You know life as a sports fan is pretty good when you get to ask this question and it’s legitimately difficult to answer. But for Boston fans, it’s a good question.
Boston has won 10 championships since 2001 – at least one for all four teams – and in 2018, all four teams are title contenders. The Patriots have played in the last two Super Bowls (winning one of them) and will once again be the favorites to win the AFC. The Bruins have splashed back onto the playoff scene ever since Bruce Cassidy took over as head coach last February. The Celtics came up a game short of the NBA Finals without their two best players and, with LeBron James now heading to the Lakers, should be the favorites to win the Eastern Conference next year. And the Red Sox currently have won more games in 2018 than any other team in baseball.
All is well in Boston right now, so the only question to ask is … which team will be the next to win a championship? Let’s take a look at each one.
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox will have the first opportunity to win since they are the only team currently in season. J.D. Martinez and Mookie Betts are both having incredible seasons at the plate as they continue their home run race (can’t wait to see who wins that), and Chris Sale continues to be one of the best pitchers in baseball. But in order to win the World Series in October, their starting pitchers will have to conquer their previous playoff demons. Sale struggled in the ALDS against the Astros last year, and Boston’s other ace, David Price, has a very thick reputation of crumbling in playoff games. The Red Sox might have one of the greatest regular seasons in franchise history, but winning in October is a different beast. Pitching is everything in the postseason, and it will be difficult to overcome those issues.
Boston Bruins
The Bruins had a great season last year, finishing second in the Eastern Conference. They have a plethora of young studs like David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, Jake DeBrusk and Ryan Donato, and these kids should give the Bruins a solid competitive core for years to come. The tricky thing about winning in the Stanley Cup playoffs, however, is you have to get a little bit lucky. The players have to get on a hot streak, they have to get the lucky bounces, and most importantly, the goaltender has to be zoned in for four consecutive playoff series – and that is not easy to do. Tuukka Rask is a really good goalie, but it’s hard to trust him in the playoffs.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics should have the most competitive team they’ve had in years. If everyone stays healthy, their starting five should consist of Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, Al Horford, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown … that is, assuming Danny Ainge doesn’t make any more deals before the season starts. I don’t think there is a team in the Eastern Conference that can beat them, so chances are pretty good that the Celtics will be in the 2019 NBA Finals. But the problem, as always, is the Golden State Warriors. With a lineup of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and DeMarcus Cousins, they are easy favorites to win their third straight title. The Celtics will just have to keep pushing forward.
New England Patriots
The Patriots have been a championship contender every year for almost two decades, and they will be again in 2018. They still have the greatest quarterback of all time in Tom Brady and the greatest coach of all time in Bill Belichick, and that’s really all they’ve ever needed to be successful. The Patriots will once again be the team to beat in the AFC, and they might just be the favorites to win the Super Bowl. Only time will tell, but as always, they are a pretty good pick.
As for which Boston team will be the next to win a title, I have to give my vote to the Pats. Of all the great athletes and coaches currently playing for the city, none of them win better than Belichick and Brady.
Poll
Which Boston team will be the next to win a title?
This poll is closed
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56%
Patriots
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27%
Red Sox
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13%
Celtics
-
2%
Bruins