Tag Archives: GORDON HAYWARD

Kyrie is Becoming a True Celtic

TRUE CELTICS

True Celtics are hard-nosed, team-oriented, all-around gritty players who are willing to do things other players won’t. Diving for loose balls, taking charges, and doing whatever it takes to win. True Celtics don’t care about their individual accomplishments as much as the team goal. They are able to put their ego aside for the greater good of the team. Kyrie Irving has always been known to be somewhat of a ball hog, who just wants to get buckets. He has been critiqued for having a big ego in the past. Whether these criticisms are justified or not, he is making it clear that he can be much, much more than how he is framed by the media.

WHERE WILL KYRIE TAKE HIS GAME NOW?

The start of this season has been crazy for the Celtics. Losing Gordon Hayward on opening night was a tough pill to swallow. It seemed like Kyrie was trying to take it all on himself. The next night against the Bucks, he went 7-25, and took some downright awful shots with wide open shooters to kick to. He seemed on a solo mission at times, not yet willing to fully trust his teammates. As we know, this is not how the Celtics operate.

Thankfully, they got to settle in after opening up on a back-to-back, all while dealing with the Hayward injury. He was obviously in the game plan in the opener, and probably still was the next night against the Bucks. Understandably, the game plan on the fly was to just get our best player the ball. More importantly, he has shown progress in building trust and chemistry on the court with his new teammates.

LEARNING AS HE GOES

Since those first few games, with possessions here and there, Kyrie has been great. He has looked much more comfortable within the offense, getting guys open shots with ease, making crisp passes, taking his shots off screens rather than in isolation, and moving well without the ball. Oh, and if you didn’t know, his ability to finish at the rim is as good as anyone in the league. He hasn’t been averaging 30 points like Isaiah did last year, but I think he will start to score more as he continues to build chemistry with his new teammates.

Right now he is more concerned with making the right basketball play, and just playing the right way. We hear Brad Stevens say this all the time. It seems crazy for him to simplify such a complex game this way, but it really is that simple for him. The play of the Celtics echoes their coaches comments, and it hasn’t taken Irving long to catch on. He is doing a good job of finding everyone else, and making sure they are staying involved. When the games start to matter more, he should start to have some big games scoring the ball. Kyrie is made for the big moment, and he will step up when the time comes.

PARADIGM SHIFT

This is a big step for Kyrie. It shows he is serious about taking on this new challenge full steam ahead, and changing his game to fit what Brad Stevens, and the Celtics, want. He is already cutting out a lot of mistakes he made early. The chemistry he and Al Horford have shown has been a real treat. They are already running the pick-and-roll (or pop) close to perfection. Horford has had plenty of lobs and open threes because of this.

Perhaps even more important is the leadership he is showing for the young players. Most of the Celtics, at some point this season, have commented that Kyrie is constantly in their ear, always sharing words of encouragement and making sure everybody knows what they need to do to improve. Even better, he is putting in the work, and leading by example.

Feeling like the guy next to you has your back goes a long way for teams in any sport. This has always been the DNA of the Celtics, and Kyrie is showing that he has his teammates’ backs. When it comes to helping them improve their games on a day-to-day basis, playing unselfishly and getting everyone involved on the court, or even going after it defensively, Kyrie has been bringing it. Even on the defensive end. He is currently leading the NBA in steals with 20. He is showing his ability to sacrifice for the better of the group. Kyrie Irving is becoming a true Celtic.

Boston Celtics Ups and Downs – Week 2

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In modern America everyone is always busy, running around from business meetings to soccer practices and ballet recitals. With a whirlwind of activities, sometimes against your will, people can’t watch every minute of Boston Celtics basketball. That’s why I’m here. Every Monday I will run through three ups and three downs of Boston basketball from the previous week. Lets start with the Ups!

The Ups

Al Horford and Kyrie Irving Are Finding Their Groove

The chemistry between Horford and Kyrie wasn’t there to start. After the injury to Hayward, each player had to figure out their new role within the offense. The feeling out process took a few days, but the tandem is starting to gel. Boston has made an effort to run the offense more through Horford and it has paid off. Horford is an excellent passing big, and Kyrie’s penetration opens up passing lanes. The two-man game has been seamless over Boston’s four-game winning streak. While Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have got a lot of the headlines, and rightfully so, Horford and Kyrie are reminding people why they are multi-time All-Stars.

