The end of last season left a sour taste in many Celtics fans’ mouths.
While most teams would love to make the conference finals, the feeling that the Celtics’ have not played up to their full potential the past couple of years has left fans disappointed. Last season’s playoffs felt like a missed opportunity to capitalize on a strange season where upsets were occurring left and right. This leaves the Celtics hoping to at least get over the hurdle of making the finals this season.
The biggest upside of last season was Jayson Tatum taking a huge leap – edging on superstardom during the second half of the year – proving that he could be a top 5 player in the future.
Can the rookies make an impact?
With reports that Ainge attempted to trade up in the 2020 NBA Draft and failed, the hope now is that new rookies Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard can provide any support to Boston’s thin bench unit. While counting on rookies outside of the top 5-10 picks is never reliable, if Nesmith could recreate any of his three-point magic from college or Pritchard could help run the bench unit, then it could lessen the sting of not being able to trade up in the draft.
How will Hayward’s role be filled?
Even with the injuries, Hayward was a versatile ball handler who provided possibly the best fourth option in the league. He could play without the ball in his hands if someone such as Tatum or Walker was catching fire, yet, with the ball, Hayward was consistently able to make plays for himself and others.
Ideally, Jaylen Brown would develop into more of a shot creator and playmaker to fill Hayward’s role, but there is little evidence so far that he could fill Haywards’ shoes in that area. There is also hope that rookies Nesmith or Pritchard could step into a contributing role by replacing some of Hayward’s abilities, like shooting or playmaking.
Will Tatum and Brown take control of the team?
It seems like every year, writers talk about Tatum and Brown “making the leap,” but with the amount of potential the young duo demonstrated from the moment they entered the league, it is not unreasonable to expect another big step from one or both of them.
If Tatum sustains the production he displayed during the second half of last season and developed into a slightly better playmaker. He could secure his place as a top ten player. Similarly, If Brown is able to add some versatility to his offensive game, he could develop into a Kawhi Leonard-esque player, but with more of a focus on catch-and-shoot threes.
How far will they make it in the playoffs?
When it comes to a team as distinguished as the Boston Celtics, every season is measured in terms of a championship. Could the Celtics realistically win it all this year?
With the currently constructed roster, probably not.
Even if Kemba is healthy, Tatum takes over in the playoffs, and Nesmith or Pritchard do their best, Tyler Herro impression, winning it all is unlikely – especially with teams like the Lakers and Bucks leading the league and newcomers such as the Nets and revamped Warriors entering the equation.
The biggest question mark right now is what Danny Ainge plans to do with the massive traded player exception acquired from Hayward joining the Hornets. If the Celtics sign another superstar to pair with Tatum, there is a real possibility that they could make a title run this year.
Final Thoughts
With Tatum’s new contract locking him up until 2025 and Brown under contract until 2024, the clock is ticking on the Celtics front office to build a supporting cast around them and win a championship. If they make it to the end of their contracts without a chip or feeling like the Celtics did not fully support them, we as fans could be looking at the all too familiar feeling of free agents walking away for nothing.
Beyond winning a championship, this year should be focused on keeping the young duo happy and putting the franchise in their hands because a young core as talented as Tatum and Brown will keep the Celtics in title contention for the foreseeable future.
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