Which teams are capable of denying these Celtics a title repeat? The list is short but formidable.

Banner No. 19 still looks like it's in the cards, but there are two serious threats, and one honorable mention, that could stand in Boston's way.

Jayson Tatum and the Celtics came out strong against the Cavaliers on Friday before blowing their major lead. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

By Chad Finn, The Boston Globe

March 1, 2025

4 minutes to read

Question: Who do you believe can beat the Celtics?

Oh, sure. Right. The Pistons. They did just that Wednesday night. Handed the Celtics’ their worst loss of the season, too — a 117-97 defeat that ended the defending champs’ six-game winning streak.

The Pistons were excellent. Cade Cunningham looked like a future first-team All-NBA selection. Malik Beasley turned into an honorary Curry. Isaiah Stewart did all of his mauling within the rules.

Nice little turnaround they’ve got going there … and yes, that’s supposed to sound as condescending as it reads.

The feel-good Pistons are not beating the Celtics — who were finishing up a back-to-back and often looked like it — when there are any stakes. You, me, and Bill Laimbeer’s stupid face know that.

So let’s rephrase the question: Who worries you as a Celtics postseason opponent?

Who is capable of ending their reign and their quest for a repeat even with the Celtics in full health?

The list is short, and I do like the Celtics’ chances of collecting Banner 19 if their top seven or eight players remain upright and in good condition.

But I do see two serious threats, and an honorable mention.

The honorable mention is the Nuggets, who won the title two years ago and, while less talented top to bottom now, still feature Nikola Jokic, a tough matchup for everyone with his Larry Bird/Arvydas Sabonis/Bill Walton beautiful amalgam of skills.

I don’t care if the Nuggets start Jokic and four of Moses Malone’s friends from Petersburg, Va., they’d find a way to make it tough on the Celtics. Wouldn’t beat them, but would scare them.

Now about those serious threats: Oklahoma City, featuring MVP front-runner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, entered Friday leading the Western Conference by nine games with a 47-11 record.

They are the rare team with the perimeter defense to agitate Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and they might unlock another level once Chet Holmgren fully shakes off the rust from his hip injury. He had 22 points and 17 rebounds in the Thunder’s win over the Nets Wednesday, so maybe he’s already back to full strength.

The Thunder beat the Celtics in their last meeting back on Jan. 5, turning a 10-point halftime deficit into a 13-point win. They meet for the second and final time this season — or during this regular season, anyway — on March 12 at the Garden. It’s the rare game this season in which the Celtics will have something to prove.

As for the other serious threat … no, it’s not the Lakers, even with Luka ‘n’ LeBron. They’re not going anywhere beyond a round or two unless Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is secretly pulling off some Benjamin Button trick he’s about to reveal. They don’t have the size — or at least height — and their recent defensive uptick is a mirage.

And don’t even mention the Knicks. Their defensive shortcomings against the Celtics are incurable.

That threat was the Celtics’ opponent Friday night: the Cavaliers.

They roared out of the blocks to start this season, winning their first 15 games, sustained their success by winning 33 of their first 37, and entered Friday night’s matchup with the Celtics at TD Garden roaring again. With their 123-116 victory, the Cavaliers have won nine in a row and 13 of 14.

It should be noted that the Celtics are the team that ended the Cavaliers’ winning streak to start the season with a 120-117 victory on Nov. 19, and they are also the lone team to take down the Cavaliers in the last 14 — with a 112-105 win on Feb. 4. Cleveland did beat Boston by 4 on Dec. 1.

Friday’s game held more meaning to the 49-10 Cavaliers, who lead the Celtics in the Eastern Conference by 7½ games, but cannot be considered anything more than a hopeful challenger until the champs are dethroned. The win gave them a split in the regular season and some confidence heading into what feels like an inevitable meeting in the Eastern Conference finals.

The most fortunate break the Celtics caught during their journey to the title last year was the season-ending injury to Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell three games into their Eastern Conference semifinals series. The Celtics led the series, 2-1, when Mitchell went down, then won Games 4 and 5 by a combined 22 points. The Celtics still would have won the series had the electrifying Mitchell remained healthy, but it would have been more difficult, and the Cavaliers are a far better coached team this season.

Maybe you’ve heard of an old theory, ascribed to Phil Jackson. If you want to figure out who the true championship contenders are, look at the teams that get to 40 wins before they lose 20 games.

It’s not a foolproof system — trades and injuries can change pretenders into contenders and vice versa — but it is compelling.

This season, three teams won 40 before they lost 20.

The Thunder. The Cavaliers. And the Celtics.

That’s it. That’s the list. The defending champs, and the two — perhaps only two — teams that have a genuine chance to keep the Celtics, presuming they’re at full strength, from becoming the champs again.