Via ClutchPoints
Key Players: Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford
Danny Ainge and the Boston Celtics had a relatively quiet offseason. A little too quiet. Following an impressive playoff run without their two best players, Ainge decided to hold onto every piece that helped the team exceed expectations.
This may seem logical for any team coming off a successful run, but not for Danny Ainge. For those disbelievers of Ainge's powers here's a look at some of his accomplishments as Boston's general manager:
1.) Flipped Jeff Green, Wally Szczerbiak, and Delonte West for Ray Allen and Glen Davis.
2.) Got Kevin Garnett in a package with Al Jefferson as the best player.
3.) Traded Tayshaun Prince and Marcus Thornton for a future 29 point per game scorer in Isaiah Thomas.
4.) Noticed the eventual downfall of Isaiah Thomas and turned it into Kyrie Irving.
5.) The nuking of the Brooklyn Nets, turning a 35-year-old Paul Pierce, a 36-year-old Jason Terry, and a 37-year-old Kevin Garnett into four Brooklyn Nets first-round picks.
When most general managers sit on their hands in the offseason, it shows their team is no threat in the upcoming season; but, when Danny Ainge sits on his hands in the offseason, it means he's sitting on something truly destructive.
The only notable addition to Ainge's creation for league domination was 27th overall pick, Robert Williams.
Boston's Best Case Scenario
Via NBA.com
Kyrie Irving is an interesting man, to say the least. From flat earth comments to shocking trade demands, Irving is far from conventional. So when Irving commits to your team almost a year before he has to, something must be right. A guy who literally thought his way into the 5th-century belief of Earth being flat couldn't even think of leaving this Celtics team, stating "Even if I ever try to think about that thought of going elsewhere, it would be like 'what are you thinking? We're pretty f-ing good here."
Pretty f-ing good, indeed.
Terry Rozier posted a split of 17/5/6 in last year's playoffs. Scary Terry will be coming off the bench this season. Per 48 minutes, Jayson Tatum averaged 22 points and 8 rebounds a night in his rookie campaign. The All-Rookie First Team member will be the third option offensively. Jaylen Brown is a former third overall pick coming off playoff averages of 18 points and 5 rebounds in just his second NBA season. He probably won't even get plays called for him, playing the role of the fifth option in Boston's starting lineup.
All of the above players are 24 or under; all of the above players are secondary options for Brad Stevens and the Celtics. The main options for Brad Stevens, Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, aren't much older, 26 and 28 respectively, and are bonafide stars in the NBA.
In his first season donning a Celtics uniform, Kyrie Irving was having easily the most efficient season of his six-year career, averaging 24.4 points and 5.1 assists on a 56 percent field goal conversion rate and 41 percent from deep. Take into account that Irving did that while playing with an infected screw in his left knee and the league should be scared of what a healthy Uncle Drew is capable of.
Gordon Hayward contributed five minutes and nine seconds to the Celtics 55-win season. While most might hear that and credit Boston for their perseverance, the rest of the NBA should hear that and shudder.
For those who forgot, in his last healthy season, Gordon Hayward's production was just a notch below Kyrie Irving. Hayward posted averages of 21.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists on 54 percent shooting and 40 percent from three-point range.
Hayward and Irving are efficient stars and should lead the Celtics to historic heights in their first season together under Brad Stevens. Historic heights was just a synonym for the Golden State Warriors. The two teams split their matchup 1-1 last season, with neither game being decided by more than four points. Throw in a healthy Gordon Hayward for the Celtics and one of the best centers in the league in DeMarcus Cousins for the Warriors, and the NBA's primetime matchup looks more and more like a MyTeam game.
Boston is far from title favorites, but they're one of the three or four teams with enough talent to call themselves legitimate contenders. After two straight Eastern Conference appearances, this season is Finals or bust for the 'pretty f-ing good' Celtics.
Boston's Worst Case Scenario
Via Zimbio
Of course, injuries limiting the ammunition of one of the league's most dangerous rosters would be terrible; but, is it the worst possible thing that could happen to Boston this season? Far from it.
A team can come back from injuries. Look no further than this very organization stringing off 16 straight wins just one game after losing Gordon Hayward. However, a team can't come back from budding egos.
In defense of the team's chemistry, everyone has been on record as saying the right thing in terms of their role and playing time. The Celtics have an embarrassment of riches, and, unlike Golden State, those riches have only scratched the surface of their potential.
One example of Boston's riches is the Eric Bledsoe Killer a.k.a Terry Rozier. Despite coming off an impressive playoff outing, Rozier deferred to the return of Kyrie Irving, stating "He's the starter. He's our starter. He's our starting point guard. I had a lot of fun leading these guys this year when I had to step up to start, so, you know, next year it will play itself out the right way." That sounds perfect. Case closed. But for the sake of argument, let's say Rozier finds his minutes closer in the 19,20 range rather than the 28,29 area. Rozier is in a contract year, and any sign of unhappiness from him or his camp will undoubtedly result in Danny Ainge kicking him to the curb.
As important as a backup point guard is, a disgruntled Rozier wouldn't be the end of the world. However, a disgruntled Jayson Tatum would leave Ainge and Stevens with a number of tough decisions to make.
How do you bring someone who led your team one game away from a Finals appearance back to flat Earth? Jordan Crawford did it at 16 and that confidence still exudes in every 10-day contract appearance he makes.
Much like Terry Rozier, Tatum has been saying all the right things like, "Our job is to be the best versions of ourselves and come together for a bigger goal, which is winning a championship. Brad’s job is to manage playing time and manage all sorts of stuff. That’s why he’s the coach. We got a bunch of selfless guys on the team that just want to win. We’ll figure it out."
However, it only takes one rough patch to create friction and destroy what Tatum describes as "it" and, in turn, destroy arguably the league's best chances at dethroning the Warriors.
Record Prediction: 63-19; A healthy Celtics team asserts itself atop the Eastern Conference.