A breakdown of the potential success of the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference:
THE CELTICS BUILD AROUND A YOUNGER, HEALTHIER TEAM
The Boston Celtics have decided to build around a younger, healthier team this season. They’ve added experienced players, and decided not to build around rookies. The Celtics franchise has done a very good job building up a solid roster. Several potential star players are experienced and young, such as Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, All Horford and Marcus Morris. The real test is the effectiveness that the second unit can provide. The Celtics have loaded up a better roster than they had previously. It’s time to see what this new roster can accomplish. Theis, Tatum and Rozier coming off the bench is very promising. The second unit is full of versatile and talented players ready to prove that they are competitive.
DANNY AINGE ACQUIRING DAVID THEIS WAS A VERY WISE DECISION
The second unit has been very productive. There’s always room for improvement, but there have already been a few surprisingly positive moments coming off the bench–David Theis, the German powerhouse. Danny Ainge knew what he was doing saving cap space to acquire Theis.
PRESEASON SUCCESS- A POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR THE CELTICS
If we look at the perfect preseason success the Celtics had this season, we can assume this is a positive indication of bigger things from this young roster. Changes can be extremely difficult for fans to accept, but without change there’s no room for growth, causing a team to become stagnant. Change usually makes the difference for future success, as we’re witnessing with the Boston Celtics.
RECAPPING GAME 4 OF PRESEASON
If we recap a few moments from the Celtics 4th preseason game, we can focus on the potential Boston is aiming for and achieving. Kyrie Irving had a Double-Double with 16 Pts., 10 Assts and 0 turnovers. All Horford put up 15 Pts., 8 Rbs. and 4 Assts. Shane Larkin was exceptionally quick to the basket. The Celtics shot 50% from deep range. Boston’s ball movement, as well as execution, were excellent and set up good plays involving the whole unit. They have outstanding half court sets as well.
REGULAR SEASON KEY FACTORS – THE CONTINUANCE OF PRESEASON TEAM DEVELOPMENT
The Celtics have both talent and versatility. Their daily focus has been continuing to develop as a team. The talent, chemistry and versatility are key factors for Boston to become dominant in their conference. The Celtics must continue to strive for excellence through team development. Over time they will improve, they’re already doing remarkably well. Boston ended their preseason perfect, they were 4-0; a clear indication of the Celtics future in the 2017-2018 regular NBA Season.
BOSTON PROVING THEY ARE NOT THE TEAM IN THE EAST TO SLEEP ON
Kyrie Irving has remarkable handles, and makes playing look exceptionally easy. He’s definitely filling the leadership role despite the Celtics not having a team captain; a progressive move by the Boston franchise, but seems to be working out very well.The Boston Celtics have proven that they’re not the team to sleep on. They are definitely a top tier team in the Eastern Conference. It’s going to be a lot of fun to watch them progress and be successful this season.
Coming into the 2017-2018 season, the Boston Celtics had a lot of uncertainty. With only four players remaining from last year’s team, the depth and chemistry were gone. Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward added top-notch talent, but there were plenty of question marks, especially with the bench. Flash forward to the preseason and Terry Rozier is starting to destroy some of those question marks. Dynamic on both ends of the floor, Rozier has quickly proven to everyone that he has taken a big leap forward.
In 61 preseason minutes Terry Rozier has 35 pts, 14 rebs, 10 assists, 5 steals and just two turnovers while shooting 50 pct from the field.
These numbers speak for themselves. Rozier’s decision making has been dialed in so far this year. Regardless of the small sample size, he has shined anytime he has gotten minutes. He knocks down outside shots and finishes at the rim, something that had been a problem for him in years past. Rozier has stepped up as a play maker, getting into the paint and finding shooters. He is playing under control, and when he can avoid pin-balling his way through the lane and throwing up a wild shot, he can become a real asset to a young bench group.
