Preseason Record: 2-2
The modern NBA is all about two-way wings. If you have them, you can compete for a title. If you don’t, then you have a tiny margin for error. While teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic are stuck in the basement because they can’t find any, the Boston Celtics have two All-Star wings with which to build upon.
Both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown continue to ascend in the league. Brown led the league in preseason scoring with 25 points in his lone appearance, playing just 26 minutes. Tatum averaged 20.3 in his three games. Their versatility will give new head coach Ime Udoka the flexibility to slide them up and down the lineup and craft rotations in a variety of ways.
The bigger question for the Celtics is what happens in the backcourt. Dennis Schroder was available inexpensively after a down year. Marcus Smart and Josh Richardson have strong defensive reputations but are inconsistent on offense, recently because Smart hasn’t met a shot he doesn’t like and Richardson rarely finds one that he does. Payton Pritchard had a good rookie campaign and will look to build upon it. If the Celtics get at least two consistent contributors from those four players they will be in business for a major bounceback.
Bold Prediction: They will have the #1 defense in the NBA. The Boston Celtics may trot out a starting lineup of Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford and Robert Williams III. There is not a bad defender in that group. Dennis Schroder, Josh Richardson and Grant Williams should all be in the rotation. Pritchard may be the weakest defender in the entire rotation depending on what other wings are played. This team has an extremely high defensive floor, and the upside is there and the lineups are possible to field the best defense in the league this season.