Boston Celtics: 3 bold predictions for 2018-19 NBA season

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2. Celtics will be a top-10 offense and the No. 1 defense

This might be a stretch, but having a healthy Hayward back in the mix will help this team get better on offense. Last season, the Celtics posted a 101.5 defensive rating that ranked No. 1 in the NBA.

For the most part, the Celtics’ roster looks about the same as it did last year. That makes it pretty realistic that this team should continue to be great defensively. They may look even better with the younger players earning more time and experience.

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Newly drafted Robert Williams was a successful defender in college. Whether he gets playing time in the NBA or the G League remains to be seen. Overall, he should help on that end of the floor. Where things get tricky is the offensive part. There’s no questioning that the Celtics aren’t the best on offense.

Last season they ranked 20th in the league in scoring with 104.0 points per game. Their offensive rating ranked 18th, at 105.3 points per 100 possessions. The offense will need to get better if the Celtics want to contend for an NBA title. Jumping up eight spots into the top-10 might be hard for them to do.

However, with a healthy Irving and Hayward, things might be headed in that direction. The starting lineup is already very dangerous and shouldn’t have any issues scoring the ball. The only area of concern is the bench. Last season they were one of the worst in the league — sitting below average at No. 18.

With everyone 100 percent and ready to go, having those players back on the bench instead of filling in the starting lineup will be a major plus.

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