Boston Celtics: Exploring the best and worst case scenarios for 2019-20

Worst case scenario

However, just as the odds can be defied and an underdog team can rise to unexpected heights, so to can a team with expectations and big names allow it to define and lessen them. The Celtics have every chance or opportunity to put it together and make the same amazing runs they have in the past. But the chance for a tough, stagnate year still remains.

Defensive anchor, playmaking safety valve, clutch shot hitter Al Horford is gone to the team that he consistently gave defensive trouble in the postseason. No more does Embiid have to wrangle with Horford in the post – he’s his support. The bigs acquired to address a major hole the Celtics have been faced with for a multitude of seasons – rebounding.

However, that is offset by a serious loss in paint protection. Kanter is an astounding board-catcher and an apt weapon in the paint, but his career defensive plus-minus of -0.7 clearly highlights the lack of interior defense in his game. A similar new addition is the Euroleague’s leading rebounder last season Vincent Poirier – a tough rebounder and reliable inside scorer who still has to prove himself a capable interior defender on the NBA level.

The core of Walker, Tatum, Brown, and Smart can carry the Celtics far – but without a true star big man in a conference currently ruled by them – there is a serious chance the Celtics fall in the first or second round. It is unlikely they miss the playoffs entirely or fall below the fifth or sixth seed but the challenges and bumps in the road they will have to face will be difficult.

Creating an efficient defense without a frontcourt star is going to be the biggest block in the road. But if long, star wings Brown and Tatum can take a serious leap in their defensive game and continue to develop the multi-tiered scoring they have flashed in previous years this will be mitigated.

The Boston Celtics will make the playoffs. But to make it far, they are going to have to address their issues by comity or with a serious trade to bring in a frontcourt powerhouse. All the pieces are there, but if they are not put together the Celtics have little chance of more than a scrappy attempt to make it to the second round.