Expectations are lower for the Boston Celtics headed into the 2019-20 NBA season, the pressure is off and the underdog status returns.
Cast your mind back to 2016, the last time the Boston Celtics weren’t considered contenders. What followed was a glorious season where the team finished with a record of 53 wins and 29 losses, good for first in the Eastern Conference.
Much has changed since then, Kyrie Irving‘s era has come and gone while big man Al Horford is no longer patrolling the paint.
Yes, this roster is vastly different compared to the overachievers of 2016, no longer able to disguise themselves as a rebuilding franchise where every victory is considered a milestone.
Nor is the East as top heavy; no, there is dangerous competition almost across the board. Don’t be fooled though, this is a good thing!
What is evident is a Brad Stevens-coached team can never be written off, he excels in getting the best out of the players available to him — as long as those players buy in.
Smart on the Celtics back to being underdogs: "It's good for us. Our backs are against the wall now. When you corner a wounded coyote, you better be ready for it fight with everything it's got. That's us this year. We're fighting like wounded coyotes with everything we have."
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) August 26, 2019
Opening day tip off is drawing closer day-by-day, while the inexcusable failures of last season still sit firmly in everyone’s minds there are reasons for optimism and excitement.