So far this preseason, we have seen a variety of different rotations and player pairings. The last two games, we have seen a glimpse of what the future might look like. Jaylen Brown has started all three games so far, but Jayson Tatum has joined him in the last two. Monday night had a lot to do with rest, but on Friday nobody was resting and they started with the new Big Three. Could this be the lineup that hangs Banner 18 somewhere down the road? Preseason is a time to look at different things to see what works and who plays well together. Stevens is looking into the future with this lineup.
BROTHERLY LOVE
Jaylen Brown took Jayson Tatum under his wing during Summer League. By the end of the first practice they were already pushing each other to get better. They are both number-three overall picks from the last two drafts. Brown is ready to show Tatum the path through his rookie year, having just been through it himself. Tatum can use the guidance, often looking like a wide-eyed rookie seeking answers off the court. On the court, though, he has the confidence of a veteran. He is still working through some kinks, but he can play at a high level. So when will he join the starting ranks, as Brown looks to do this season? The chemistry of these two will be pivotal to this team going forward.
MAKING IT WORK
On the court, there is still a lot of work to be done for these two. The biggest adjustment for each will be playing with other great scorers that are better equipped to get buckets. It’s going to be a challenge to defer as much as they’ll have to do as starters. We might not see Tatum in the starting lineup this season because of this. He is the best scorer in the second unit, but he won’t need to score with the first team. His coach did give him a vote of confidence recently, saying he is “beyond his years defensively.” This could earn him minutes with the first team.
Brown will have an interesting time trying to fit in. If he focuses on defense first, everything should work itself out. He won’t be able to take the ball and drive as much as he would like. Offensively, he will probably be the last option with the first unit. Improving his cuts and movement without the ball should be priority. The other starters all see the court and pass really well. He must take advantage of this to be effective on offense.
THE FUTURE
Perhaps even more important than fitting in with the others, though, is fitting in with each other. These guys aren’t even 21 yet, and will more than likely be with the Celtics for a long time. They could both be here well after the Big Three break up, still keeping the Celtics at the top of the league as the leaders of the team somewhere down the road. It’s tough to think this far ahead, but when you see the potential of these two players, you almost have to project it out like that.
Tatum and Brown haven’t shown much on-court chemistry thus far, but have become great friends off the court in a few short months. It is only a matter of time before we see this chemistry bleed onto the court. When it does, Tatum will be pushing hard for a starting job. We will see the Celtics trying to balance between winning now and building something that can win for a long time this season. Brown is expected to start this season despite probably not being the most talented immediate option. It is going to be frustrating at times, but player development is still the Number One priority for the C’s this year. They must focus on developing these two especially so they can sustain their success into the foreseeable future.
ONE MORE PRESEASON GAME
With only one preseason game left, hopefully these two get to start together again to build more on-court chemistry. I would expect the Big Three to play, with this game the last chance to build together before the season. Terry looked great on Monday, so it would be nice to see him have another promising performance. Unfortunately Aron Baynes went down with a left knee sprain, so we will need the few backup bigs we have in Daniel Theis and Guerschon Yabusele to step up and be ready at the start of the season. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a big man get signed in the next week.
With a lot of assumptions on who will start this season, the general public agrees that Marcus Morris will be a regular starter. The question is, when can we count on him to be a reliable option comfortable with the team’s schemes, as well as his teammates? Thankfully, his court case has concluded, and he is finally with the team. He and his brother, Markieff, were acquitted of all charges, so the twins won’t face any suspensions.
It is a blessing that Morris joined the team before the regular season started. While I outlined a few possibilities for the starting lineup in his absence, he might be ready to start in the first game of the regular season. Stevens didn’t play him in his first game with the team because he “didn’t want to throw him into the fire right away.” Thankfully he is acclimating in the preseason, and there are still two games left for him to get up to speed.
“BOSTON GOT A DOG”
Despite knowing well before game time that he wouldn’t play on Friday night against the 76ers, Morris suited up, headband and all. He went through warm ups and sat on the bench with the team. Further, he was arguably the loudest cheerleader on the bench all night. It was great to see a guy bring that type of energy after just joining the team. It is clear that he is happy to be a part of the Celtics and excited to get back to basketball.
Nothing but love for Detroit!! Thanks for everything. Time to get to it ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️#BostonGottaDOG!!!!!!
The team will count on him to bring that energy and intensity, on and off the court, in practice and games. This team lost some of its ferocity with all the off-season moves, but there are still guys capable of bringing it. Morris is one of those guys. He prides himself on being a hustle player that won’t back down from anyone.
