A comparatively calm runway to coaching camp hit some turbulence over the previous week when Gary Washburn prompt that Malcolm Brogdon was offended with the Celtics following the nixed commerce that will’ve despatched him to the Clippers.
After nearly the whole thing of Boston’s roster returned to Boston in latest weeks, Brogdon seems absent. It’s not essentially an indication that something’s improper, however all eyes and ears will now be targeted on his well being and disposition as soon as camp formally opens in lower than two weeks.
All issues thought-about, that pales compared to different dilemmas across the East. The 76ers don’t appear to know whether or not James Harden will present up, and if he does, how exhausting he’ll strive. Giannis Antetokounmpo despatched a number of alerts that the clock may very well be ticking on his time in Milwaukee. Miami will start their preseason with out Damian Lillard after dropping vital contributors in Gabe Vincent and Max Strus. In Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell’s unsure future looms massive.
The Celtics can focus extra on the short-term given their roster standing, however to win all of it, nearly each participant on the roster must reply one vital query.
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Can Jayson Tatum win MVP this yr?
Virtually a prerequisite to championship competition, Tatum emerged as an early favourite final season, averaging 30.5 factors per sport on 48% taking pictures by 25 video games. He fell to 45.9% effectivity for the remainder of the season, finally falling behind the three huge males finalists. Playmaking, defensive impression and consistency stay hurdles to reaching their echelon, however these objectives are all inside attain.
Will all of the ‘left hand’ jokes drive Jaylen Brown to enhance?
Talking at Brown’s document extension announcement, Joe Mazzulla believed {that a} tough East Finals efficiency will drive him heading into a brand new season. Brown carries key weaknesses into the ultimate yr of his present deal, however extra strides in scoring, taking pictures and connecting alongside Tatum in an all-time offense ought to outweigh them. The pair skilled collectively late in the summertime. Brown teased a defensive focus and a stronger physique on social media coming into this yr. One other All-NBA yr and Finals push would finish the criticism.
Does Derrick White want to switch Marcus Good?
He doesn’t must, however we’ll discover out whether or not White’s precise manufacturing falls nearer to the tentativeness and taking pictures struggles of his first yr, or the All-Star stage play on each ends he flashed for a lot of final season. White has already proved sufficient for Boston to really feel snug with shifting on from Good and is eligible for an extension this fall, too. His coach believes he can develop into extra vocal because the Celtics’ management dynamic evolves.
How wholesome will Kristaps Porzingis be this season?
The newly acquired huge man involves coaching camp following a 4-6 week shutdown for plantar fasciitis, an ominous begin for a participant not often wholesome all through his profession. With out constant well being, the Celtics will wrestle to totally profit from including him and received’t have as a lot time for his or her finest gamers to gel. I’m additionally curious how he’ll adapt to a smaller utilization charge.
Will we see the fruits of Robert Williams’ wholesome offseason and coaching?
One summer season in the past, he confirmed again up in Boston with a sore knee and wanted surgical procedure. This yr, he wants to indicate up in one of the best form of his life able to take steps ahead offensively that’ll carry him to an unquestioned beginning function. His summer season exercise movies flashing a leap shot turned some heads. He’ll fortunately settle for a bench function, however the Celtics want to seek out out if he’s able to extra.
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Will Al Horford embrace and reach a bench function?
The veteran huge man got here off the bench seven occasions in Philadelphia, 5 in Atlanta, 11 on the College of Florida and by no means with the Celtics. If Williams III takes his anticipated leap, Horford might begin with the second unit to restrict his minutes and permit him to play the 4 alongside both middle. Horford voiced his desire to begin in 2021, however Porzingis didn’t play right here then. Many stars have voiced the issue of taking that step again and Horford’s skill to house the ground, go and general confirmed reliability over Williams III preserve a case for him to begin. From what I’ve heard contained in the group — it’s undecided.
What’s up with Malcolm Brogdon?
Brogdon is one in every of two gamers, alongside White, not but again in Boston forward of camp subsequent month. It’d imply nothing, however Gary Washburn and Ramona Shelburne each famous lingering disdain adopted his playoff harm and the practically accomplished traded that will have despatched him to LA. Brogdon didn’t endure surgical procedure, and no one is aware of how wholesome he’ll be this fall. He received Sixth Man of the Yr final yr, however famous the issue of coming off the bench deeper in to the common season and playoffs. Boston wants him with Good gone.
Can Payton Pritchard thrive in a backup function?
PP shot 40% from three to begin his profession whereas flashing on-ball bench scoring abilities and defensive punch regardless of his peak. Some quantity of the entrance workplace’s willingness to commerce Good needed to stem from confidence in Pritchard’s skill to return to the rotation. It’s make-or-break time for Pritchard in Boston forward of extension eligibility or his restricted free company.
Can Oshaue Brissett mirror Grant Williams’ impression?
Boston didn’t play Grant Williams each evening late final season, and Horford successfully fills that function now. If the Celtics go small with three wings, Brissett’s mix of defensive and taking pictures success on the 4 might intently align with the impression Williams as soon as supplied. Final yr, taking pictures regression and different gamers rising above him in Indiana’s rotation led to an inconsistent function and that’s attainable right here, too. He’s a swing participant, however providing a second-year participant choice signifies the Celtics view him as greater than a deep backup.
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Can Sam Hauser maintain off rivals for enjoying time?
Sam Hauser held up defensively and shot 41.8% from three final yr, an enormous success for an undrafted discover, however his incapacity to crack the playoff rotation doesn’t assist his case.
Can Svi Mykhailiuk crack the rotation?
A worse shooter and defender than Hauser, Mykhailiuk is doubtlessly a extra versatile participant. Does he have any function on this group?
Will Luke Kornet maintain up if a giant man misses time?
Just like Hauser, Kornet was a daily season success who didn’t issue into the playoff image. He’s much less outfitted to spell Horford than he’s the group’s rim protector. It’s not stunning Neemias Queta entered the image to push for back-end middle minutes, however Kornet’s really feel for offense stays reliable and he suits the group’s drop scheme. Anticipate him to remain.
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Will rookie Jordan Walsh play in any respect?
My intestine tells me he spends many of the season in Maine. Summer season League confirmed, surprisingly, NBA defensive ideas and velocity might develop into his greatest hurdle to impacting the group Yr 1 moderately than his offense, but when he can hover across the 40% mark from behind the arc within the preseason, the rookie may simply get some imply.
Will Dalano Banton make the group?
He ought to keep in Boston as an attention-grabbing second draft growth venture. His standing turns into extra attention-grabbing if a guard in entrance of him goes down and the Celtics find yourself counting on him for some minutes. Banton’s presence intrigues me most as a protracted former Raptor who performed in Toronto’s zone and obtained repetitions in that protection in Summer season League. Might the Celtics sneak in some zone lineups this yr?
Can any two-way gamers carve a path to the fifteenth roster spot?
This fall might maybe be the final probability for J.D. Davison to interrupt by to the professionals in Boston. Jay Scrubb scored nice in Summer season League and confirmed some defensive upside. Queta provides Maine’s roster a rim-runner and Boston an emergency middle who can play each ends. The Celtics largely haven’t gotten NBA manufacturing out of this a part of the roster. Will that change?
