Why The Boston Celtics Are The Next Up-And-Coming Team

By Christopher Cruz | Feb 12, 2015

Feb 11, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Evan Turner (11) and his teammates react after shooting the winning basket against the Atlanta Hawks in the final seconds of play at TD Garden. The Celtics defeated Atlanta 89-88. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

The Boston Celtics haven’t been very good since the “big three” era in Boston. In fact, they were really the first of its kind. Before LeBron James took his talents to South Beach, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen went to Boston to form a triumvirate that would eventually contend every year for the East. And they were able to every year.

But then once age started catch up with them, and they couldn’t lead teams anymore, the big three, now turned big four (with Rajon Rondo), dispersed. Ray Allen ended up going to Miami, and Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett went to the Brooklyn Nets.

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After picking up Marcus Smart in last year’s draft, it was just a matter of time before the Celtics begin to rebuild and give up Rajon Rondo as a result. He was a great player, but the truth is that he didn’t want to play for a team that wasn’t even close to contending for a championship.

So now the Celtics are full of young players who have either just gotten in the league, or have been in the league for a few years.

Right now, they have Marcus Smart leading the charge. He is a really good defensive point guard that is able to get to the rim. He still needs to work on some aspects of his game though. Smart is shooting 31 percent from the field in the last five games. But here is what is interesting, they have won four of the last five. And they are just behind Brooklyn competing for the last playoff spot.

They also have a really good big man in Jared Sullinger who can spread the floor and is averaging 14 points and eight rebounds per game. You can’t forget about Avery Bradley, who has shown himself to be one of the better perimeter defenders in the game, and have good veteran play coming from Tayshaun Prince, Evan Turner and Brandon Bass.

But here is what really makes them dangerous: they have, quite possibly, eight picks in the 2015 draft, and possibly ten picks in the 2016 drafts. Half of which come in the first round. That means that Boston has the ability to organically grow their team’s skill and find strengths where they are weak during the next two drafts.

Remember, the Oklahoma City Thunder drafted Kevin Durant (back when the team was in Seattle), drafted Russell Westbrook and James Harden. They also drafted Serge Ibaka (also when the team was Seattle).

So there is a way to build the team via the draft. Boston has the opportunity to pull that off, and is able to combine that with the really young talent that they do have. As that young talent continues to get better, you can use veterans “show the ropes” to the younger players. Coach Brad Stevens has coached a good season, given the circumstances.

And he might be coaching his team into the playoffs during his second season. If that is the case, then this team has only up to look.

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