TALK THE TALK, WALK THE WALK
In the first preseason game against the Hornets, the Celtics tried to figure out how to play together. Unlike the Celtics teams we as fans are used to, there was a sense of shyness and everyone just playing nice with one another. In the second game, Morris was very vocal, albeit from the bench, and the players fed into it. This is going to be key for these guys building chemistry on and off the floor this season. They need a guy willing to break the ice with a strong voice because of all the newness. Morris came in and did just that in a matter of days, without even seeing the court. In case you were wondering, he’s ready to go to work.
“I gotta be the tough guy on the team, the protector. Guys knocking my guys down, I can’t have that. So I gotta be the bully.”
The Celtics badly need someone to fulfill this role this year, and Morris relishes in it. The other Marcus on the team will appreciate Morris for making things a little easier on him in this regard. I anticipate these two being the loudest on the team. Together, they will hound opposing teams and make things uncomfortable. Another guy that brings an intensity the Celtics have lacked in recent years is Aron Baynes. He brings an ability to take up space and be an enforcer in the paint, especially defensively. Morris and Baynes played together on the Pistons and were both enforcers. Look for them to do the same in Boston.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Besides toughness, Morris brings another wing player capable of playing both ends of the floor. In two seasons with the Pistons, he averaged 14 ppg. In February 2017, he had two 35+ point games, so he has shown he can step up when the other starters are struggling offensively. He is a more than capable scorer, but also a guy willing to make the extra pass when necessary. He won’t disrupt the flow of the offense, making him a good fit with the first unit. While he has never been a beast on the glass, averaging 4.2 rebounds on his career, playing with Andre Drummond didn’t allow him to pull down as many boards as he could have. Playing next to Horford in the starting lineup should spike his rebound numbers.
Morris also does not get enough credit for his defense. We know he is willing to be the bully, but can he actually stay in front of his man? Will he be able to switch defensively when he needs to? If his performance against Lebron James in the 2016 Playoffs was any indication, I’d say he’s an underrated defender capable of more than he has shown on a nightly basis. James had has his worst playoff series guarded by Morris, averaging 23-9-7 on .49/.21/.73 shooting through four games. Not bad numbers, but Morris was able to keep James mostly out of the paint. A quarter of his shots were threes, uncharacteristic of James. Playing for a contender should bring out the best in him on the defensive side of the ball.
BROTHERLY LOVE
The Celtics-Wizards have created one of the newest NBA rivalries, eclipsed by a seven-game series in last years playoffs. However, the instigators in Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Avery Bradley, even Kelly Olynyk and Jonas Jerebko are gone now. Morris is a trash talker and would normally love to be involved in these types of games, but his twin brother is on the Wizards, making this “rivalry” all but nonexistent shortly after its start.
It will still be fun, however, to see the twins go after each other, as it always is. If it weren’t for the jerseys, it would look like there was some sort of mirror on the court. They even have all of the same tattoos, making it borderline impossible to distinguish between the two. There has even been a conspiracy that one has suited up in place of the other because of injury, and honestly, there’s no way to tell if this has ever happened or not. It is one of the more hilarious conundrums in sports, and while I doubt it has ever happened or ever will, it’s fun to act like the Celtics have a backup Morris in the playoffs after they inevitably take down the Wizards, again.
The NBA released the 2017 GM surveys, and Marcus Smart keeps getting overlooked by the league. The GMs voted for What bench player makes the biggest impact when he enters the game, and Marcus did not even receive a single vote. Take a look:
Yes, correct. Not even a single vote. Despite Marcus having his best season yet. Let’s take a look at his numbers last season:
10.6 Points, 4.6 Assists
3.9 Rebounds
1.6 Steals
2.0 TOs
When we talk about the most complete player of the bench, Marcus Smart tops the list. Smart did have another terrible shooting year, with splits of .359/.283/.812. But Marcus impacts winning like no other bench player. From diving for a ball, to deflections, to grabbing big time rebounds in crunch time or grabbing a loose ball, he does a bit of everything that don’t show up in the traditional stat sheet. And we don’t even need to mention his defense.
Marcus had more points, more assists and the same rebounding averages as Iggy. No disrespect to Iguodala, he’s an important piece for the Warriors. When I look at that list, I see scorers. Players that only play one side of the ball. Gordon is a tremendous scorer but nothing more. He’s not a key defensive player, nor a play maker. Same could be said for Jamal and Lou Williams.
Of all of those players, only Igoudala can impact a game on both ends of the floor.
So why no mention for Marcus?
MARCUS NO-BUCKETS
The only logical reason rests on Marcus’ offensive game. Marcus has a career shooting splits of .358/.291/.762 — not great. He’s not the instant bucket guy that you look for off the bench. But what do we define as impactful?
