There are nonetheless far too many days earlier than coaching camp, however the busiest transaction days of the summer time are within the rear view mirror. So it solely is smart to peek forward on the 12 months forward.
How you’re feeling the Celtics will end relies upon so much upon your outlook. Do you suppose the aim of the workforce is to tank and seize as many lottery balls as attainable? Do you suppose they’ll play for pleasure and construct for a fast bounce-back as soon as Tatum is again? Or are you someplace within the center?
The place the Celtics truly land within the seedings will rely much more on how the remainder of the East shakes out. Proper now it appears just like the Knicks and Cavs shall be favored to complete within the high 2. After that it’s anybody’s guess. Did the Magic, Hawks, or Pistons do sufficient to maneuver from the “promising younger workforce” label to legit contender standing?
Then there’s a gaggle that may be stepping into the other way. Did the Bucks do sufficient to place a successful workforce round Giannis? Are the Sixers ever going to get wholesome sufficient to compete with this core group? Will the Warmth hold hanging across the Play-In vary? Simply what precisely are the Raptors and Bulls doing?
I feel the Pacers get their very own gap-year move. The Wizards, Hornets, and Nets look like poised to maximise their lottery odds as soon as once more.
So the place do the Celtics match into that panorama? Are they nonetheless proficient sufficient to complete within the high 6? Do you suppose they’ll be firmly within the play-in vary? Or do you suppose they’ll discover a strategy to lose sufficient to hit the lottery?
