Boston Celtics: Big summer changes are paying off in 2017-18

The Boston Celtics underwent quite the roster change during the summer of 2017, but it’s all paying off this season, even without Gordon Hayward.

The 2017 offseason was one of the busiest summers in recent NBA history. A handful of teams went decided to completely revamp their rosters, with a number of stars switching uniforms.

However, so far this season, two teams stick out from the bunch: Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Both teams are looking better than they did last season. Currently, the Celtics sport a league-best 13-2 record (and are on a 13-game winning streak), while the Timberwolves are at 8-5. However, one team clearly has played at a higher level, and that would be the Celtics.

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Disaster struck early for the Celtics as they lost their biggest offseason signing Gordon Hayward on opening night to a gruesome injury. The loss of Hayward had shaken Boston, as the team got off to a concerning 0-2 start. However, after losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks to open the season, Boston found their stride.

Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum have played great basketball for Boston en route to their current 13-game winning streak. Both players are making up for the loss of Hayward, and then some.

Brown is averaging nearly 15 points and seven rebounds per game, while Tatum is averaging close to 14 points and six boards per contest.

While these rookies have put in work, none have played at the level of Kyrie Irving. Quite simply, Irving is looking like an NBA MVP candidate, posting 32 points and five helpers per game. It is early in the season, but any questions as to whether Kyrie can lead a team has been silenced for the time being.

The contributions of veteran Al Horford can’t be overlooked either. Horford has arguably been the biggest surprise for the Celtics this season, averaging 15 points and nearly nine boards (his highest output since 2013-14) per game. Horford’s been criticized for his lack of rebounding prowess over the last couple of seasons, but he’s been huge for Boston in that department this season.

Despite all the roster turnover that Boston underwent this past summer – they only returned four players from last year’s Eastern Conference Finals roster – both units have looked cohesive and productive. This could be attributed to the brilliant job that coach Brad Stevens has done.

Stevens has taken on a nearly completely different roster than last year and is maximizing their contributions. Under Stevens, the Celtics are currently first in defensive rating at 95.8. Even though they’re only 22nd in offense this season, their defense has been more than enough to offset it.

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Following Hayward’s injury, many had written the Boston Celtics off, but they have come back stronger. This Celtics team is better than any in recent memory, and is without a key player too. Boston may not finish the season with the best record in the league, but there is no doubt that they will have the best record in the Eastern Conference.

The Boston Celtics have the look of an NBA Finalist. With or without LeBron James in their path.

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