In an effort to present a broader perspective on the Boston Celtics upcoming season, I posed the next assignments to the CelticsBlog workers:
Listed here are their responses. Be at liberty so as to add your individual to the feedback part beneath!
Secure Prediction: Jaylen Brown will make an all-nba staff. With Tatum out Brown averages round 25-27 PPG because the Celtics primary choice.
Outlandish Prediction: Payton Pritchard is all star that averages over 20 PPG in a beginning position.
Win Complete: I predict the Celtics to win 45 video games this season. Most sports activities books have them decrease or at that time however I believe this staff has an excessive amount of offense expertise to be that dangerous. I’ve a sense they’re round .500 for a lot of the 12 months however go on a protracted win streak sooner or later that will get them to 45 wins.
Secure prediction: Anfernee Simons will slot in completely and common 18-plus factors per recreation.
Outlandish prediction: Luka Garza may have a number of 20 and 10 video games this season.
Win complete: I believe the Celtics will win 44 video games. I anticipate this season to have some ups and downs, however I believe the general product will nonetheless be stable and so they’ll be a enjoyable staff to observe.
Secure and boring prediction: Jaylen Brown begins the all-star recreation. Overwhelming counting stats will push him into the spot Tatum vacated
Outlandish prediction: Josh Minott appears to be like like one of many 5 greatest Celtics by years finish. Given the possibility to point out off his protection, reducing, and transition play, he appears to be like like a cut price contributor on the perimeter of beginning
Win complete: 46 video games. Don’t underestimate the facility of how dangerous the Japanese Convention is
Secure prediction: Derrick White will should be on the All-Star staff, however he may not be chosen as a result of his expertise is typically missed outdoors of Boston (equivalent to White being omitted from NBA All-Defensive honors final season).
Outlandish prediction: In Jayson Tatum’s absence, the individuals on-line and on speak exhibits who’re adamant that he’s overrated and carried by his teammates will understand how incorrect they’re and can publicly apologize.
Win complete prediction: 44, though the quantity might rise barely if Brad Stevens lands a giant on the commerce deadline or if Tatum returns by March.
Secure: There’s no safer wager than Sam Hauser capturing >40% and hitting 150+ 3’s. He’s not getting a number of consideration, however I imagine he’ll have an ideal 12 months.
Outlandish: Hugo Gonzalez leaps Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh within the rotation. His protection, athleticism and NBA-ready body will assist him keep away from Joe Mazzulla’s normal aversion to rookies.
Win complete: There’s a number of alternative ways this season can go, however 44 wins feels just like the candy spot. That might’ve put them because the sixth seed within the East final season. Relying on well being, I might see them ending wherever from a Play-In spot to the 4th seed.
Secure prediction: Anfernee Simons will emerge because the staff’s third-leading scorer, behind Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. All through the preseason, Simons showcased flashes of seamlessly adapting to Mazzulla-ball — most notably in his 21-point efficiency in opposition to the Cavaliers, the place he knocked down 6-of-9 photographs from 3-point territory. With the offense unable to depend on Jayson Tatum’s assured 26-plus factors an evening, that scoring void will should be stuffed elsewhere. Whereas Simons isn’t anticipated to duplicate Tatum’s output, the eighth-year guard shouldn’t have any hassle delivering a constant and beneficial 18–20 factors per recreation in his first season with Boston.
Outlandish prediction: Boston’s second consultant within the 2026 NBA All-Star Recreation in Los Angeles received’t be D. White; it’ll be Payton Pritchard. P-Rabbit goes to take full benefit of the chance created by Tatum’s absence, getting into February’s midseason festivities with a 3-point proportion that ranks among the many league’s prime 10. The Celtics will lean closely on Pritchard, deploying final season’s Sixth Man of the 12 months as one thing of a platoon piece — beginning some nights, main the reserve unit on others. However the utilization received’t forestall Pritchard from making his sixth marketing campaign one of the best we’ve ever seen from the 27-year-old.
Win complete: Regardless of all the pieces thrown Boston’s manner — from the inevitable payroll discount, pressured departures, and delay in Tatum’s ninth season within the league — the Celtics will win a decent 46 video games. That ought to be sufficient to safe a top-five seed within the Japanese Convention, hold them firmly within the combine, and shortly silence any Causeway Road chatter about tanking prefer it’s 2013-14 once more. And sure, meaning no homecoming for Brockton’s personal AJ Dybantsa. Sorry, however for the second straight 12 months, a extremely touted New England prospect received’t be coming to Boston — let’s be sincere, he’ll in all probability find yourself with Danny Ainge in Utah so as to add extra salt to the wound.