BIG TIME BOARDS
When Marcus is not scoring, he’s doing this:
With five seconds left, Crowder takes a corner three and missed. And look who comes flying down to keep the ball alive for Al to score and to give the Celtics the lead. That’s impact.
Same situation here. A missed shot and another big time put-back by Smart over the defense.
At the end of the day, Celtics know the impact Marcus have for this team. The GM’s have yet to open their eyes and see Marcus impact, but with a even bigger role of the bench this season, we will see different opinions around the league.
Marcus Smart says Stevens wanted to start him last night but Smart told Stevens that he wanted to come off bench/that he relishes that role.
C´s won with a Final Score of 94 – 82. This was our first look with the new team, and what a fun night!
BALL MOVEMENT
The game started with some ugly missfires, as expected, but the ball movement was excellent. The C´s had eight buckets in seven dimes to start the game. Everyone was unselfish and the ball did not stick with just one player.
Check this out:
The Celtics are going to be really tough to guard once they figure some things out: pic.twitter.com/Y1FVUcjXNc
And yes, that is Kyrie dunking. I have seen Kyrie dunk twice his entire career. It was surprising to see him dunk, but I bet my money we won´t see much of it comes the regular season. Kyrie finished the game (only played first half) with nine points and five rebounds. G-Hayward added five and five. Al was really impressive with seven points, six rebounds and four assists in just 16 minutes of action. He and Hayward also did not play in the second half.
BAYNES, MR ALL-AUSTRALIA
Aaron Baynes was the the man of the night, for multiple reasons as you will find out later. The big guy punched in 10 points and grabbed five rebounds. But the stats won´t tell the entire story. He was hustling, contesting shots, playing good defense and really looked good taking and making the mid-range jump shots.
Marcus Smart came off the bench, was on pace to take 16 threes and did what Marcus does, hustle and have winning plays. He hit three of seven from beyond the arc. Jayson Tatum looked a bit nervous, as result, some ugly shots and misses. This was expected, as a 19-year old rookie basically trying to do everything right in his first career NBA game. He did settle down later on, finishing with nine points.
The rookie from Germany, Daniel Theis, really put in an impressive performance. In just 14 minutes of action, he piled up 12 points, seven rebounds and three assists. From catching lobs, to setting picks and rolling to the hoop, to rebounding. He did it all. Celtics Nation should not overreact to this, because it was against players who will probably never see the floor with the Hornets. Don’t forget — just preseason, but the results look encouraging. Theis has more experience and eventually will end up as a rotation player ahead of Yabu.
Abdel added 10 points. Larkin really kept the ball moving with the second unit. Nice showing in the limited minutes played. Yabu also seemed a little bit nervous, but he did hit the offensive glass hard multiple times.
Lots of positives in the first game, but remember, it´s just the preseason. Slow down on the hot-take cannons for now.
TOMMY SAID WHAT?
Regular season has yet to begin and Tommy is already at it:
The Celtics first preseason game tips off Monday at home vs the Charlotte Hornets. They play a total of just four preseason games- two with the Hornets and two against the 76ers. This means an even shorter time period for this team to get on the same page. As a result, the first unit might get more minutes than expected.
First, let’s take a look at the potential starters. This team will be starting four new players, and not all the positions are locked up yet. We can count on Irving, Hayward, and Horford starting. The general consensus expects inserting Jaylen Brown and Marcus Morris in the lineup, but both have question marks.
Jaylen Brown vs. Marcus Smart
Brown is just young and will be challenged. A lot of people like Marcus Smart as the do-it-all sixth man. I agree, but Stevens won’t just give Brown the starting nod; he’s going to have to earn it. He will do this with defense. “We need Jaylen to be an elite defender this year,” says his coach. The length this lineup would have two to five would be remarkable with a 6’7 player being the second shortest on the court. This makes it tough for offenses to get in the paint and it and closes up the passing lanes. Additionally, switches would be seamless, making screens less effective for opponents.
Smart’s ability to initiate and run the offense could keep him in his role as the sixth man. Brown isn’t there yet, and would thrive alongside the play makers in the first unit. The shoe just fits for Brown to start and Smart to lead the second team. Smart will probably pick up some starts, though. He’ll be the first man inserted in if anyone 1-4 misses any time.
Keep an eye on whether Smart’s shot has improved with all the work he has put in this summer. If his offensive game takes a big step forward, he will be tough to keep on the bench. Even if he doesn’t typically start, I would bet he finishes games more often than not.
