Which Boston team will go deeper in playoffs: Celtics or Bruins?

Not many cities have been able to have both winter sports teams considered championship contenders the last few seasons.

Actually, none have except for Boston. (Shout out to any Toronto fans asking "what about us?" I said both winter sports teams.)

With that said, "who goes further between the Bruins and Celtics?" is relatively low-hanging fruit among discussion topics, but this year it's probably the closest it's ever been since the Bruins starting making the playoffs again in 2016-17.

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Here's how it's been the last three years:

• 2016-17: Bruins lost in first round; Celtics lost in Eastern Conference Finals
• 2017-18: Bruins lost in second round; Celtics lost in Eastern Conference Finals
• 2018-19: Don't wanna talk about it; Celtics lost in second round

Here's how each team's chances compare this year: 

THE CELTICS

- Easier road to the Finals
- Smaller chance of beating West champ
- Bigger health concerns (Do we know that Kemba will be OK?)

For as nonexistent a frontcourt as the Celtics have, they also might have the best roster in the East. They don't have a Giannis, but if Jayson Tatum is at the height of his powers, they might have the second-best player in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Plus, they have at least two other stars, and unlike in Philly, they work together. Also unlike Philly (and as Michael Holley will tell you, Milwaukee), they have a really good coach.

The Celtics have a better chance of winning the conference than the Bruins do. They don't match up well against the Sixers, but it's Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid against the Celtics in the postseason. Home-court advantage won't exist for the Bucks, who were 28-3 at home before the stoppage. If you're a betting person, +700 odds for the C's to win the East is delicious.

If and when they do win the East, the Celtics will probably lose to either the Lakers or the Clippers. I don't think they'll win the NBA Finals, but they'll get there, which is more than you can usually say with confidence about an NHL team.

One question that we're not really asking enough, though: How is Kemba Walker? He was a bit touch and go with that knee injury as the season wore on, scoring 20 points (his season average is 21.2) in just two of the last 10 games he played, and he missed nine games over that span.

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THE BRUINS

- Tougher road to the Cup Finals
- Would (fine, should) beat the West's best
- Have the season's best player at the most important position

Nobody considers the Celtics the best team in the NBA. The Bruins are a toss-up with Tampa for the best team in the NHL.

If the Bruins reach the Cup Final, they should win it, just like they should have last year. The problem will be getting there.

A Tampa series would be a pick 'em. Washington could also give them trouble, as could Philly, who really found themselves over the course of the season. Plus, because it's the NHL, some random-ass team will emerge that never does in the NBA.

There's certainly no need to worry about any sort of fatigue after playing into June last season. They've had plenty of rest and they're a top team in the league any way you slice it. Their biggest obstacle is having to grind their way through the East, which they didn't have to do last season.

• Bean: So what if NBA, NHL seasons have asterisks?

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So which team goes deeper?

The safe answer is the Celtics because it's easy to see them having a path to the finals, but if the question is which team has a better shot at winning a title, it's Bruins all the way. 

It’ll change a hundred times over the next couple of months, but right now I’ll lean Celtics.