Boston Celtics
2015-16 Record: 48-34, 2nd in Atlantic Division, 5th Seed East
The mastery of Brad Stevens was never more apparent than last year. Up against teams with superior talent, he utilized a roster that appeared almost pedestrian in the preseason to reach the playoffs. And Boston was a win away from being the third seed.
Stevens’ ability to utilize the electric Isaiah Thomas was a major reason for the success. By allowing Thomas to run the offense as opposed to being just a piece of the bench, Stevens turned him into a better scorer and distributor. Both helped Boston become, and I swear this is not a typo, the fifth highest scoring team in the league.
Add to the mix four-time All-Star Al Hortford, who seems like the perfect fit. A versatile offensive player who is more of a system guy than isolation scorer, Hortford should improve an already stellar offense. And Jaylen Brown, who was known for being a streaking scorer in college, seems like the perfect fit as the third pick in the draft.
So, expect fireworks from Boston this season. Expect an up-tempo, high scoring group that will light up the score board while running an efficient offense. And expect this team to finish in the top four in the East.