Former Knicks Player Calls Celtics 'Guaranteed' To Win Eastern Conference originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

A former NBA player expects the Boston Celtics to go deep into the playoffs.

Iman Shumpert began his career with the New York Knicks and won a championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he wouldn't make a biased selection to win the Eastern Conference. The ESPN analyst opined on Monday's "The Pat McAfee Show" that the Celtics are the only team capable of making the NBA Finals competitive, and he doesn't see anybody stopping them from getting there.

"I think Boston is the one team that can make this a good series," Shumpert said. "And I think they are the guaranteed team, at the moment, at least from what my eyes see. (They) are the only team that could come out of the East."

Boston's path back to the NBA Finals would run through New York if both teams win their first-round matchups. The Celtics took a 3-1 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, and the Knicks evened their series with the Atlanta Hawks to 2-2 on Saturday.

While Shumpert would like to see his old team make its first NBA Finals appearance since 1999, he doesn't believe the Knicks have the depth to sustain a title push.

"That would be amazing, but I can't see New York doing it this year," Shumpert said. "...You have to be able to play 10. I don't think New York goes as deep, especially not with the trust. Their trust lies at the top of their roster, and I'm talking about the very top."

Shumpert explained why he anticipates the Celtics avenging last year's elimination if they face the Knicks.

"In the later rounds, I can't see it as much for the Knicks as I want to," Shumper continued. "I just see Boston being able to match up because they have a deeper bench, because they live and die from three. A lot of teams go out here and they try to give you a healthy diet of just playing the right way. Boston puts the pressure on you to play like them."

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