Boasting one of the most talented rosters in the NBA from top to bottom, the Boston Celtics are carrying high expectations into the 2018-19 season. Here are the three big questions that will play a factor in their hopes of contention.
With opening night less than two months away, the expectations are beginning to gain steam in the build-up to the start of the 2018-19 NBA season. On paper, the Boston Celtics‘ roster remains largely the same, but they will be desperately hoping for better luck on the injury front than they had last season.
Despite wretched run of bad health in 2017-18, the Celts were able to go on a memorable run through the playoffs to reach a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals. With Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward slated to return, they are heavily favored to go one better with LeBron James no longer an intimidating obstacle in their path.
Adding to those two marquee returns are key rotation pieces in Aron Baynes and Marcus Smart, who were re-signed during the free agency period to ensure they stay in Boston for at least this season.
Will the duo of returning All-Stars equate to automatic success on the court, or will chemistry issues become a problem for Brad Stevens’ notoriously well run squad?
Boston is set to square off with the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 16 at the TD Garden, but before that date approaches, let’s dive into the three big questions that will need to be answered before championship dreams can be realized.