The opposite evening, as I flipped channels through the Eagles-Dolphins recreation, I stumbled upon the Celtics’ 2008 championship particular.
Sorry, Jalen Hurts. After gladly watching soccer all weekend, it was time to shift to basketball mode. I’ve most likely seen the video 5 to 10 instances through the years, and each time I watch it, it takes me again to the glory days.
Large Child remains to be a goofball. Eddie Home remains to be an murderer. James Posey remains to be the proper function participant. KG remains to be in contrast to every other human on the planet. Ray Allen nonetheless has the prettiest jumper of all time. Celtics-Cavs Sport 7 remains to be the best recreation I’ve ever seen.
It took me again to once I was 15, soaking all of it in and genuinely anticipating that to be the primary of two or three championships over the following few years. They need to have gained in 2010, however shout out to the late nice Kobe Bryant for keen his crew to victory.
As I watched that playoff run again, it received my thoughts racing. Very like I did in 2010, I really thought the Celtics would win all of it in 2022. That crew was particular, however this crew has an opportunity to be much more particular. I’m not going to make any daring predictions that the Celtics will definitively finish the drought, however I’ll make another predictions which might be assured to come back true.
1) The Celtics win 58 video games and get the 1-seed.
This crew is a wagon. The Celtics have the most effective duo within the NBA, essentially the most gifted high six and arguably the most effective total roster.
Heck, their fourth-best participant (perhaps their fifth), Jrue Vacation, was the third-best participant (perhaps second) on a championship crew this decade. Everyone knows this crew goes to be good, however I really consider it will likely be nice.
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2) Similar to final 12 months, Jayson Tatum makes the All-NBA 1st Workforce however doesn’t win MVP.
Tatum will nonetheless lead the Celtics in scoring, and he would possibly lead them in rebounding as nicely. He’ll be the most effective participant on the most effective crew, and that will probably be sufficient to land him on the highest squad as soon as once more.
However, much more so than final 12 months, Tatum may have loads of assist. I feel he’ll common about 26 factors per recreation. With Jrue Vacation and Kristaps Porzingis within the combine, the factors will probably be extra evenly distributed. Nikola Jokic reclaims the crown. Tatum finishes within the top-5.
3) Kristaps Porzingis averages extra factors than Jaylen Brown.
OK, issues are lastly getting a bit spicy right here. I may simply be flawed right here, so be happy to reference this within the spring when Brown is forward of Porzingis (although if you happen to do, I would query how a lot time you have got in your palms).
This isn’t a slight on Brown in any approach. I feel he’ll have an incredible 12 months – perhaps his most balanced and polished 12 months but – however I feel Porzingis will get an absurd variety of open appears.
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With Tatum and Brown round him, and Derrick White and Vacation getting him the rock as nicely, Porzingis is mostly a excellent match. I feel he finally ends up round 22 an evening and Brown finally ends up round 21. Once more, I is likely to be flawed, however that’s my hunch.
4) Al Horford wins Sixth Man of the Yr.
Yeah, yeah, I do know Horford possible gained’t play each evening. However final 12 months, he performed 63 video games, and Malcolm Brogdon gained it taking part in 67.
(In hindsight, Brogdon’s arc with the Celtics was type of humorous and unhappy on the identical time. He actually gained the Sixth Man award, then individuals soured on him as a result of he was injured and he was traded. It’s finally a great factor for the Celtics, nevertheless it makes you surprise).
Anyway, I digress. Again to Al. So, if he performs about 65 video games, averages one thing like 11 factors, 6 rebounds and three assists an evening, and the Celtics win 58 video games, that simply would possibly do it. The entire starter vs. reserve speak is overblown. You suppose Al minds coming off the bench with this roster? I’m not inside his head, however I extremely doubt it.
5) Derrick White and Jrue Vacation choose and select their spots.
This can be a extra common, summary one, however I envision White and Vacation feeling what the sport wants and offering simply that. On one evening, Vacation could take 17 pictures and rating 26 factors. The following evening, he would possibly drop 12 assists. I see White working in an analogous approach.
The Celtics have a lot expertise, and White and Vacation have the wherewithal and common savviness to make sure it’s not a surplus of expertise. Neither will common greater than 15 factors per recreation.
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6) Payton Pritchard contributes, however he doesn’t explode.
I like Pritchard’s recreation greater than the following man, however to be trustworthy, I don’t purchase the “breakout 12 months” tag. With that stated, I feel Pritchard’s going to be a gentle catalyst, hit pictures and play his function nicely.
However for these anticipating him to play 25 minutes a recreation and dominate each evening, I simply don’t see it. I hope I’m flawed, as a result of that may be electrical.
7) Sam Hauser, Lamar Stevens, and Neemias Queta spherical out the top-10.
Joe Mazzulla likes to maintain his rotation tight, and he likes to combine and match based mostly on the opponent, however I usually suppose Hauser, Stevens and Queta will probably be subsequent in line after these high seven.
Hauser will virtually actually get minutes, and I feel Stevens and Queta have an opportunity to construct upon their robust preseason performances and every give the Celtics one thing they’re lacking.
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8) Talking of Mazzulla, I consider he’ll win Coach of the Yr.
Mazzulla skilled the inevitable highs and lows of a first-year coach, and he’s higher for it now and able to lead this crew to new heights.
He already appears extra comfy and fascinating speaking to the media, and it’s clear he’s extra relaxed in his new residence. Once more, I’m not inside his thoughts, however I’d think about the imposter syndrome has dissipated. He’s the top coach of the Celtics, he’s studying daily on the job and he’s right here to remain.
9) They break the file for 3-pointers in a recreation.
The Celtics hit 27 3’s towards the Knicks final 12 months. I say they break the Bucks’ file of 29 this 12 months.
It seems like so much, and it’s, however Tatum, Brown, Porzingis, White, Vacation, Horford, Pritchard, and Hauser can all shoot. In the event that they every hit 4, there you go.
Picture by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Photos
10) Celtics-Bucks will probably be an all-timer.
OK, again to that Celtics-Cavaliers collection in 2008 for a bit. I feel Celtics-Bucks has an opportunity to be an absolute traditional, very similar to that one, and stay on in Celtics lore for many years to come back.
I don’t know if Tatum and Brown will milk the championship 16 years later like Paul Pierce and Garnett, however I do know they’ll cherish it ceaselessly.
Dang it. I stated I wouldn’t make a prediction. Nicely, the reality is, I really, from the underside of my coronary heart, consider that is the Celtics’ 12 months. I feel they’re going to win all of it.
Once more, if I’m flawed, be happy to drag up the receipts. This simply feels totally different. It appears like their time.
