Boston Celtics: 2018-19 NBA season preview
By Kane Pitman
Best-case scenario
The absolute best-case scenario for this group of Celtics is pretty easy to decipher. They roll through the Eastern Conference and become the first LeBron-less team to reach the Finals from the East in nine seasons.
To do so, they will likely have to fend off a few worthy challengers. Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers, Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors, Victor Oladipo and the Indiana Pacers and Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
On paper, the Celtics have by far the most talent of any of those other squads, but the NBA regular season in an arduous grind, and there’s plenty that can happen between now and April, as this particular group of players know all too well. Still, in the best-case scenario, the Celtics make it to the Finals and contend for a championship, most likely against the favored Warriors.
Worst-case scenario
The worst-case scenario for the Celtics is one that nobody really wants to talk about, but since we have to, it’s undoubtedly the injury bug biting once more.
In what would be the stuff of nightmares, Irving’s knee issues would continue to flair up, while Hayward would return to be a shadow of his pre-injury self. Outside of injuries, it’s hard to see much slowing down this squad given the raw talent at its disposal.