BOSTON CELTICS: 55.5 WINS – UNDER
Key Additions
- Kristaps Porzingis (trade)
- Jrue Holiday (trade)
Key Subtractions
- Marcus Smart
- Grant Williams
- Malcolm Brogdon
- Robert Williams
Rotation
- Guards
- Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard
- Wings
- Jaylen Brown, Delano Banton, Sam Hauser
- Forwards
- Jayson Tatum, Jordan Walsh
- Bigs
- Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, Luke Kornet
Random thoughts, opinions, comments, declarations, queries, editorials, etc.
For most teams, if you finish 57-25, 2nd in the East, and lose in 7 games in the ECF, you had a pretty damn good season. However, all didn’t seem swell in New England. Between Mazz being second-guessed constantly, Rob Williams’ inconsistency, and Marcus Smart losing crunchtime minutes to White & Brogdon, it was clear Brad Stevens needed to make changes.
Last season marked the end of a mini-era of the Celtics. From the ‘16-’17 Celtics team who finished 1st in the East and went to the Conference Finals (losing to LeBron’s Cavs), only Jaylen Brown & Al Horford remain. Former key rotation players like Smart, Rob Williams, Grant Williams, & 6th Man of the Year winning Malcolm Brogdon are all gone. In their place are Jrue Holiday (arguably the best guard defender of the last 10 years), and Porzingis (fresh off his best season as a pro). They probably have the most talented 1 through 6 rotation in the NBA, each of whom fits the others well. Come playoff time, if they’re healthy, only the Bucks in the East can beat them in 7.
That aside, in terms of the regular season, they might not be as dominant. Depth matters in an 82 game season, and the Celtics have next to none. And if KP gets hurt, Luke Kornet will need to play big minutes. I still have them 1st in the East, but I don’t see them winning more than 55 games to get there.
Last Year – Interesting Stats:
- 2nd in NBA in both 3s made and 3s attempted
- Porzingis shot 49.8% from the field (career high)
- Porzingis shot 38.5% from 3 (2nd highest in his career)
- Teams shot 4th worst from 3 vs BOS (34.5%)
- Tatum averaged 30.1ppg on only 21 shots
- Al Horford shot 44.6% from 3 (career high)
Keys to Success:
KP’s health, Big Al’s fights off Father Time, Jaylen Brown’s left hand learns how to dribble, Mazzula takes a step, Someone from the Pritchard/Hauser/Brissett/Gabriel/Walsh group becomes a reliable rotation player
Potential Obstacles:
KP’s health, Big Al’s age, Jaylen Brown’s new contract puts undue pressure on him, Mazzula starts feeling the pressure
Hot takes:
- KP plays less than 65 games
- Horford plays even less
- Pritchard plays the most mpg of his career
- Horford plays the least mpg
- Jordan Walsh becomes key playoff contributor
STANDINGS PREDICTION: 1ST IN THE EAST