Rozier has joined this year’s team as a more capable shooter and a grind-it-out, lead-by-example player. He’s even bringing down rebounds in a more explosive fashion, which is hard to believe given his track record. His improvement has already garnered the attention of both his coach, who talked about his abilities on the defensive end, and Jaylen Brown:
Jaylen Brown driving the Rozier hype train: "Terry's probably one of the best guards in the league if you ask me."
While calling Rozier one of the best guards in the league may be a slight exaggeration, his ceiling is very high. Terry has positioned himself to be one of the premier reserve guards in the league with his improvement. Think about Cory Joseph with the Toronto Raptors. He took time to mature and solidify his game, but now is one of the best backup point guards around. Rozier has the potential to be an above average defender, offensive spark plug off the bench, and a capable shooter. With Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder gone, Rozier and Marcus Smart, another backup guard with something to prove, will need to step up in a big way.
Terry must take what he learned from the veterans on last year’s team and put it into action. A lot of responsibility will fall on him to run the second unit, and his maturity will be tested. The opportunity will be there. Irving and Brown will need to rest, and Rozier has a firm grasp on those minutes after his stellar preseason. His rebounding will be an undervalued asset for a team in need of it. Consistency will be the challenge for Rozier after his up-and-down 2016-2017 season, but the preseason has been encouraging. For this team to succeed Rozier will need to be a factor. With the inexperience of the bench, he will need to carry the bench when younger players like Jayson Tatum are hitting the rookie wall. The expectations will be higher, but Rozier looks like her is ready to meet them.
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.
Now that the on-again, off-again trade finally has closure, and another preseason is among us, the Boston Celtics have yet another new look. It makes one ponder some of the upcoming dates on the schedule. Which games are must-see TV for Celtics fans? Let’s take a look of what’s to come, shall we?
Could the season get off to a better start? The Celtics start against the Cavaliers, last year’s Eastern Conference Finals match-up. Coincidentally, these two teams completed a blockbuster deal with each other just a few short weeks before training camp.
While it may be bittersweet to see Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder in Maroon, the drowning out of TNT announcers to the Cavalier fans booing their newest traitor and our newest treasure will be delightful.
November 8th – Los Angeles Lakers on ESPN – 8:00 PM
I do not envision a rebirth of the past rivalry just yet. But how can you not be interested, even a little, in how Lonzo Ball plays in his first game against the C’s?
Moreover, I can just imagine the buzz around Boston Sports Media and Lavar Ball. The next coming of Don King in promotion of said event. Not to mention, it is always good to see the Purple and Gold get run out by the Leprechaun.
Christmas Day – Washington Wizards on ABC – 5:30 PM
A little bit of the sting has been taken out of this match-up since the trade of Jae Crowder and Isaiah Thomas to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs escalated the battle with the poke/slap fest with John Wall where the Wizards then claimed it was the Celtics Funeral, wearing all black to their next contest.
The seven-game contest in last year’s playoffs is still fresh. With John Wall claiming the number-one point guard crown, the Kyrie Irving and John Wall competition should make for must-watch television.
This will be the first return of fan favorites Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder to the Garden. All eyes will be on the diminutive 5′ 9″ guard with the heart and will of a GIANT.
He may not be ready for court action, but one can only imagine a fitting tribute will be played on the jumbotron for Thomas. In Celtics green, he played with undeniable grit, passion, and fire during a most difficult time in his life and throughout the season.
The accomplishments and impact in Boston, on and off the court will not be forgotten.
February 11th – Cleveland on ABC – 3:30 PM
The game will be second to the retirement ceremony honoring Paul “The Truth” Pierce, number #34 in your program. He will be forever immortalized high in the Garden rafters, in a building where he played so many epic games. None more memorable than the 2008 Eastern Conference Semis duel between him and King James. Fitting, LeBron will be on hand.