Aron Baynes is a Hit in Boston

Adding Baynes slid under the radar after what was a chaotic offseason for Boston. The Aussie big man had never been a star, but his rugged style of play was something the team had not had since the days of Kendrick Perkins. Baynes has been an anchor on the defensive end. While not the most athletic center, he has used the rule of verticality better than anyone since Roy Hibbert. He has also crashed the glass with a certain brutality. Over the four-game winning streak, Baynes has averaged six rebounds in just 20 minutes per game. Baynes has helped on offense as a knock-down, pick-and-pop player. He has been a useful outlet for Kyrie in the pick-and-roll game when Horford is on the bench.

The Boston Celtics, a Defensive Dynamo?

Hayward and Kyrie improved the offense, but after the loss of Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder, many experts were concerned about Boston’s defense. After stifling the Miami Heat on Saturday night, Boston now has the second-best defense in the league. They are in the top-five in defensive rating (2nd), defensive rebound percentage (3rd), and steals (5th). The length of players like Brown and Tatum has ramped up Boston’s perimeter defense. Boston is holding opposing teams to just 28.3 percent from beyond the arc, a major factor for their improvement. On top of the length, Horford has put himself in the early season Defensive Player of the Year conversation, after guarding the likes of Giannis, Kristaps Porzingis and Ben Simmons.

The Downs

After a perfect 3-0 week there aren’t too many things to complain about, but there were a few things that need to be cleaned up.

Too Many Turnovers

The Celtics are sixth in the league in turnovers per game with 14.7. Most of these are due to so many young players in key spots, and it needs to be improved. The defense can’t stay at this level if Boston continues to give their opponents free possessions. As players start to gel, the turnovers should decrease, but it’s something to monitor.

Why Can’t Boston Shoot Free Throws?

Again, I’m grasping at straws a bit here, but it is curious. Boston finished third in the league last season in free throw shooting percentage. Through six games they are ranked 21st. Again, you could chalk this up to youth and players still trying to find their form, but the Celtics are throwing away points at the charity stripe. The average 6.3 free throws they are missing could be the difference between a win and a loss.

Where or Where has Jaylen Brown Gone?

You can stack this up in the “Small Sample Size, Large Overreaction” category if you so choose. After leading the team with 23 points against the Knicks, Brown was held to single-digit scoring in his last two games. More concerning is the fact that in those games he shot just 3-17 from the field. Brown will undoubtably struggle at times throughout the season. More often than not Kyrie, Horford and Tatum will pick up the slack, but Boston is going to rely on him to add a scoring punch on the wing. The shooting will need to improve and so will the consistency.

The Kids Are Alright – Brown and Tatum Lead the Way

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After the Gordon Hayward injury, Brad Stevens knew he would have to rely on a lot of younger players. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum would have to grow up and contribute in a big way. We knew that Tatum and Brown had a chance to be great. Nobody could have predicted how quickly these two would acclimate and exceed in their new roles. The ceiling is the limit, and Stevens expects that much:

Stevens on Tatum/Jaylen expectations: "They are young guys, but to us, with the situation we’re in, they’re guys."

— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) October 25, 2017

Brown started the game on fire, scoring 13 of his game-high 23 points in the first quarter. His aggression and willingness to go to the basket have been on display since day one. Brown is exceptional at getting to the hoop and has shown the ability to break down defenders and finish around the rim. After some shaky shot making last season, Brown is shooting 62.1 percent in the restricted area and 65.1 percent on all of his two-point shots. He’s also been dynamic inside the three-point arc. Adding even a league-average three-point shot will make him very difficult to stop.

Tatum took the increased role with the team and ran with it. Understandably, Tatum was hesitant on the offensive end early in the season. He passed up open shots and deferred to veterans like Kyrie and Horford. Tuesday night against the Knicks was Tatum’s coming out party. It may have been Brown’s 21st birthday, but Tatum shined just as bright. He scored in a variety of ways, including knocking down four out of six shots from beyond the arc. He showcased his midrange game, blew past slower defenders, and threw down a hellacious put-back dunk on Tim Hardaway’s head.

Tatum’s offensive game has been even better than advertised. He is in the top-five for the rookie class in points (4th), rebounds (5th), three-point shooting (2nd), steals (3rd), and blocks (2nd). His numbers have been far more than what was expected at this point in his rookie year, but Tatum is proving to be a potent scorer who can also impact the game in a handful of different ways.

