Boston Celtics: 2018-19 NBA season preview

Storyline 1: Healthy return from Hayward and Irving

The fact that the C’s were able to get within one game of the NBA Finals without Hayward and Irving is reason enough to believe they will take the next step in 2018-19. Riding the ultra reliable Al Horford and young burgeoning stars in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, they were able to push LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to the limit last postseason.

Irving is more of a known commodity right now, and we’ve already seen a large enough sample size to know that he will be his usual productive self under Stevens (health permitting). Over 60 regular season games last season, Irving contributed 24.4 points and 5.1 assists per game, which sits right around his career average.

Hayward, on the other hand, will be the one to watch. It’s easy to forget how dynamic the smooth moving forward is, after only last six minutes in the 2017-18 season, but make no mistake, he is one of the game’s premier wing players.

It should not be underestimated how difficult it will be to return to professional sport after a full 12-month layoff, however, and Hayward has been limited by some early back soreness upon returning this preseason. This is certainly not unexpected, and it will have to be a slow build for the former All-Star.

It’s also important to note how both Hayward and Irving will benefit from having such talent around them, which for Hayward in particular, will be a new experience.

While both players may cause some heart-in-mouth moments for Boston fans in the early going, if they can remain healthy and on the floor, it will provide an incredible boost to an already potent roster.