Who doesn’t want to watch the dynamic duo of Russell Westbrook and Paul George with side kick Carmelo Anthony take on the new BIG three incarnation of Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and Al Horford. Not to mention Marcus Smart shines in his College Alma Mater’s state.
November 16th, Golden State Warriors on TNT – 8:00 PM
This will be a great barometer to see where our new look Celtics really rate compared to undoubtedly the team to beat for coveted Banner 18. I wonder what the clever Boston fans will come up with to play off the Kevin Durant Twitter Saga this summer.
December 20th, Miami Heat – 7:30 PM
Good friend Kelly Olynyk and Jordan Mickey (who?) come back to the Garden. This might be more of my own guilty pleasure. I was big into the #KOHAIRWATCH and although he never excelled to the player we all hoped he’d be consistently (Remember Game seven last year against the Wizards?), it’s hard NOT to like KO.
A Team to Follow Throughout the Year
The Philadelphia 76ers.
With top-pick Markelle Fultz (who everyone in Boston thought was coming here until the infamous trade down to #3) and number-one pick Ben Simmons who face number-three Jayson Tatum and number-three Jaylen Brown a number of times throughout the year, will make for an interesting development to follow.
The reality, if you try really hard, you could make any game worth watching.
The Celtics retooled with dreams of having fireworks this June and a Duck Boat Parade to City Hall. Close your eyes. Can you see the Championship banner waving?
Let me know the games you are looking forward to in the comments. You can find me on twitter @bleedcelticgrn
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!
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!!
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.
Gordon Hayward, Anthony Davis, Carmelo Anthony, Paul George, Jimmy butler, the list goes on and on of potential, “could be” next Boston Celtics super star. As the 2017 NBA off-season winds down we are starting to see the new Celtics roster take shape and we are left with some feelings that we get every year of, “what could have been” if different moves had been made. From the addition of Gordon Hayward to the subtraction of beloved Avery Bradley, let’s take a look and recap what has been one of the busiest/craziest Celtics off-seasons since maybe the Garnett/Pierce/Allen era began.
The One Loss:
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First, let’s start with maybe the most substantial loss to any NBA team this off-season on both ends of the floor and when it comes to leadership in the locker room, and that man’s name is Avery Bradley. Whether you loved him for his all-out hustle and dirt dog style of play or hated him due to his inconsistency to stay on the floor due to injuries, there is one thing Celtics fans can’t deny and that is that Avery Bradley the person will be missed on the court and off the court for this Celtics team going forward. Not only did Avery show passion on the court with his hard-nose style of play but he also showed passion off the court for the time and effort he put in with children and fans alike in Celtics Nation. There is NO DOUBT that Avery the person and Avery the basketball player (whom by the way was snubbed from the ALL NBA DEFENSIVE TEAM) WILL be missed.
The MAJOR Gain(s):
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Now that we have discussed the one loss that could haunt the Celtics this season let’s talk positive and discuss a few of the additions that were made that Celtics fans may like, not like, or learn to love. First let’s go with the man who was traded for Avery Bradley and that is Marcus Morris. For those not familiar with Marcus or only know his brother Markieff (instigator for the Wizards) let me begin by saying that Marcus should not be slept on because this guy can BALL and will flat out go to war for anyone wearing green next to him. This guy is a tall/long forward who can play and guard the 3 and 4 positions and can pretty much score from anywhere on the floor, although his defense won’t be on the same level as Avery but that’s what we have a guy named Marcus Smart for.
The next big addition on this team for me anyways is going to be this year’s draft selection, Jayson Tatum. Tatum was just voted as the NBA’s rookie that is most likely to succeed which is high praise for a kid who was drafted #3 overall it what could turn out to be a very good draft class. At first I was not keen on the idea of Ainge making ANOTHER draft selection on a team that is already young and looking for another superstar to take some of the load off guys like IT4 and Al Horford. Not only did they get a draft pick in Tatum that can help right away and eventually become a star in this league but also went out and signed one of if not THE biggest names on the Free Agent circuit and that is Gordon Hayward who we will get into further down the line.
