Playing over/under with each NBA team’s projected win total

Boston Celtics

Projected Win Total: 49.5

Nobody will ever bring into question the talent Kyrie Irving brings to the basketball court. His locker room presence is a whole other issue and was one of the biggest factors behind the Boston Celtics underperforming in a season where many penciled them into the Finals.

With Irving and Al Horford now set to play elsewhere along with the absence of Terry Rozier and Marcus Morris, the team is certainly less talented on paper, but Boston is one of the few teams where such a circumstance may be a good thing.

After all, there were times last season where Brad Stevens seemed to have too many mouths to feed.

This is now a team whose success or failure rests largely on the shoulders of young studs Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Following years playing complimentary roles with fluctuating shot attempts, nothing is standing in the way from these two becoming their best selves at the offensive end.

Kemba Walker may be a close approximation to Irving’s on-court abilities, but he is a far superior leader with little drama on his ledger that will keep the Cs steady.

Having faced double teams his entire career, the three-time All-Star will have the game made easier playing next to some of the best teammates he’s ever had.

Probably the biggest X-factor towards Boston’s success will be the play of Gordon Hayward. Close to two years removed from his horrific leg injury, it’s the second season upon returning for Hayward to reintroduce himself as the All-Star he once was before going down.

A return to form will do wonders for a team that paid him to function as the No. 2 guy offensively.

This team is not without its issues. Enes Kanter is the polar opposite of Horford as being strictly limited to the paint at both ends. There’s no way to know how Hayward will progress in his quest back to his former self.

Expectations can weigh a bunch down, but the Celtics don’t have that problem anymore. Coupled with a more cohesive locker room and expected leaps from both Brown and Tatum and this team should be able to clear the 50-win threshold out east.

Prediction: Over