TATUM AND BROWN ARE THRIVING ON DEFENSE

The offensive numbers are great, but Brown and Tatum have held their own on the defensive end. Before the season started, Stevens harped on how important Brown’s defense would be to the Celtics. Brown has all of the tools to be an elite wing defender, and has shown signs of taking that next step.

Jaylen Brown looking very comfortable switching across basically all five positions on defense.

— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) October 25, 2017

Brown was thrown into the fire on defense early in the season. Guarding LeBron and Giannas on back-to-back nights is near impossible, but Brown held his own. He has also been able to switch on to both point guards and power forwards seamlessly. He will draw the assignment of every team’s best wing scorer, and his ability to defend will dictate the team’s success.

Tatum’s defense, something that was seen as a work-in-progress before the season, has been a pleasant surprise. While his athleticism doesn’t compare to Brown, Tatum’s length allows him to recover and challenge shots. Tatum still has trouble guarding bulkier post players, i.e. Dario Saric, but his ability to switch and play team defense unlocks lineups that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.

Per Cs PR, Tatum and Jaylen are the first Cs under-22 duo ever to score 20 points in same game.

— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) October 25, 2017

There will be bumps along the road. Not every night will result in historic scoring from Brown and Tatum. But these two are stars, and the sky is the limit for their potential. If there is a silver lining around the Hayward injury, it’s that fact that the youngsters will get a chance to expand their game and dominate.

Door Open for Young Celtics to Step Up

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WHAT NOW?

Gruesome. Horrific. Shocking. Sickening. These were all adjectives used to describe the scene less than six minutes into the NBA season. As fast as Gordon Hayward was introduced to the Celtic faithful for our first game, he was unfathomably taken away from us. Thankfully he had successful surgery and is expected to make a full recovery. He will almost surely miss his entire first season as a Celtic. The team is now scrambling trying to find ways to make up for the loss.

Losing a player of Hayward’s caliber is like hitting the reset button. This is a button that is not supposed to be hit after a month of training camp, especially when you are actually ready to put it on the floor. The offense will be different without him, so these first few games were almost like a new preseason for the team. Let’s take a look at how the paradigm of this season has shifted since opening night.

KYRIE FOR MVP?

I’m not saying he’s going to win MVP this season, but if he’s not at least in the discussion, as IT was last year, we are not going to be a great team. Obviously Danny Ainge and the Celtics value Kyrie higher than Isaiah. This was shown by how much extra they gave up in addition to him. He was already going to be the man in Boston, but with Hayward out, he has now become THE MAN. When asked if there was a question of whether he took some poor shots after shooting 7-25 in game two, he simply responded “Gotta get ’em up.” He will continue to get a ton of shots up all season. Kyrie needs to improve his looks to improve his percentages.

What is more important though, is getting his teammates involved. He is starting alongside young guys in Jayson Tatum (19), and Jaylen Brown (20), and they will need some help from their point guard in finding their spots. Irving was shook up pretty bad from the injury, and still didn’t seem right the next day. After getting some much needed down time, he should settle in and just play ball.

YOUNG AND YOUNGER

Jaylen Brown looks ready to go in a starting role this season. He is getting the minutes he needs to improve, averaging 34.9 through three games. He worked strenuously this off season. If posting a career high with 25 points in the season opener was any indication, he has already vastly improved since last year ended. He had a game-high 40 minutes in the contest.

Through three games, Jayson Tatum has averaged 35.3mpg, 12.3ppg and 9rpg. He recorded a double double in his first NBA game, something that hasn’t been done by a Celtic since Larry Bird. You could see his confidence grow from the first half to the second in the opener, and even further into the second and third games. Perhaps more startling was seeing him in at the end of the game in all contests. If he continues to start and see heavy minutes, his confidence will continue to grow. With the intangibles and skill set as elite as Tatum’s, only confidence could hold him back. Brad Stevens will make sure that doesn’t happen.

A lot of this is because of injuries, even beyond Hayward; both Brown’s and Tatum’s minutes figure to take a hit when Marcus Morris returns. Marcus Smart missed the third game with an ankle injury. Regardless, these guys should continue to see extensive playing time. This is pivotal for the development of young players with as much potential as both have displayed.

PUT ME IN, COACH!

Here is a chart showing some statistics for all 10 All-Star starters from last season during their respective rookie campaigns.

