics advance in the playoffs?

The Celtics are looking at a first-round exit after losing to the fifth-seed Bucks in six games. 

3. Who will be the X factor (other than the Jays) if the Celtics are going to have success down the stretch and in the postseason?

Robert Williams is the biggest X-factor. There is nobody else like him on the roster. He can give opposing teams fits when utilized properly. If he can be a third wheel to the Jays, watch out. 

4. NBA Finals matchup and champion?

Phoenix vs Philadelphia. 76ers win it all.

Darren Hartwell, Web Producer, NBC Sports Boston

1. Where will the Celtics finish in the Eastern Conference?

The Celtics go 15-7 down the stretch to finish at 49-33, edging the Chicago Bulls for the No. 4 seed.

2. How far will the Celtics advance in the playoffs?

After beating the No. 5 Bulls in the first round, the Celtics fall to the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks in a six-game second-round series.

3. Who will be the X factor (other than the Jays) if the Celtics are going to have success down the stretch and in the postseason?

Marcus Smart. Robert Williams and Derrick White are close runners-up, but there’s a reason the Celtics are 3-7 in Smart’s absence this season. When Smart is on his offensive A-game -- facilitating first, shooting second -- Boston is very hard to beat.

Smart’s defense also will be invaluable against elite guards in the Celtics’ upcoming matchups – Ben Simmons, Ja Morant and Stephen Curry, to name a few – and his work on DeMar DeRozan in the first round helps Boston get by Chicago.

4. NBA Finals matchup and champion?

The finally-healthy Brooklyn Nets rally to reach the NBA Finals but fall to the loaded Phoenix Suns, who avenge last year’s Finals loss to win their first title in franchise history.

Nick Goss, Web Producer, NBC Sports Boston

1. Where will the Celtics finish in the Eastern Conference?

Third.

2. How far will the Celtics advance in the playoffs?

The Nets will eliminate the Celtics in Round 1 in six games.

3. Who will be the X factor (other than the Jays) if the Celtics are going to have success down the stretch and in the postseason?

Derrick White.

4. NBA Finals matchup and champion?

Warriors beat Nets in seven games.

Justin Leger, Web Producer, NBC Sports Boston

1. Where will the Celtics finish in the Eastern Conference?

I have the Celtics avoiding the play-in tournament by finishing sixth. As long as they can avoid reverting to early-season form, they should have no problem holding off teams like the Raptors, Hornets, and Hawks. Look out for Brooklyn, though.

2. How far will the Celtics advance in the playoffs?

It'll be the Milwaukee Bucks ending the Celtics' 2021-22 season in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in five games. Boston will sneak past the Sixers in Round 1.

3. Who will be the X factor (other than the Jays) if the Celtics are going to have success down the stretch and in the postseason?

The Celtics went nuclear heading into the break and it's no coincidence their hot steak occurred immediately after Marcus Smart's return to the lineup. If Boston is going to get hot on the road to and through the postseason, it'll be because Smart is continuing to thrive as a facilitator.

4. NBA Finals matchup and champion?

Warriors vs. Bucks; Warriors in seven. Klay Thompson is your Finals MVP.

Jake Levin, Web Producer, NBC Sports Boston

1. Where will the Celtics finish in the Eastern Conference?

The Celtics will finish as the fifth seed.

2. How far will the Celtics advance in the playoffs?

The Celtics will lose to Bucks in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals.

3. Who will be the X factor (other than the Jays) if the Celtics are going to have success down the stretch and in the postseason?

The emergence of Robert Williams as a legitimate third star. Not many teams in East have an answer for a big like that.

4. NBA Finals matchup and champion?

Bucks over Warriors in six.