The NBA season is among us and expectations are high for specific teams to prosper. Boston is a lively city that thrives on its sports environment. The Boston Celtics appear to be one of the top-contending teams in the Eastern Conference to make it to the finals. Based on Bleacher Report, NBC Sports, and other NBA reporters, announcers and statistical tracking websites, the Boston Celtics are consistently among the top three expected to make it to the Eastern Conference finals, alongside the Philadelphia 76ers and the Milwaukee Bucks. The Celtics edge out the 76ers slightly, but there is more competition between them and the Bucks. Many think that this year’s NBA Finals will be between the Golden State Warriors and the Milwaukee Bucks, but the Boston Celtics are still in contingency for the top spot in the east.
These reviews and thoughts of experts who follow and analyze basketball for a living. So, it begs the question as to what students’ expectations are for the NBA season, specifically relating to the Boston Celtics. 57% of students who responded to a survey conducted follow the NBA, so the results of this survey are mainly based on gut feeling or popular knowledge about the league. In addition, of those who responded, only 28% were Boston Celtics fans, but about 57% said they would support the Celtics. Students were asked whether or not they think they would make it to the playoffs this year and not one respondent said no, with approximately 43% saying maybe and 57% saying yes. To follow this up, students were asked whether they thought they would make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. This is where the numbers began to drop off, as only about 14% students said yes and50% said maybe. Lastly, they were asked whether the Boston Celtics would win the NBA Championship this year. Again, the numbers fell even more, with only about 7% saying yes and an overwhelming majority of about 71% saying no.
Even though about half of the students surveyed do not follow the NBA, their responses lined up pretty well to those who do. It’s evident that students listen to sports talk around them and have interest in the NBA, even if they do not necessarily follow it. In fact, 93% of survey respondents said they would go to an NBA game if they could. As of right now, the Boston Celtics have proved to be one of the best teams in the NBA this year, but it is still very early in the season. As of November 14, they are 11-3, and the number one team in the Eastern Conference. A lot can happen between now and the beginning of playoffs in April.
Will the city of Boston continue to support its team and will the Celtics rise to the top? We must wait and watch to find out if Jayson Tatum can carry them to victory.