Secure : Derrick White will end prime 3 in 3 pointers tried per recreation. Completed ninth final 12 months with 9.2 as LaMelo led with 11.2. White is taking a look at extra photographs with Tatum out and may have the ability to get to at the very least the highest 3. Within the preseason White shot 11 threes per recreation in 27 minutes a contest.
Outlandish : Celtics will nonetheless end prime 3 in 3 level makes an attempt per recreation. They don’t have the identical shooters however the shooters they do have will shoot. Preseason isn’t the tip all be all however principally all the pieces the Cs have proven schematically whether or not it’s tempo on offense, tempo on protection with aggressive assist and an intention on defensive playmaking, or rather more screening per play, the staff is seeking to carry it over into the common season. Celtics completed preseason 2nd in 3PAs with 47.
Win complete: 43. I actually do not know what this staff will do however I landed at 43. Extra manufacturing from Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard will spearhead the efforts, however the East being weak will play an element. Additionally I believe the Celtics will probably be prime 5 in blocks and steals per recreation so forcing groups to provide the ball at all times assist. I simply don’t assume they’ve sufficient expertise in the meanwhile to go considerably over that mark or maintain accidents like they’ve prior to now.
Photograph by Chris Coduto/Getty Pictures
Secure prediction: Payton Pritchard will common at the very least 18 factors per recreation. Now that he’s the place to begin guard he’ll naturally have extra minutes and extra scoring alternatives. He’ll be the third main scorer on the staff behind Jaylen Brown and Derrick White.
Outlandish: The Celtics will win the NBA Cup. I believe this will probably be one thing Joe Mazzulla units his sights on and would need to win to point out to his personal guys and the remainder of the league that Boston remains to be going to be a tough staff to beat.
Win complete: 46 I believe we’re going to start out gradual as Mazzulla finds the best rotation however we’ll end robust. 46 wins is sufficient to make the postseason and will probably be proper in the course of the pack. The Celtics could not have the identical expertise as they did final 12 months, however they nonetheless have good gamers on their staff.
Secure Prediction: Jaylen Brown will common at the very least 26 factors per recreation. Now, with out Tatum for almost all of the 12 months, he must enhance his scoring. With a mean of 27.3 factors per recreation in 39 earlier video games with out JT, this objective ought to be simply achievable for JB.
Outlandish Prediction: Hugo González makes the All-Rookie second staff. I really feel that along with his polished protection and his unbelievable means to protect 94 ft, Mazzulla ought to get some run. And if he can rating persistently with an honest three-point proportion, Hugo might slide into that All-Rookie second staff dialog
Win Complete Prediction: I predict the Celtics will win 48 video games this season. This staff might get streaky from behind the arc, and with a faster-paced offense, it might hold them in additional video games, much like the Pacers two years in the past. Moreover, if they’re round that 5-6 seed space by March, Tatum might return, solely growing the win complete for the staff.
Secure Take: Jaylen Brown’s quantity jumps however so does his effectivity, ending nearer to that fifty% FG vary we’re used to within the second All-NBA season of his profession.
Outlandish Take: Even with the frontcourt questions and unproven bench, this protection extends its four-year streak of a top-10 defensive score. The physicality, switchiness, and staff rebounding will shock everybody, even us. Whereas we’re at it, this occurs as a result of it’s spearheaded by an All-Defensive Crew season from elite rim protector and honorary large man Derrick White.
Win Prediction: I’ve been within the vary of 38-41 wins as an expectation for this group, if you happen to think about a complete season with out Jayson Tatum, and for the sake of the unknown in relation to his availability, I’ll think about it a 41-win season. Final 12 months that put Orlando on the 7-seed. If we see a Tatum look round March, I’ll push it as much as 45.
One Secure Prediction: The three level try report is protected (for now). I questioned previous to the beginning of preseason if this might be the 12 months that Mazzulla Ball broke the fifty makes an attempt per recreation barrier. Final 12 months’s 3,952 three level makes an attempt (48.2 per recreation) is a league report, and I figured that to fill the expertise hole left by offseason strikes and damage we’d see much more margin pushing from the C’s. Now, although, I don’t assume that’ll be the case.The Celts are second in threes tried per recreation this preseason with 47.0, however final 12 months they had been firing up 52.6 within the heat as much as the common season. A notable drop like that isn’t coincidence and whereas preseason stats solely inform you a lot, it looks like an indication that Boston may very well be pressured to pivot away from the success of final 12 months’s system.