Marcus Morris vs.. Justice?
Morris finds himself in a unique situation. He should start now that Crowder is gone. However, he has a criminal case pending and hasn’t been with the team during the trial. Even if he is available for the first game I doubt Stevens thrusts him into the starting lineup without any practice with the team.
This makes for an interesting situation until Morris joins the team. Stevens will likely go small and start both Smart and Brown in the meantime. This extends his deadline on choosing a starter and allows him to see which is a better fit in the first unit.
BENCH: WHO STEPS UP IN PRESEASON?
Panning out the starters will be interesting, but the bench remains more of a question mark for this team. We know Irving and Hayward can play, even Marcus Morris. But what about Yabusele and Theis? Can Larkin and Rozier carve out roles or will this team focus more on length and versatility? This option points to more young talent in rookies Jayson Tatum, Semi Ojeleye, and Abdel Nader.
Plenty of opportunities exist in preseason for unproven players to try and find their way into the rotation. Preseason offers time to see who is ready to step up to handle more responsibility on the court. The Celtics are counting on improvement from key players, but also on some new guys fitting in as well. Let’s take a look at what the bench could bring to the table.
Jayson Tatum
Although he’s just a 19-year-old rookie, a lot of weight could fall on Tatum’s shoulders to carry the offense for the second unit. His ability to score anywhere from the floor with a deep arsenal of moves will come in handy. If he can provide solid defense, he could move into the starting lineup over a guy like Jaylen Brown. Tatum is more comfortable handling the ball, and would give the starting lineup possibly even more versatility than Brown.
Like Smart, I think Tatum fits better in the second unit, even if his talent might outshine that of some starters. He thrives in isolation and is known as a ball stopper, not someone who traditionally moves it like this team wants to do. The second unit is shaping up to be more of a half-court offense that uses more designed sets and plays at a slower pace. This will be beneficial to Tatum’s game if they give him the ball and let him work.
The first unit will play at a higher pace, getting out and running in transition. Tatum could thrive playing at a higher pace as well, but the way this team is constructed, we need a guy like Tatum in the second unit who can go and get a bucket on his own.
Guerschon Yabusele
Although comparable to former Celtic Jared Sullinger in terms of measurements (both around 6’9, 260, 7ft wingspan), fans will be pleased with Yabu’s explosiveness and mobility. He has earned the Dancing Bear nickname because of his quickness despite his size, something that should help him on both ends of the floor. A floor stretcher on offense, he shoots more than five threes a game (at a 36.4% clip last year in China). With his ability to drive and finish at the rim as well, he already has a pretty versatile offensive game.
The CBA isn’t a league known for its defense, but this highlight reel shows how well he can move for his size. We never, ever saw Sullinger jump or move like this. The biggest hurdle for him this year will be finding his spots; when to drive or cut, and when to run to the line for an open shot. If he can use his explosiveness to make a difference on the glass, we could see the Dancing Bear crack the starting lineup eventually. While many question whether his game will translate, early rumblings about Yabusele are all positive.
Aron Baynes
At 6′-10″ 260 lbs, Baynes is a true bruiser and takes up more space in the paint than anyone else on the team. There isn’t much to look for here, as we already know what the vet brings to the table. He will play much like Amir Johnson: in short spurts to rebound, defend, and set screens. He might even pick up a few starts in the process. Stevens could insert him at C against teams bigger in the front court, allowing Horford to slide over and play the four a bit more. Look to see if the two have developed any type of chemistry since Baynes got to Boston.
Daniel Theis
I’m very interested to see Theis in preseason. He is very fluid and seems to have a good feel for the game, much like the guy he will be playing behind, Al Horford. Still, nobody knows whether his game will translate from overseas. He averaged a solid 9.6ppg & 4.6 rpg on his way to three consecutive German League Championships. He was also named German League Best Defender last year. His versatility as a big should translate if he can keep his efficiency high (60% FG, 41% 3pt).
Terry Rozier vs. Shane Larkin
I love the pickup of Shane Larkin, if for no other reason to give Terry some healthy competition. Rozier has been comfortable in his limited role for his first two seasons. He did increase from 8 mpg to 17 in his second year, also averaging 17 mpg in the playoffs through 2 seasons. He has proven to be ready when called upon, but hasn’t been pushed by someone behind him on the depth chart until now. Will it push him further, or will he fall behind?
Larkin has played in big moments already. He has picked up multiple starts for both the Knicks and Nets in his three-year NBA career. In that time, he posted averages of 10.1ppg & 5.9apg. Last season, he played overseas in Euroleague and improved his game even further, averaging 13.3ppg. Many believe he is ready for an NBA comeback. Just turning 25, he still has a lot to prove.