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Jayson Tatum may not be the best “athlete” from this year’s draft but there is no question after watching him in Summer League play and reading all the reports on this guy that he will be the BEST all-around scorer from this year’s draft. Tatum has the ability to play positions 2-4 and can even handle the ball at the 1 and create a shot and score off the dribble. He is also long enough to guard any position on the floor and although he and Jaylen Brown can be scary together it does make way for a possible trade involving Brown for another super-star that plays in New Orleans and has the last name Davis (just an idea), so Celtics fans be ready because Jayson Tatum is indeed the next BIG THING.
Next up, the major move…Gordon Hayward!!! This guy is an all-out consistent Scorer and a flat out BIG TIME BALLER whom Celtics Nation will have no choice but to love. Gordon Hayward is an underrated player in this league but with this Celtics team the league will have to finally recognize him as one of the better all-around players in the league. Pairing Hayward with the likes of Thomas, Horford and Brad Stevens means nothing but bad news for the rest of the NBA and the Eastern Conference as a whole.
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
The reason why I love this move so much is the clear indication that this guy has the passion to win and has commitment and loyalty to winning. This is a guy who left a fan base who LOVED him in Utah and decided to come to the best fan base in ALL of basketball just so he could team up with his old college coach and buddy, Brad Stevens. This guys will to win with his former coach that he came within seconds and inches of winning a college title with is incredible and I cant wait to see him perform in Celtics green…..EXPECT BIG THINGS TO COME FROM HAYWARD AND EXPECT HIS CAREER AND HIS GAME TO BE TAKEN TO A WHOLE DIFFERENT LEVEL!
THE MINOR MOVES WITH POTENITAL MAJOR IMPACTS:
I wanted to briefly touch on the MINOR moves this Celtics team mad that could have a sneaky impact on the outcome of how this season plays out and how well this team performs. The moves that stood out for me that could have an impact off of our bench are Aron Baynes, Semi Ojeleye, Daniel Theis and possibly the biggest sleeper of them all, Guerschon Yabusele. Lets start with the Australian Bruiser, Aron Baynes. Baynes is a guy who immediately gives you rim protection on a team that has lacked since the days of Garnett and Perkins. Although Baynes doesn’t provide much offense he makes up for it with his size and presence in the paint and Celtics nation should be excited to see what he can bring to this team as sort of a unknown player coming into this upcoming season.
The other guy who could have a bright future and can offer a lot to this team is Guerschon. Yabusele is a guy that when drafted was relatively an unknown and somewhat of a mystery but let me tell you, after watching this kid play some overseas ball and some games with the Maine Red Claws you can tell this kid can be a major contributor right away on both ends of the floor and has the build and style of play as a guy like Draymond Green who we all know is quite possibly one of the best 2-way players in the NBA not named Lebron or Kawai. Celtics fans need to get ready and be excited to watch this freak athlete hit the hardwood and do some damage for this team and to me could possibly be used as a Lebron type of stopper.
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 23: . (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
FINAL OUTCOME AND PREDICITONS:
So Celtics fans should be aware by now that this team is being built around the new NBA era and is creating a blue print for teams to follow on what kind of guys are taking over this league and that are big, athletic wing players who can play multiple positions and stretch the floor and help other guys get open.
It will be interesting to see how the new big 3 plays together and who will take over Avery’s spot on the floor whether it’s Jaylen, Marcus, or Tatum, someone will have to step up in a big way to fill that void. This year should be an exciting one and the year we dethrone Lebron and the Cavs.
-LOSE THE FINALS IN 6 GAMES TO THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
NOT FAMILIAR WITH NEW FACES ON THE CELTICS ROSTER? CHECK OUT THE TEAMS OFFICIAL PAGE TO LEARN SOME OF THE NEW FACES AND NAMES YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE THIS UPCOMING SEASON @