The trend here is minutes. These guys simply need court time to improve and be successful. The best players, outside of the top two or three in the league, didn’t dominate in their rookie seasons. Rather, they received heavy minutes, made mistakes, and were better equipped to dominate in the years to come. It’s all about the coach entrusting the player to work through the bad times on the court. Taking them out is not going to allow them to learn from their mistakes, and will only hurt confidence. Brad Stevens will trust the young players on this team, something that will instill a superior confidence in them.

Jimmy Butler is an interesting case. He hardly played at all in his rookie season, but shot up to 26mpg in his second year. He averaged 13.1ppg in his third year behind 38.7mpg, receiving the minutes he needed to come back in his fourth year as an elite talent. Butler made his first all-star game that year behind 20ppg. Our friend Gordon Hayward followed a similar path. He received just 16.9mpg his rookie year, but jumped to 30.5 in his 2nd year. He has improved on his ppg average every season of his seven-year NBA career.

ROUGH START

The Celtics have had as bad a start to the season as seems humanly possible, losing one of their best players tragically, and subsequently their first two games. Having a back-to-back was rough given the situation. Stevens has had to adjust drastically, literally on the fly, from one city to the next. Not to mention his emotional ties to the situation. Losing a star player for the season is always a tough pill to swallow, especially in such an awful manner. Put this on top of that player being someone you’ve been close to for almost a decade, and you might need a day off.

WE’RE GOING TO BE ALRIGHT

The future looks promising with the young talent of this team, most namely Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. With the Hayward injury, they are now going to be leaned on a lot earlier than anyone expected. It is going to be a learning process, but it is now on the fast track. Ramping up their development should actually prove to be a priceless advantage for the C’s in the future. By the time Hayward comes back, the young players will be much better equipped to contribute to a championship-caliber team.

Getting the first win of the season was huge for this team. The three-day break immediately following is another blessing. They now have the time to take a deep breath, recollect themselves, and game plan for life without Gordon this season. Doing this after a win should infuse some positivity back into this group while they figure it out. They’ve got a big game coming up this week against the Bucks, which you can read about here. This team needs some positives right now, and they are slowly starting to show themselves in the wake of Gordon’s injury. Get better G, and best wishes to you and your family!

Celtics Need To focus on what still can be

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A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT WAS TO BE WITH THE CELTICS BIG THREE: KYRIE IRVING, GORDON HAYWARD AND AL HORFORD

The Celtics should not concentrate on ‘What Could Have Been’, but should solely focus on ‘What Still Can Be’. With the unfortunate loss of Gordon Hayward, early in the beginning of the regular NBA season, it tore down their platform of having a successful Big Three. With Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and Al Horford as the new Big Three for Boston, it brought a lot of hopeful enthusiasm for a successful, legitimate standing in a weak Eastern Conference. Can we honestly assume that legitimacy has fallen apart with the loss of Hayward?

THE CELTICS MUST REMAIN STEADFAST IN TEAM DEVELOPMENT

In order to keep any semblance of legitimacy, the Celtics must remain steadfast in their ultimate goal of team development. They can still be a Top Tier team in the Eastern Conference without Hayward. There have been changes made to the starting lineup by Coach Stevens. One thing in their favor, is their ability to be versatile. Any team that adapts can still be capable of doing very well. It’s early enough in the regular NBA season for them to gain familiarity with the new lineups set by Coach Stevens. They have to adhere to one key factor, strict team development.

THE CELTICS ARE STILL A YOUNG AND TALENTED TEAM

The Celtics are still a young, talented team with versatility. The odds of them gaining success is still valid, if they continually work together as a team and adapt. They have some good components in both the first and second units. And they have an excellent Coach in Brad Stevens, who’s very resourceful, intelligent and has a promising team to develop and solidify. At this time, they have a lot of positives, making their odds successful indeed.

CAN THE CELTICS HAVE THE FUTURE THAT WAS TO BE WITH GORDON HAYWARD

Can the Celtics have the future ‘That Was To Be’, without Gordon Hayward? Obviously the answer seems to be no. Yet they can also have that same future without Hayward, as long as they remain focused on their development as a young and talented team. If they can apply their talents, versatility, and unify, they definitely have a chance to be dominant without Hayward. They have proven they can be successful in the preseason.They should focus on the factors that worked well for them–unselfishness, good ball movement and taking advantage of good plays. Defense is vital as well, as their offensive strategies become established. They must utilize their fundamentals fully. If they use all of the key factors, and adhere strictly to team development, ultimately, they can still have a successful future without Hayward.