“He really floats- he is an athlete. He can push tempo, but also change gears. He’s got a pace to him where he understands the other four guys he’s playing with. I’m a big fan of Shane Larkin,” says Stevens of one of the least talked about off-season acquisitions.
Speed Demon
The flip side of this is Terry Rozier. He only knows one gear, and that is top speed. Rather than floating to the open spots on the floor, he jolts around with the ball. A lot of times he runs into spots that aren’t open. This is the biggest criticism of Rozier’s game- he expects the team to play at his pace, not wanting to slow down to the pace of his teammates. If he can figure this element of the game out, he could be a great player. He has the intangibles, and he isn’t afraid of the big moment.
While Larkin gets the nod offensively, Rozier is a better defender. Learning behind Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart for two years has helped him turn his defensive skills into a big asset for this team. If he can keep the turnovers down and show further improvements defensively, he should usually come off the bench before Larkin.
The Celtics are transitioning into a team that wants to be as versatile as possible and can switch 1-5. This hurts the chances of undersized guards like Larkin and Rozier getting many minutes. There will still always be situations where Stevens sees a spot where one could be useful.
Semi Ojeleye vs. Abdel Nader
These two guys both fit the mold that Stevens wants in wing players that can switch 1-5 defensively and play both ends of the floor. Like Larkin and Rozier, you are getting offense with one and defense with the other. Nader already has a pretty polished offensive game. He is another guy like Tatum that you can call upon to get a bucket by himself. The 2nd unit is slim in scoring, so it is possible he cracks the rotation on nights the starters are struggling to score.
Ojeleye has less offensive moves, but can shoot well (42.4% 3pt on 5 att/game), and has the ability to bully opponents on the inside with his large 6’7 240 frame. If he uses his size to rebound and defend, he will get minutes. Coach Stevens has already given his defense high praise, saying he might be one of the best defenders on this team already. If he can bring that intensity along with a decent shot, he should typically come off the bench before Nader.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
The trends here are versatility and defense. The Celtics will no longer struggle to score as they have in the past. This will allow Stevens to focus more on putting his best defensive lineup on the floor, without sacrificing much offense. Even when using guys that are prone to defensive errors like Kyrie, he will pair them with lengthy players that can clog the lanes and make it tough for offenses to move around and get easy buckets.
The projected starting five of Irving-Brown-Hayward-Morris-Horford has much more length 1-5 than last years starters. While many argue this team gave up a lot of defensive hustle and grit, I would argue they added length to make up for it. This is something you can’t teach. If these guys all buy in, they have the defensive ability to be elite on that end of the floor. It will just be a much different look.
OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW
The old look was Bradley and Crowder getting up into players, making them uncomfortable and forcing turnovers. The new look will be more traditional defense, not having to make up for lack of size with hustle plays. Stevens has never had a team with the ability to switch like this team will. This should go a long way defensively.
It will be interesting to see the different lineups Stevens tries in preseason. He isn’t one to roll out the same lineup night in and night out. Rather, he plays to matchups, and I would expect to see a few different starting lineups this season. Preseason will be a good time to assess who can step in to certain roles and contribute. We should see everyone on the roster at some point in preseason, so there will be a lot to sort out. If one thing is for sure, it is going to be FUN. Let the games begin!
The Celtics have a final roster spot, but Andrew Bogut won’t be the player to fill that spot.
According to multiple reports, both the Celtics and the Cavs were in on Bogut, but the 32-year old vet decided to take his talents to LA. Now with just three days until training camp, Dany may still be looking to add some more talent to the team.
Boris Diaw is heading to France, Tyler Zeller to the Nets, Crawford to Minnesota. The options the Celtics now have are limited, but some impactful players remain in the market.
THOMAS ROBINSON
Between the Kyrie trade madness, the Celtics conducted a work out with the big man.
Sources: As Boston waits on finalization of Irving deal, free agent F/C Thomas Robinson working out at facility for possible roster spot.
The 6-10, listed at 237 lbs was drafted fifth overall in the 2012 NBA draft by the Kings, and played for six teams in the spam. Not ideal. But he´s only 26. Last season with the Lakers, in 48 games, he averaged 5.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, at just 11 mins per game.
But what could possibly attract Dany, is Robinson’s ability to rebound, and that’s an issue that keeps haunting the Celtics. Robinson has a impressive 25.5% defensive rebound percentage for his career. To put that in prospective, Kelly Olynyk lead the Celtics last year at 20.7%.
