NBA: Which team will finish third in the Eastern Conference?
By Marc Sherman
Boston Celtics
How will the Celtics look this year without Al Horford and Kyrie Irving? Will Jayson Tatum finally take the next step? Who will be Boston’s defensive anchor?
The Celtics had themselves a rollercoaster of a season a year ago. A dysfunctional disaster in which the locker room appeared to be Boston’s worst enemy. With a few players departed, the Celtics looks to create a better culture and to focus, once again, on their championship aspirations.
Their first move in doing so was signing Kemba Walker to a four-year, $141 million max contract to replace former guard Kyrie Irving. Walker placed on the All-NBA Third team last season, posting a career-high in nearly every statistical category. Averaging 25.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. He’s a slight downgrade from Irving, but a more rounded leader with the same desire to win.
Brad Stevens has had the pleasure of watching Gordon Hayward improve after another year removed from his devastating foot injury two seasons ago. After season averages of 11.5 points and 4.5 rebounds, Hayward was clearly a shell of himself, understandably, and looks to regain his All-Star form this season.
The biggest question mark for the C’s is the progression of Jayson Tatum’s skill set. After bursting onto the scene in the 2017 playoffs, he’s pretty much plateaued. This season, the Celtics are without many of their ball dominant players that contributed to Tatum and Brown’s inconsistencies. They could never find a rhythm due to their lack of touches.
Marcus Morris, Terry Rozier, Al Horford, and Kyrie Irving’s departures will lead to Brown and Tatum’s continued path to stardom.
Look for Tatum to have a big jump as the secondary scoring option behind Walker. And, possibly, even gain All-Star recognition.
Boston also signed Enes Kanter to a two-year, $10 million contract this offseason to replace Al Horford. He’s clearly a drop off from Horford but a nice consolation prize that provided value for Portland in the playoffs last season.
It’s going to be impossible for Boston to duplicate Horford’s production and leadership in the locker room, but, maybe, they shouldn’t want to replicate last season’s Celtics and strive to make their own path.
After Philly and Milwaukee, the Celtics are clearly the most talented team in the East. Their biggest question entering training camp will be chemistry and their ability to spread the ball. Many of Boston’s problematic locker room players are gone and the egos should have withered away with them.
If the Celtics can make a mid season trade and acquire a defensive stopper in the frontcourt to assist Kanter, than this team has a reasonable shot at posing a threat to the Bucks and 76ers.