The Boston Celtics are the favourites to win the Eastern Conference this season and their players are doing little to play down their chances of winning a championship. 

Superstar Kyrie Irving is the latest to talk up their potential ahead of the new campaign and what they can achieve. 

The five-time All-Star is already setting his sights on a possible meeting with the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. 

Eyes on the prize

In a recent interview with ESPN's Jackie MacMullan, he declared that he'd be disappointed if they didn't make it to the conference finals and believes they can beat the defending champions from Oakland. 

"Can we beat Golden State in a seven-game series? Yes," Irving said. 

When asked why he was so sure, he replied: "Because of who we have and what we're establishing here, not just for this season, but for hopefully for the next few years, something that's pretty special.

"I've played against Golden State in three straight Finals (2015-17) -- two that I was able to participate in -- and seeing them evolve, with the talent they have, and then adding DeMarcus Cousins [this offseason], it's like 'OK, the whole league is on notice.'

"But there's one factor that they're aware of, and I'm aware of, and that's that I've seen them up close.

"I've played them so many times. We've gone in a seven-game series [when he was in Cleveland], so I know what it takes.

"Now, how do I communicate to our guys that this is the top-tier team, and we have to grow immensely in the next six months to beat them consistently?

"Not just one game, not just two, but in a seven-game series, because they're so dang great. They're a powerhouse."

Loaded roster

With a roster that includes Kyrie, Gordon Hayward, Al Horford, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, the C's are a deep and hugely talented team that have all the tools to challenge the Warriors. 

Some people believe Boston may have too much talent at their disposal which could create problems but the 26-year-old says that the competition will only make them work harder. 

"The drive for greatness, the drive to win a championship, that's all I care about," he said. "The rest of it doesn't matter."

The Celtics begin their training camp next week and tip off the new season with a mouthwatering clash against one of their biggest rivals in the east, the Philadelphia 76ers, on October 16.

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