After a season that didn’t meet the expectations set for them, the Boston Celtics have had a pretty busy offseason. With old pieces going out and new players coming in, there seems to be a different vibe going into this season. It seems the focus coming into this season is team morale and chemistry, which is what many believe was what caused problems last year. The Celtics have a good team coming in this year and fans are excited to see them.
Boston Celtics 2019-20 Season Preview
Team Changes
The most notable departure for the Celtics was superstar point guard Kyrie Irving, who left for the Brooklyn Nets in free agency. Even though Irving was the most notable, the most crucial loss was Al Horford, who left in free agency to rival Philadelphia 76ers. With those crucial losses, there were also some great pieces that came in. During free agency, the Celtics acquired all-star point guard Kemba Walker in a sign and trade that sent Terry Rozier to the Charlotte Hornets. The Celtics also acquired Enes Kanter in free agency to help in their bigs. In the draft, Boston also acquired Romeo Langford, Grant Williams, Carsen Edwards, Tremont Waters. After the draft, the big man Tacko Fall was signed as well.
Are the Boston Celtics a Top Team in the East?
The Celtics have a really good team coming in this year with shooters and a lot of young talent. Even with the talent they have, the question remains if they can compete with the big lineups of the Philadelphia 76ers and the Milwaukee Bucks. It seems unlikely that they could compete in a seven-game series against guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Joel Embiid, but they can with the shooters they have and the aggressiveness of wings Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum towards the rim. The Celtics also have a deep bench with Marcus Smart and Robert Williams leading the way. If Brad Stevens sets the right game plan, this team can compete in the East.
Who Will Step Up this Year?
With a team that has a lot of young talent, there are some players that have to take that step forward. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum can take that step forward now that they have some experience in the league, but the one player that has to take a step up is Gordon Hayward. With almost two years after his gruesome injury, Gordon Hayward looks to be back to 100%. If there’s any chance for him to return to the player he was in Utah, this is his year. He showed flashes of it last year, but his play was too inconsistent. If he can become consistent with his play, he can be an X-factor for this young team.
Final Prediction
The Boston Celtics have a really deep team. Their floor for this year would be a first-round exit, while the ceiling for this team would be the Eastern Conference Finals. If they make that far, it can be a sign of future success. A reasonable win margin for the 2019-20 Boston Celtics is between 52-55 wins with a third-place finish in the East. There will be improvements in team morale and chemistry as the season will go along. Even with the improvements, their weakness at the center position could potentially hurt them as they face bigger lineups during the year.