The only downside to Robinson is that he has not been sucked into the modern day NBA style. I refer to is his inability to stretch the floor. In the last couple seasons, Brad has relied heavily on bigs that can space the floor.
When Green is number two in this list, you know the market isn’t very big out there. But Gerald is a great locker presence, very important for a new team. And he helped turn the Bulls series around.
This will not be a popular option for the fans after the disappointing stint with the Celtics back in 2015. Celtics fan were excited to add the former dominant double-double PF. Lee played only 30 games with the Celtics before he was waived and picked up by the Mavericks.
Lee isn’t the same old Lee but he’s coming off a quiet, productive season with the mighty Spurs. In 18 minutes of action, the posted 7.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists, and shot 59 percent from the field. Lee turn down a $1.6 million option from the Spurs.
WHO ELSE?
Like mentioned before, the options are limited at this point of the off season. The chances are slim to find a player, whom will have any real impact on the team.
Notable free agent bigs still available: Lavoy Allen, Festus Ezeli and Jordan Hill.
Training camp is less than a week away and the basketball junkies are coming out of hibernation. Soon enough, a clearer picture of what we can expect the Celtics to look like will start to show itself. So, you’re probably expecting a post about how the Celtics are going to go all the way this year, right?!?
Well, this is the part where I tell you to temper expectations just a little bit. It’s an exciting time to be a Celtics fan, but moreover a fan of the NBA in general. A lot of teams have a similar buzz around them. The Celtics might have a tough time shining the brightest in the 2018 Playoffs. Even if they eclipse their previous high-water mark for the fourth consecutive year and reach the NBA Finals, a juggernaut will await. It won’t be a cake walk.
I wrote an article about how this team shouldn’t have any problems hitting the ground running, and I stick to that. We should see some amazing basketball out of the Celtics this year. Furthermore, I don’t think they’ll have many problems with team chemistry. This group of guys just seem to mesh together already; it’s the perfect mixture of skill sets ready to complement one another. Add in some colorful personalities to taste, and it smells like a recipe for success. The things I think will hold this team back initially all share a common thread – inexperience.
ON YOUR MARK…
Most of the players we had that gained playoff experience in the past few years are gone. Sure, Kyrie won a championship and should be a leader of the Celtics in time. Can we really expect a 25-year-old to lead even younger guys to the top of the NBA in less than a year, though? Stevens and Hayward have been to the championship stage before together in college but didn’t win. Horford won in college and should step further into a leadership role. All things considered, the reality is this team needs more experience before being catapulted into the history books.
Even further, they simply lack experience in terms of player age. Let’s face it: this is one of the youngest teams in the NBA. They will be relying on first- and second-year players making a big impact if they want to make a deep playoff run. Jaylen Brown did get meaningful PT last year in the playoffs. He was on the floor frequently in the ECF and was even tasked with guarding Lebron James at times. Jayson Tatum very well might be the best rookie in his class. And fellow rook “The Terminator” Semi Ojeleye might just contribute immediately on defense as Brad Stevens indicates. Regardless, this is a team with five rookies on guaranteed deals and 10 players 25 years of age or younger.
PLANT THE SEEDS AND WATCH THEM GROW
This team to me is complete. When I say that, I mean I don’t think they really need to add anything major to compete for championships. The biggest thing that is going to help them reach another level is organic growth in the coming years. The young stars, Jaylen and Jayson, need to continue to improve. Hopefully one or both will be ready for crucial starting roles within a couple years. The other rookies need to find ways to contribute as well, and the younger guards that have been here (Smart and Rozier) need to start showing leadership and growth.
Even the players at the top of the lineup are still getting better in Irving and Hayward. The only player that seems to have reached his peak playing level is Horford, and he still has some great years ahead of him. The dynamic of this team is exciting, but there are a lot of moving parts here. Only time will tell if they are all moving in the same direction.
BUELLER… BUELLER…..
So where will this team get its leadership? Kyrie will be expected to take on that role, and he seems ready for the challenge. Al Horford will be another guy the Celtics will lean on heavily this season to keep everybody focused on the goal of winning a championship, something he did twice in college at Florida. He is the oldest and most experienced player on the team at 31 with 10 years of NBA experience. Together these two have 144 playoff games good for 143 starts. But when you take them out of the equation, the situation is pretty grim; the rest of the team has a combined total of 114 playoff games under their belt, good for just 27 starts.
PLAYOFFS? WE TALKIN’ BOUT PLAYOFFS??
Getting down to brass tacks, I see this team finishing as the number-one seed in the East again, with a slightly better record than last year. I’ll peg them for 55-60 wins which should easily get them the top spot. The Cavs will be without Isaiah to start the season, trying to figure it out. When he does come back, they’ll have to reconfigure again.
