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 (16.1 per outing) and splashed them at a higher clip (37.9 percent) than the Celtics (15.5 and 36.4, respectively).”
Buckley's take adds intrigue to the postseason picture, especially with Charlotte's explosive offense led by young stars. Boston's defense remains elite, but facing a team that shoots 37.9% from deep could force adjustments.
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