by Bruce Bostwick

Created on: January 23, 2009   Last Updated: April 05, 2009

As far as the Boston Celtics go, they are the defending champions going into the post-season but will have a tougher road to get the NBA Championship again. Unlike last season, there may not be home court throughout again and it is very critical for any team to obtain it. With Kevin Garnett having some injury issues with his knee, it is going to be much more difficult no matter how successful they can be without him. Looking even further into the history of the Boston Celtics, it would seem that the last repeat was during the Celtics dominate years from 1957 to 1966 and the last being from 1968 to 1969. The odds are not for it but if they got to the finals, expect them to win as they got a 17-3 record overall.

To understand how much more difficult could it be, there are at least a few possible teams that may have something to say about a repeat. It is never an easy task no matter what team it is so this is no knock on them, but just stating there are possible teams that could have something to say about that.

Orlando in the regular season split the season series against them and it could make a difference on home court. Then again, the Magic have been very sharp on the road so it could force the Celtics to win on the road and if they are the same as last season, the road may give them a lot of problems.

In the east, Cleveland may be able to give them a serious run for their money as last time they faced off in the post-season; it was a series that the home team won every game. There are questions that had the Cavaliers had the home court against the Celtics, would the outcome have been different? That is going to be interesting and if they don't have home court against this team, it could spell potential disaster. That doesn't mean it's a guarantee but home court is very critical in that match. Cleveland and Boston have been pretty much even with the home team winning each battle.

Los Angeles Lakers gave them fits beating them twice in the regular season. There is a chip on that teams shoulder to win getting revenge against the same Celtics team that beat them for the NBA Championship. Kobe Bryant is looking to redeem himself and wants to prove that he can win a championship without Shaq as part of the franchise. Phil Jackson needs one more ring to have ten as a coach, which would make it the most of any coach of all-time. With that said, it would be hard to bet against perhaps one of the top coaches in the league.

The other team would be The San Antonio Spurs. Now, the reason to mention to this team is because when they've gone to the finals, they have never lost. Plus, there is an odd number sequence going on with them. You have guys like Duncan getting it going for the team and perhaps another great coach in Gregg Popovich. Sure, they are getting older but it doesn't mean count them out.

To answer the question, they could repeat it but it does not mean they will. It is a very hard question to answer but there is a chance they could. It is simply going to be much more difficult to pull off than last season.

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