I’d be shocked if Boston don’t play quicker this season. Pushing the tempo in an identical approach to Chicago final season does create environment friendly photographs notably from the corners since you’re attacking defenses earlier than they’re absolutely set. Within the slog of an everyday season there will probably be nights had been opposition groups can’t sustain with the track-meet Celtics and that may result in a number of three level quantity, however with Vacation, Horford and Porzingis in new conditions and JT a thriller field, I don’t assume there’s fairly the identical capturing expertise or confidence on this model of the C’s to usurp that deadly 24/25 staff.
One Daring Prediction: There’ll be a brand new beginning heart on the town earlier than season’s finish. If Boston punch above their weight till the All-Star break and discover themselves in a playoff race with Jayson Tatum on the verge of returning, I’d be actually shocked if we don’t see a brand new five-man acquired on the deadline. It’s not out of the realms of risk that one in every of Queta, Garza, Boucher, or Tillman stands out above the remaining, asserting themselves as a member of the rotation able to contribute within the playoffs, however I believe a fairly monumental leap can be required from any of these guys to really deserve a beginning spot within the postseason.Hugo Gonzales and Josh Minott have excited to no finish this preseason, and their promise might make Sam Hauser expendable as soon as Tatum is able to tread the parquet once more. His $10,044,644 wage matches properly into a bunch of groups’ mid-level exceptions, and the likes of Goga Bitadze and Day’Ron Sharpe may very well be introduced in to shore up the middle spot whereas getting Boston all the best way out of the tax this 12 months.
However, if issues aren’t understanding, I believe Simons may very well be a $27,678,571 sacrificial lamb, used to switch Kristaps and Al for good. If Steve Ballmer isn’t harbouring title aspirations by the deadline, then John Collins may very well be introduced in and prolonged at a quantity that fits Boston for subsequent season. He’s a bit undersized on the 5 however profiles equally to Horford and Porzingis as a real above-the-break spacer, whereas additionally sustaining vertical pop and the power to play the handoff recreation.
If Brooklyn wish to open up extra cap area subsequent 12 months (as a result of it labored so nicely this offseason), they may very well be tempted to tackle Simons’ expiring cash, letting go of Nic Claxton’s descending three-year deal. Each of these guys are starter-level gamers in my thoughts and as soon as once more get the C’s beneath the tax line.
Win Complete: I closed my eyes, blindfolded myself and threw the dart on the board of Celts prospects that I’ve hung up at residence and landed on 38-44. There’s a number of expertise on this staff, they’ve world class coaches however I’m involved that the competency we’ve seen in pre-season is fragile. If one in every of Brown, White, Pritchard, Simons miss important time this 12 months I fear that we’ll begin to see an actual drop off in offensive effectivity when finish of rotation gamers are pressured to play extra significant minutes. Couple that with proudly owning our choose this 12 months and I simply assume there are extra situations the place lottery odds change into extra attention-grabbing than play-in video games on the finish of the 12 months.
Secure prediction: Payton Pritchard may have a profession excessive in assists per recreation. PP may have the ball in his arms greater than final 12 months and may have extra creation and facilitation duties, however he’s greater than prepared for the problem. Early indicators in preseason recommend Pritchard has refined his choose and roll recreation and is much more able to tackle the physicality and ball strain of opposing level of assault defenders. Massive 12 months forward for Level Guard P.
Outlandish prediction: Derrick White makes all NBA. Sure, I mentioned it. I hate to over-index on preseason, however White appears to be like as snug as he’s appeared and is primed to have a large 12 months. His shot is as easy and constant as ever, and you’ll already inform he’s taken on a brand new assault mindset offensively. Oh, and he’s nonetheless one of the best shot blocking guard within the league. Absolute 2 manner stud who’s going to show heads along with his offensive bundle this 12 months.
Win complete: 42-40. I believe the Celtics go simply above 500, however their lack of entrance courtroom depth and expertise will probably be laborious to beat. They’ve possibly the weakest large man rotation within the league, and regardless of their strengths on the guard and wing positions, they only don’t have sufficient to be a contender within the East. That being mentioned, if Tatum comes again, you by no means know.