Celtics in the Aftermath of Gordon Hayward’s Injury

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ANTICIPATION FOR OPENING GAME DAY ENDS TRAGICALLY

The anticipation for the Celtics/Cavaliers Opening Day game rose to an all-time high. Yet no one could have predicted one of the players would suffer a horrific, and potentially season ending injury. No one was prepared to witness a devastating loss, not only against the Cavaliers, but most importantly losing Gordon Hayward.

GORDON HAYWARD SUFFERS A HORRIFIC INJURY IN OPENING DAY GAME

Gordon Hayward was just 6 minutes into the 1st quarter, when he suffered a dislocation and fracture of his left tibia. He has since undergone a successful surgery, and has begun the rehabilitation process. There has not been an estimated time for Hayward to return, and he quite possibly may be out for half, or even the full season.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN THE AFTERMATH OF HAYWARDS INJURY

We have to expect the same things from the Celtics that we did at the beginning of the regular NBA Season. Nothing should change except for who will replace Hayward. Coach Brad Stevens stated that Marcus Smart will move into the starting lineup, alongside Kyrie, Brown, Tatum and Horford. The Celtics have to remain focused on their goals as a team, in order for them to keep being successful this season.

KYRIE IRVING NEEDS TO STEP UP AS TEAM LEADER

This is the moment Kyrie Irving needs to step up his role as the Celtics Team leader. It may be a difficult task after losing Hayward, but if there was a time for a leader–this is that time. Irving needs to get himself, and the Celtics, to focus on team goals now more than ever. He will have to bring the Celtics versatility and chemistry they had, prior to Hayward’s absence, and regain team effort. The players may have changed, but the game remains the same. Gordon Hayward wouldn’t want it any other way.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE CELTICS?

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In a night filled with anticipation and excitement, a 102-99 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers seemed insignificant to the Boston Celtics. The image of Gordon Hayward laying on the ground and pointing at his left ankle in shock will stick in the minds of fans across the NBA. According to many media outlets, Hayward suffered a fractured left ankle and has been flown back to Boston to undergo surgery. A timetable for his return has not been specified. It seems trivial to talk about what the team does going forward in the face of such a devastating injury, but the season moves on. The Celtics have to regroup and move forward without Hayward.

WHO STEPS UP FOR THE CELTICS?

The Celtics were understandably shocked after the Hayward injury. Players were forcing things in an attempt to pick the team up for the remainder of the first half. As the game move on and emotions settled, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, and Jayson Tatum stepped up. With Hayward out for the foreseeable future, the youngsters are going to have to carry this team. Even before the Hayward injury, Brown was attacking the basket without inhibition. He was a key piece in bringing the Celtics back from an 18-point deficit in the third quarter. After looking completely hapless in the first half, Smart turned up the intensity and scored all of his 12 points in the third quarter.

The success of the Celtics in Hayward’s absence will fall on these three players. Tatum will not have a chance to grow and mature in a smaller role. He is going to get more minutes and be expected to contribute. Tatum finished the game with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and showed more poise as the game went on. While the Hayward injury is devastating, it will give Brown, Tatum, and Smart even more minutes to develop.

IT REALLY IS KYRIE’S TEAM NOW

There have always been questions about Kyrie’s leadership. The coming months will, hopefully, answer those questions. The Celtics are his team now, and he will have to lead them. After a sluggish start in an emotionally charged game, Kyrie showed what he is capable of in the fourth quarter. He knocked down three shots from beyond the arch to keep the C’s close. Kyrie finished with 22 points and 10 assists, and yet he will need to do more. There will be a balancing act that Kyrie has to conquer. Yes, this team will need exceptional numbers from him, but most importantly, he can’t force things. Kyrie needs to get people involved and in addition be the assassin that we know him to be.

WHAT WILL THE CELTICS LOOK LIKE NEXT MONTH

Because the details of Hayward’s injury are still up in the air, the Celtics must reformulate their plan going forward. Three-point shooting on the wing will need to be better. Brown and Tatum combined to go 3-11 from behind the three-point line. Marcus Morris will certainly help when he returns, but the kids will have to step up. Stevens should stick with the youth movement in Hayward’s absence. Kyrie, Brown, Morris, Tatum, and Al Horford will give the Celtics the best chance to win. Smart, Terry Rozier, and Aron Baynes will captain the second unit. Everyone will need to step up in the coming months. Kyrie, Brown, and Horford will carry the load, but each player will need to contribute.

