NBA: 2022-23 Eastern Conference pre-season playoff projections

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Boston Celtics Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports) /

3. Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics’ offseason was a tale of two halves. The first half of the offseason for the Celtics was electric. They signed Danilo Gallinari and acquired Malcolm Brogdon via trade from the Indiana Pacers. It seemed as if the team that was on verge of a championship made two overwhelming improvements.

Then the second half of the offseason happened.

During the second half of the offseason, the Celtics lost Gallinari for the season due to injury, Robert Williams for what could end up being the first couple of months of the season due to injury, and their head coach Ime Udoka for the season.

Because I believe it will take a while for the Celtics to turn it on this season, I believe they will suffer a bit at the start. The third seed for the Celtics feels about right.