The second round will be the first real test for the new look C’s, but don’t expect it to be a drawn out battle. The number-one seeded Celtics move on to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second consecutive year. Following the same narrative as last year, they run in to a team they have yet to see all season – the Playoff Cavaliers.
WHO ARE THESE GUYS?
There is no way to sugarcoat it. The Cavaliers are going to be in the Eastern Conference Finals, and they will be ready. Not only ready to play, but ready specifically to beat the Boston Celtics. There will be a guy by the name of Isaiah Thomas in the ECF, playing with a chip on his shoulder. Oh, and he’s going to have his friend Jae Crowder with him as well, ready to lock down Lebron James all game. Wait.. this is getting confusing. We can’t put Jae on Lebron?
Seriously, that’s going to be an issue. As if that weren’t enough, lining him up with Lebron on defense is going to be scary for any team. And then there’s the fact that, well, Lebron does a lot more than just play defense. Not to mention he’s going to be out to show Kyrie he made the wrong choice leaving Cleveland. When the best player in the world has your number, it’s never a good thing.
JUST BEING REAL, FOLKS
This series is going to be a classic, point blank period. The last time I was waiting for a particular series before the season started, it was the Celtics-Lakers in the Finals. It is simply the fate of these two teams to go the distance in the Conference Finals after all that has transpired. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but my prediction is the Celtics will lose to the Cavaliers in seven. The inexperience of the young C’s will show itself, and the Cavs will be more hungry for it this season. They will be out for revenge; the Celtics are just going to be taking it all in. The Cavs also don’t have the luxury of youth and (take a seat, Danny, your job is done) stability, and thus have more of a sense of urgency to win now.
All things considered, if the Celtics get this far, it’s not that far-fetched to see them advancing to the Finals. Anything can happen in a game seven, but I don’t think that scenario favors the Celtics. In the wise words of former Celtics coach Doc Rivers, “you never want the series to get to a game seven when the best player is on the other team.” He was talking about Lebron James, right after his Celtics team lost to the Heat in game seven of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals. Lebron had 45pts-15rbs-5ast in that game. Fast forward six years and I think the narrative proves to be eerily similar. The Celtics crawl a tad further into uncharted waters in their quest for Banner 18, but fall just shy of the NBA Finals this year.
Stay tuned for my upcoming article on when the Celtics will win their next championship!!
Media day will give us a chance to see the two newest Celtics, Kyrie and Hayward, with their new Celtics jersey. This also will give us the first look at the big three together. They’ll be joined by the rookies, highlighted by the number-three pick, Jayson Tatum. and new Celtics, Morris and Baynes.
In addition to player interviews, The day will be dedicated to players taking selfies with each other, players getting to know each other and discussing the upcoming season. Same will apply to Brad and his coaching staff and the front office executives.
TRAINING CAMP IN RHODE ISLAND?
According to Brian Robb, the following day the Celtics will head to Rhode Island to start training camp. This will be the first time since Brad´s rookie season that the Celtics will hold traning camp in Rhode Island.
For the first time since first year under Brad Stevens #Celtics will open training camp in Newport, RI this season.
This will give the players and coaches some time to bond, and build some chemistry, as just four players from last season´s ECF team are back. The Celtics will be in RI for three days.
We hear it every time a team has any type of significant roster turnover. “They’ll need time to gel.” Or, “We’ll have to wait and see if they have chemistry.” Sure, these are valid points. But I’m here to tell you, these issues are minimal with this Celtics team. To find out why, you don’t need to look any further down the team roster than the head coach.
Brad Stevens became the head coach prior to the 2013-2014 season. Remarkably, he has exactly zero players left from that team going into the 2017-2018 campaign. Seems like a massive headache for a guy who came from college coaching ranks. A mid-major nonetheless, where he didn’t have to worry about the business side of basketball. Stevens has embraced the challenge, however. He has done a better job than anyone expected him to, improving the teams record every single year since he came to Boston despite some major changes. Let’s take a closer look at how he has handled this tremendous roster turnover in the past.
2013-2014*
Stevens’ first year as head coach was a rough one. The team won 25 games, and it looked like the rebuild might take awhile. He did give us a taste of his genius though, when he dropped Jordan Crawford into the starting Point Guard role in the absence of Rondo. Crawford was widely considered a selfish player around the league, but Stevens made him into a team- first guy. He had his best all-around year, even earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors. Despite the poor record, Stevens showed he wasn’t afraid to do things his own way. He gave the last player on the roster the same opportunity to prove himself as the first guy. He didn’t want to overlook anyone, and made sure everyone got their fair shake. If you could play team ball and defend, you would play, period.