Our thoughts and prays are with Hayward for a speedy recovery. I will leave you with a bit of optimism:

Mike Gorman says early word from sources is Gordon Hayward's fracture was 'clean' #celtics pic.twitter.com/3fz3w0Kj4O

— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) October 18, 2017

A Heartbreaking Opening Night for the Celtics and Hayward

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If you have not heard, C’s starting SF Gordon Hayward suffered what for now looks like a fractured ankle just six minutes into the new NBA season. Before the game’s end, Hayward was en route to Boston. Celtics dropped the 1st game to the Cavs, with a final score of 102-99.

Officials tell me Gordon Hayward is being flown via MedFlight to Boston. He will then be taken to NE Baptist Hosp in Boston. Our best to him

— Blair Miller (@BlairMillerTV) October 18, 2017

After the freak accident, the Celtics looked out of sync all over the floor for the obvious reason. The shooting was flat, either long or short, and the ball did not move well, leading to a 54-38 Cavs lead at halftime. Marcus Smart started in place of Hayward in the second half. The Celtics came out like they wanted to win this for Hayward, with a 28-11 tear in the third quarter to take a quick lead.

One player responsible for the comeback tonight, Jaylen Brown, had a career night. He was not going to be denied taking it to the hoop and his never-back-down attitude. He finished the night with 25 points and six rebounds.

Kyrie did his stuff in the fourth quarter but it was not enough, as LeBron put the Cavs behind his back and led them to the victory. Jayson Tatum had a shaky start, but the rookie found his touch later on the game, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Marcus added 12 points and nine rebounds but shot 0-4 beyond the arc.

YOUNG PLAYERS TO STEP UP

I don’t want to speculate on any timetable for G’s return, but he will probably sit out a big portion of the season. The young players will have to step in line. Next man up mentally. They showed it tonight and will have to continue going forward.

Celtics open at home tonight when they take on the Milwaukee Bucks.

THE JAYSON TATUM ERA IS ABOUT TO BEGIN

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The circumstances around the arrival of Jayson Tatum in Boston are…peculiar. The Celtics hit the jackpot with the number one pick after years of being screwed by the ping-pong balls. In a draft that was both deep, and filled with potential franchise-altering talent, Boston held the reigns. Fans could hardly contain themselves after combing through highlight clips of Markell Fultz, the presumptive top pick out of Washington. Then Danny Ainge trades the pick. The team drops down to the third pick, Fultz heads to Atlantic division rival Philadelphia, and Tatum lands in our laps. Oh how quickly things can change.

Tatum slid under the national radar while people were more enamored with Fultz and Lonzo Ball. He wasn’t as flashy as Ball, and Fultz put up much better numbers on a bad team. After missing his first eight games at Duke with a foot sprain, it took Tatum time to adjust to the college game. As the season went on, he got more comfortable, and started to show off one of the most polished offensive games in college basketball.

Ainge has a track record of drafting long, athletic players whose offense needs work. After moving from one to three in the draft, the choice came down to Tatum, or Kansas star Josh Jackson. He picked Tatum, and immediately added a potent scorer to the team. While he certainly has holes in his game, Tatum proved he was every bit as talented on offense as advertised. He torched defenses with midrange jumpers and savvy moves around the basket throughout Summer League play. His outside shot needs work, but he has been able to knock them down when left open. While the numbers have dipped in the preseason, his game is drawing rave reviews from Boston royalty:

"When I'm watching him, he looks like a mature version of my game, like my 6th, 7th, 8th year."- @paulpierce34 on @jaytatum0. More to come.

— A. Sherrod Blakely (@ASherrodblakely) September 14, 2017

Tatum does have a similar build and offensive game to a young Paul Pierce. He’s not the most athletic, but his basketball IQ is through the roof. The typical rookie mistakes have, and will, happen, but his maturity will give him an advantage on the competition. He has also shown a willingness to compete on the boards and the ability to defend multiple positions.

