Watching a crew with a transparent id and no query marks actually has its perks, however there’s additionally magnificence in following an unproven group with a clean canvas and decrease expectations.
Anybody who claims to know precisely how this Celtics season will unfold is both mendacity or a basketball genius. On the similar time, it’s enjoyable to guess what’s going to occur. If I’m proper, I can reference this text and say I informed you so; if I’m improper, you may reference this text and say you informed me so (or we are able to collectively comply with fake it by no means occurred).
With that in thoughts, listed below are ten statistical predictions which can be one hundred pc assured to both be proper or improper.
1. Payton Pritchard will common five-plus assists.
Payton Pritchard has elevated his help whole every of the previous two seasons, together with a career-high 3.5 per recreation final 12 months.
There’s motive to imagine that quantity will proceed to enhance, and I’ve a hunch he’ll have the ability to push it above 5 per recreation this 12 months. Pritchard will get plenty of love for his shotmaking (for good motive), however he’s additionally a wonderful passer. With much more alternative, he’ll have the ability to showcase that a part of his recreation on a constant foundation.
2. Jaylen Brown will end top-five within the league in scoring.
It’s straightforward to neglect, however Jaylen Brown averaged 26.6 factors per recreation within the 2022-23 season. That quantity fell to 23 two years in the past and 22.2 final 12 months.
Even with extra consideration on him, Brown ought to have the ability to increase that whole this 12 months. His quantity will nearly actually go up, which may result in some 40-plus-point performances. Jayson Tatum completed fifth within the league in scoring final 12 months at 26.8 factors per recreation, and there’s motive to imagine Brown might be in that ballpark and crack the highest 5 this 12 months.
3. The Celtics received’t lead the league in 3-pointers made or tried.
Final 12 months, the Celtics led the NBA in each 3-pointers made (17.8 per recreation) and tried (48.2 per recreation). This season, whereas they’ll nonetheless be close to the highest of each classes, they received’t lead the league in both.
The loss to the Knicks final 12 months was a not-so-subtle reminder that offenses should be versatile and multi-dimensional. This 12 months, there might be an emphasis on increasing their arsenal and guaranteeing they will rating in some ways.
4. Anfernee Simons would be the Celtics’ second-leading scorer.
It may very well be Derrick White or Pritchard, however I imagine newcomer Anfernee Simons will end second on the crew in scoring this season. He’s not an ideal participant, however I don’t assume the vast majority of Celtics followers notice simply how dynamic he’s with the ball in his arms.
He’s averaged 17-plus every of the previous 4 seasons, together with 22.6 two years in the past. Simons is a artistic shot-maker, and with Brown, Pritchard and White by his aspect, defenses received’t have the ability to double him continuously.
5. Derrick White finishes top-30 in each steals and blocks.
White has an opportunity to make an All-Protection Group this 12 months. Final 12 months, he averaged 1.1 blocks and 0.9 steals and was simply outdoors the highest 30 in each classes. This 12 months, these numbers enhance barely to 1.3 blocks and 1.1 steals, and he will get in for every.
6. Neemias Queta performs 20-plus minutes an evening.
The chance is there for Neemias Queta, and I imagine he’ll maximize it. He averaged 13.9 minutes per recreation a season in the past, and I count on that quantity to go to 20-plus this 12 months.
Even when the Celtics rotate many gamers out and in, Queta has established himself as somebody head coach Joe Mazzulla can actually belief.
7. Boston finishes within the bottom-10 in rebounds per recreation.
Queta helps, and Luka Garza and Chris Boucher will do their half as properly, however this crew simply isn’t geared up to be constant on the boards. It is going to be extra evident in some video games than others, however total, rebounding might be a weak spot.
8. They’ve each a five-game successful streak and five-game dropping streak alongside the best way.
This feels prefer it’s going to be an up-and-down season. It received’t at all times be rosy, and it received’t at all times be bleak, however it might be each at sure occasions. Ebbs and flows are inevitable, however I imagine this crew could also be extra prone to swings than the common group.
9. Jayson Tatum will play at the very least one recreation.
If the Celtics are in rivalry, and Jayson Tatum retains progressing like he has, there’s an opportunity he’ll find yourself returning to motion this 12 months. If the Celtics sneak into the playoffs and get him again for the postseason run, it may very well be straight-up electrical.
10. The Celtics end 44-38 and get the 6-seed.
I, for one, can’t wait to see how this season performs out. This crew might be higher than individuals assume, and if Tatum does return, something is feasible.
