Marcus Smart was the cost of “something needed to change” for the Boston Celtics

One thing wants to alter.

That’s the thought that stored coming to my thoughts throughout Sport 7 of the Warmth collection (and actually, nicely earlier than that). Like most, I couldn’t fairly put my finger on anybody evident factor. The Boston Celtics workforce that appeared within the Finals one yr and the Japanese Convention Finals the following yr was clearly gifted. Something lower than a championship would have been disappointing and so once they fell quick, all of us have been appropriately disillusioned.

There was one thing both basically lacking or one thing that was as soon as there however pale over time. I don’t suppose it was a “lack of coronary heart” or “unhealthy chemistry” or another such drained cliche. At instances you possibly can say that the workforce appeared unfocused or inconsistent, however I couldn’t inform you what was on the root of that or who specifically was most in charge.

One thing was simply off.

You’ll be able to’t say that they have been a nasty defensive workforce as a result of the stats level to them being the most effective within the league for many of the yr. However they didn’t play their finest protection when it mattered essentially the most. You’ll be able to’t say they have been a nasty offensive workforce both, however they did are likely to falter down the stretch in large video games.

The Celtics have been gifted, versatile, battle examined, and able to contend for a championship. However they didn’t have no matter it was that they wanted to get previous the Warmth. In brief, it felt like no matter they wanted to recover from that final hurdle was not presently on the workforce and working it again would have been a mistake.

So, one thing wanted to alter.

A prevailing thought was that head coach Joe Mazzulla let the workforce down. He was out-maneuvered by Erik Spolestra and his offense-first strategy was passive aggressively side-eyed by gamers in public feedback. That led to many questioning if his days in Boston have been numbered. Nonetheless, Brad Stevens and the Celtics brass clearly have a agency perception in Joe. And maybe they weren’t too eager on bringing in a 4th head coach in 4 years.

However nonetheless, one thing wanted to alter.

With Jaylen Brown’s extension up within the air, there have been extra questions on breaking apart the Jays and buying and selling Brown. In idea, the workforce may have tried to get youthful gamers and picks that they might both take their time creating or flip for an additional star once they turned accessible (and somebody at all times turns into accessible). That sounds wonderful in idea, however in case you are not basically upgrading from Brown then what’s the purpose?

Proper now, we’ve two star wing gamers on very comparable timelines. They’ve grown up collectively they usually’ve shared successes and failures collectively. Breaking that up simply to herald one other participant that will or might not match as nicely is a large danger. That choice could also be revisited in future years as we see the impacts of the brand new CBA. Nonetheless, for not less than the following yr, the duo of Tatum and Brown will keep collectively.

However nonetheless, one thing wanted to alter.

Which brings us to Kristaps Porzingis. The Wizards lastly went into fire-sale mode and the Celtics have been sensible to grab him up off the market. They clearly most popular to maneuver Malcolm Brogdon within the deal, however when that fell by, they pivoted fairly rapidly to transferring Marcus Sensible. That has quite a lot of questioning if the Celtics would have moved Sensible in one other transfer even when the unique Brogdon deal went by as deliberate.

That’s to not suggest that the workforce didn’t love and belief Marcus. He’s beloved by gamers, coaches, followers, and nearly anybody even remotely related to the workforce. And rightly so. He gave all of it and we appreciated it. He cherished this metropolis and we cherished him again.

However one thing wanted to alter.

I’m not going to take a seat right here and inform you that “nicely, really the protection will probably be higher as a result of Porzingis will defend the rim.” It might be onerous to take a former Defensive Participant of the Yr off the workforce and get higher at protection. The workforce goes to be much less versatile on the perimeter as a result of they’re dropping a man that might actually guard positions 1 by 5.

I can’t even say with certainty that the workforce will probably be higher offensively. Positive, Porzingis is a greater shooter, however Sensible was our greatest playmaker and there are questions on how the ball will transfer when the strain ramps up.

Nonetheless, generally it’s a must to strive one thing new.

So, one thing modified.

What we are able to say with certainty is that the workforce will look completely different subsequent yr. With each Sensible and Grant Williams gone, the workforce will seemingly transfer to a extra conventional drop protection protection. Maybe they’ll experiment extra with zones as nicely. Within the trendy NBA, you possibly can’t have only one fashion of play. You must throw a number of appears at opponents and change up schemes on the fly. I’m only a bit nervous about taking away two of essentially the most versatile defenders.

On offense, the Jays can have a 3rd star to depend on. You’ll be able to stagger issues in order that two of the three will probably be on the court docket always with out over-taxing anybody participant. Even having Porzingis as a risk will create somewhat more room for the Jays to drive into the paint. There will even be alternatives to run any one in all them out of the mid-post to maximise their midrange recreation.

The management dynamic adjustments a bit now as nicely. It was clear that Jayson and Jaylen have been the faces of the franchise, however Marcus was at all times a really vocal chief on and off the court docket. You don’t exchange that voice by making an attempt to duplicate it. Tatum and Brown have their very own distinctive management fashion they usually might want to fill that void in their very own methods.

Finally, the adjustments this offseason might have raised the ceiling for this workforce. Porzingis has the potential to carry out like a star. Maybe even at an All-Star stage. That’s not a stage that both Sensible or Williams was ever more likely to obtain. Expertise wins on this league and in idea, Porzingis might be additive to what Tatum and Brown do on the court docket with out taking something away from their roles.

The draw back, nevertheless, is that Kristaps has had his share of accidents through the years. Huge guys with decrease physique points haven’t at all times aged nicely. Add him to a roster that additionally consists of Robert Williams, Malcolm Brogdon, and the senior citizen Al Horford, and also you’ve obtained fairly a couple of harm dangers. We’ll be ready for the harm studies as if the sword of Damocles is hanging over our heads.

So, one other essential yr approaches for the Celtics. If all goes nicely, we could possibly be seeing them increase a banner to the rafters. If not, then maybe extra drastic adjustments could possibly be on the horizon. However not less than there’s an opportunity that every one may go nicely and the adjustments that they made may repay.

One thing wanted to alter and the Celtics management acknowledged that. The value of that change was Marcus Sensible. It higher be price it.