With Marcus Morris expected to miss time to start the season, Tatum will be thrust into a starting role. With a potential starting lineup of Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, Tatum, and Al Horford, the third pick in the draft will need to contribute right away. Starting on a team with high expectations may seem overwhelming, but this situation is ideal for Tatum. With Irving and Hayward garnering most of the defensive attention, he will have plenty of open shots on offense. The positive strides on defense will be what the starting unit needs from him. If he can keep guards in front of him and execute switches, any offense he can produce is icing on the cake.

EXPECTATIONS FOR TATUM

Expectations are always high for a top-three pick, but expectations might be even higher for Tatum. He and Fultz will always be linked after the trade, and he will have to live up to the expectations of a number one pick. He has shown that he has the skill, the drive, and the mentality to be a winner. Tatum may not be the pick Celtics fans wanted at first, but he is here and ready to help this team win. Just ask Horford:

FIVE BOLD PREDICTIONS FOR THE 2017-2018 BOSTON CELTICS

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The Boston Celtics are officially ready for the 2017-2018 regular season. Training camp and four preseason games are in the books. Roles are being defined and the chemistry is on the rise. In honor of Zach Lowe’s annual NBA predictions column, here are five bold predictions for the upcoming Celtics season!

ARON BAYNES WILL BE A MORE IMPORTANT ADDITION THAN MARCUS MORRIS

Baynes has been a revelation in the preseason. Before suffering a hyperextended left knee against the 76ers, he had been a pleasant surprise for the C’s. His stats, eight points and a little over four rebounds in 14 minutes/game, won’t jump off the page, but his impact on the floor is undeniable. He has crashed the offensive class, set thunderous screens, and been dynamic in the pick-and-pop midrange game. More than anything, though, he has brought a toughness and physicality that the Celtics haven’t had since the Garnett-Perkins era. Baynes can battle with the more bruising centers, allowing Al Horford to slide over to the power forward spot. He can become the defensive anchor that Boston has needed for years. Morris will definitely put up bigger numbers, but Baynes’ toughness and work ethic will land him a spot in the hearts of all Boston fans.

THE CELTICS WILL ONLY HAVE ONE PLAYER AVERAGE 20+ PPG

The Boston offense has looked downright destructive throughout the preseason. When their “Big Three” of Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, and Horford play, the ball movement, spacing, and shooting dismantles opposing defenses. Kyrie’s penetration opens up shooters around the floor, Horford’s three-point shooting creates even more driving lanes, and Hayward’s ability as a secondary ball handler fills in all the gaps. Add on the offensive talents of Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Terry Rozier, and Marcus Smart and there should never be a night where the team’s offense hits a wall. But given how many options there actually are, it’s hard to imagine anyone outside of Kyrie being able to consistently average 20+ points. There will certainly be nights when Hayward and Horford put up big numbers, but Kyrie will be the only one to eclipse 20+ points per game.

THE CELTICS WILL BE A TOP-15 REBOUNDING TEAM

Alright, I get it. I can already hear people grumbling under their breathe about the incredible heat coming off of this prediction. But is it all that crazy? The Celtics still don’t have one player that can average double-digit rebounds, that hasn’t changed. The strength of this team will be gang-rebounding. Baynes will do his part to clean up the glass when he gets minutes. Tatum and Brown are both athletic enough to grab five rebounds/game with enough court time. Rozier and Smart are two of the league’s best rebounding guards. There will be nights when the Celtics gets bodied on the boards, but don’t be surprised when they finish in the top half of the league in rebounding at the season’s end.

BRAD STEVENS FINALLY WINS COACH OF THE YEAR

The hype around Brad Stevens has been steadily growing since he came into the league. His after-timeout plays are already the stuff of legends. Stevens has had an argument for COY in years past just based on how much he got out of the limited talent he had to work with. This year will be different, though. If he can meld all of these new players and manage the egos of multiple All-Stars, something he hasn’t had to do before, then his case for COY should be unmatched. Add on a trip back to the Eastern Conference Finals, or beyond, and he becomes a lock.

THE CELTICS WILL HIT THE OVER FOR THEIR WIN TOTAL

The annual Over/Under win projections for the 2017-2018 NBA season were released a few weeks ago. The Celtics are projected to be first in the Eastern Conference with 56.5 wins, three wins above the Cleveland Cavaliers. After looking ahead of schedule with their chemistry and continuity on the court, they will exceed expectations. The Celtics will win 58 games and come in fourth for best record behind Golden State, Houston, and San Antonio.