2014-2015*
In his second season, Ainge made some significant midseason moves, and Stevens was finally getting a taste of the difficulties of coaching in the NBA. The Celtics were 9-14 when Rondo went to the Mavericks, and 13-23 when they sent Jeff Green to Memphis. Both were starters, and the players that earned those roles were new to the team. Marcus Smart was an unproven rookie, and Evan Turner signed as a free agent just before the season. Turner was widely considered a bust after being the number two overall pick and never meeting expectations. But Stevens saw something in him.
When the team traded for Isaiah Thomas at the trade deadline, they were still trying to crawl out of the cellar. Nobody expected them to make the playoffs. With a completely different look than just months prior, they finished the year with one of the best post All-Star break records and made it to postseason. In a year that saw 22 different players receive minutes, Stevens created a playoff team. His peers were starting to see him as one of the best young coaches in the game.
2015-2016*
2016-2017*
The last two years have had considerably less roster turnover, but still saw a new name in the starting lineup each year with Amir Johnson and Al Horford. The team has continued to improve and exceed expectations no matter who they roll out. Isaiah Thomas turned into a star, but they still didn’t have much firepower behind him. Stevens’ teams to date have been known for being overachievers.
BACK TO THE FUTURE
Let’s take a look at what Stevens was working with in his second season compared to what he will have next year. In ’14-’15, the fresh, new core was a rookie Marcus Smart, Evan Turner, and a young IT who had not yet established himself as a star. Compare that with the likes of Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, and Jayson Tatum along with plenty of other moving parts, and there is no contest as to which group has more talent.
Taking all of this into account, it’s a given that this team will be good, and possibly great. Stevens has without question the most talented roster he has coached in the NBA. He no longer has to make lemons into lemonade; he already has the lemonade. If they simply achieve, progress will still have been made. Betting sites have them pegged for as high as 56.5 wins on the season, more than the 53 wins they reached last year.
The overachieving C’s may be gone, but the new look C’s might not need to overachieve to win a championship. They have the talent. The question we must answer now is, does this team have what it takes to win it all? Do they have championship DNA? Stevens will do his part and put players in the best position to succeed as he always has. But it will be up to them what they do with the opportunity.
* Courtesy of RealGM. Depth charts are from the last game played that season. This takes into account injuries, which shows another element Stevens has had to deal with. He was missing a starter due to injury in the playoffs all 3 years he has been there.
Celtics G Marcus Smart, has been in the gym all off season trying to improve his game, and dropped 20 pounds in the process. So this means Marcus was around 240 pounds last season. That’s a outrageous weight for a guard.
Marcus Smart says he's lost 20 pounds this summer. Now weighs 219 lbs. "I've been in the gym non-stop. It's a new me. I'm more explosive."
“I’ve been in the gym nonstop, been eating right, making sure my body’s right,” Smart said on Wednesday during a visit to Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center.
“It’s a different me. I’m more explosive and I’m healthy,” Smart said. “That’s a big part for me. I had to get on my plan. I’m really focused and I locked in this summer.”
“I’ve really been working on my game and getting ready for a larger role,” Smart said. “The Celtics expect me to take that on and be ready, so I’m ready for whatever. I’ve talked numerous times to Danny and Brad, before anything happened, even just during the season . . . be ready to take on that role. And now it’s put into reality. We don’t have Avery, we don’t have Jae, a lot of responsibility is on my shoulders.”
Smart also said he hired a new personal chef.
Marcus comes off a 10.6 points, 4.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 3.9 rebounds campaign where he struggled to find his shooting stoke. He shot just .358% FG and .283% 3PT, but a successful season nonetheless.
Marcus is also now the longest-tenured Celtics player on the roster. And yes, he´s only 23.
Less can create more
With Avery departure, Smart looks to fill the gap that AB left in the defensive side of the floor. Marcus is just as good, or better defender than AB but a bit slower. A slimmer and quicker Marcus could cause some problems for opposing Guards.
This also helps him defend the quicker guards that AB handled in the last couple seasons.
But we probably wont see much of this:
Or this:
This can also help his offensive game a little bit. He lacked explosiveness last season and he never really created much separation off the bounce from defenders, struggling to finishing around the rim. A slimmer Marcus could also mean a quicker shot release.
Marcus will enter his final year of his rookie contract and due a qualifying offer of just over $6 million. This could be an important year for the 23-year-old.
No wonder Bill Belichick went to so many Celtics games. He’s was obviously intrigued by the linebacker in the house.
