The Celtics are getting national media love

Leading up to their matchup with the 23-0 Golden State Warriors, the Celtics are receiving the most national media attention they've received for a regular season game since before the Brad Stevens era.

Tonight's 6pm episode of Sportscenter is being aired live from the TD Garden and ESPN has actually been talking about the C's the last couple days.

Of course most of the attention has to do with the Warriors being in town, but the fact that Boston is off to their best start in five years including huge win on ESPN a couple nights ago is definitely helping their cause.

As a fan, it's exciting to see that they're not only getting recognition from national media personalities, they're getting praise.

On ESPN's First Take earlier today, Stephen A. Smith predicted a narrow 115-110 victory for Golden State and acknowledged that he is impressed with what he has seen from the Celtics this year:

"I think it's going to be a nail biter. I think it's something that's going to be impressive on the part of Boston, I just don't think they can close the deal," said Stephen A. "I'm very impressed with what I've seen from Boston, I just think when all is said and done I don't know if they can stop this offensive juggernaut."

Skip Bayless on the other hand had a little more confidence in the C's, guaranteeing a victory for the green in the case that Klay Thompson doesn't play:

"If Klay Thompson cannot play, they will lose this game tonight," said Bayless. "Boston has been very good, especially at home."

Recently on Zach Lowe's "The Lowe Post" podcast, ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy added his name to the rapidly growing list of people who are going out on a limb and predicting that the Celtics will end the Warriors' seemingly unstoppable run:

"I think Boston will get 'em on Friday," Van Gundy said. "I think Boston is such a great defensive team, with a great home court."

Van Gundy did acknowledge that this is quite a bold prediction and if the Warriors win it won't be the first time they've proven him wrong this season:

"But the truth be told, I thought Toronto would get them as well ... but the Warriors proved they could handle that too."

To sum up that last part of the quote, predicting that any team is going to beat the Warriors as well as determining how they'll do so is like throwing shit at a wall and hoping something sticks. We're about a month in a half into the season and no one has figured them out yet, so to say with confidence that they're going to lose is just foolish.

But that isn't stopping me because I'm predicting that the Celtics will beat the Warriors tonight too.

The idea of our hometown team proving themselves against one of the best teams in NBA history is certainly intriguing and if I'm right I look like a genius.

I think that's every Celtics' fans logic right now, so we should be even more encouraged that professional analysts who have no rooting interest in the game are saying that it will be a close contest.


Follow Jack Bardsley on Twitter @BostonsBigFour

Photo Credit: USA Today Sports via Boston.com