2020-21 NBA season preview: about Boston Celtics. Data, results from the previous season, a look at their squad and future free agents, the objectives of the course, the player to watch and a forecast on the franchise.
Boston Celtics
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- Market movements: the additions of Jeff Teague and Tristan Thompson.
- Backcourt: Jaylen Brown, Carsen Edwards, Javonte Green, Romeo Langford, Aaron Nesmith (rookie), Payton Pritchard (rookie), Marcus Smart, Jeff Teague, Kemba Walker, Tremont Waters.
- Frontcourt: Tacko Fall (two-way), Semi Ojeleye, Jayson Tatum, Daniel Theis, Tristan Thompson, Grant Williams, Robert Williams III.
This is how they face the season
The team led by Brad Stevens keeps its spine practically intact with the exceptions of Gordon Hayward and center Enes Kanter. The forward has set course for the Charlotte Hornets after accepting a succulent offer of 4 seasons and 120 million dollars. Despite the efforts of the general manager to retain him, Hayward decided to head to the franchise of North Carolina to be Michael Jordan’s new franchise player.
As compensation for their respective departures, the Celtics have been quite low-key in the current free agent market. They have sealed the hires of two veterans like Jeff Teague and Tristan Thompson. Reinforcements that seem insufficient for a second unit that lacks a reliable scorer. We do not rule out that they may make future movements with the trade exception that they treasure valued at 27.5 million dollars.
The men led by Brad Stevens will start again with a very powerful quintet made up of Kemba Walker, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and perhaps Daniel Theis as center, although we do not rule out that they will bet on Tristan Thompson when he recovers from the injuries he suffered during the preseason.
However, the main problems for this team will come in the second unit. Jeff Teague will be the substitute with the most baggage, although Grant Williams and center Robert Williams III will also be important. Likewise, Romeo Langford and Carsen Edwards need to forget their physical problems to continue evolving in the competition, and it is to be expected that the green manager will have a good hand with rookies Nesmith and Pritchard.
With a superlative quintet and a somewhat weak second unit, will they have enough fuel in the tank to support the 72 games of the regular season and face the playoffs with sufficient guarantees? Everything will depend on Stevens and his board, and the amount of minutes that it demands from his stars, such as Tatum, Walker and Brown.
The player to watch
Jayson Tatum is officially the new franchise player after agreeing to an extension for the maximum salary allowed. Since his landing in 2017, the forward has only evolved to double his contribution on the parquet and the management of Boston has given him their total and absolute confidence. Many of the Celtics’ options will pass through his hands and he is the right player to close games.
But apart from Tatum, we cannot forget Kemba Walker, the best paid player on the squad and who was quite discreet in his first year. The Celtics will need you to improve your offensive contribution and remember a little more that player who excelled in the Charlotte Hornets. Also, another important sustenance will be Jaylen Brown, who scratched a magnificent level in the Orlando bubble, and is expected to continue with the same.
The prognosis
Elio Martínez, director of nbamaniacs, will give a personal and subjective forecast on what he thinks each franchise will do during the 2020-21 season.
I’ve been saying for years that I think Boston deserves the prize of winning a championship for the way they do things. In three of the last four years they have been among the best four of the course, but I am afraid that this year they will still not be able to reach the 17th championship. I place them third in the East in the regular season.
Previous team analyzed: Denver Nuggets. Next team: Los Angeles Clippers.
(Cover photo: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)
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