NBA PREVIEW : BOSTON CELTICS, A GOOD TIME FOR THE RING?

Last season: 57-25 (lost in the conference finals)

Starters: Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford

Bench: Malcolm Brogdon, Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, Oshae Brissett, Robert Williams III, Luke Kornet

The Boston Celtics had a busy offseason after losing to the Miami Heat in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals in seven games. The front office traded Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies and Grant Williams to the Dallas Mavericks and acquired Kristaps Porzingis from the Washington Wizards.

The Celtics also signed Jaylen Brown to the richest contract in NBA history, giving the All-Star forward a five-year deal worth up to $303 million.

With the 2023-24 season right around the corner, let’s take a look at what to expect from the Celtics next season and predict how many games they’ll win.

NBA PREVIEW : ATLANTA HAWKS, PREVIEW, EXPECTATIONS AND TEAM SQUAD STRENGTH

EXPECTATIONS

The Jaylen Brown-Jayson Tatum era started in 2017-18. Since then, the Celtics have never missed the playoffs and have made four conference finals and one NBA Finals.

The team got stronger on offense and defense by adding Kristaps Porzingis, who leads the NBA in active games with three-plus 3-pointers and three-plus blocks.

Porzingis averaged 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 blocks in 2022-23. He shot 49.8% overall, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 85.1% from the free-throw line. The All-Star, who signed an extension with the Celtics after getting traded to Boston, has career averages of 19.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.8 blocks with the New York Knicks, Mavericks and Wizards.

There will be more driving lanes and space in half-court sets for Tatum and Brown in 2023-24 since Porzingis can space the floor with his high-level shooting skills. When Porzingis goes beyond the 3-point line, he will bring his defender with him, which will create more room in the paint for Tatum and Brown to attack the basket.

The embarrassment of losing to the Heat in Game 7 of the 2023 conference finals at home by 19 points should light a fire under the Celtics, particularly Tatum and Brown. There are several people around the NBA, including new Philadelphia 76ers guard Patrick Beverley, who don’t believe Boston can win a championship with Tatum and Brown. 2023-24 is the perfect season for the two All-Stars to quiet their critics for good.

Brown averaged 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 2022-23 while shooting 49.1% from the field, 33.5% from beyond the arc and 76.5% from the free-throw line. He was eligible to sign a designated veteran extension this offseason because he made an All-NBA team last season.

Tatum, who averaged 30.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists last season, could be eligible for a $338 million extension next offseason, so playing well in 2023-24 and making another All-NBA team while leading the Celtics to the promised land will be at the top of his mind.

Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Co. have 14 back-to-backs on their schedule this campaign, one more than last. Fortunately, five take place on the TD Garden parquet, meaning they won’t require travel.

Boston will also enjoy a homestand lasting nearly half a month, stretching from a Jan. 27 tilt against Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and the Clippers to a Feb. 9 contest vs. the Wizards.

That period includes some of the most notable games on the Celtics’ schedule, including Marcus Smart’s return to Boston, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Lakers visiting TD Garden, and matchups vs. Trae Young and the Hawks, and Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and the Pelicans.

The Celtics remain in the league’s inner circle of contenders. This offseason arguably only strengthened its spot.

Now, Boston could have more potential pitfalls after sacrificing as much depth as it did. This starting frontcourt looks rock-solid on paper, but Porziņģis has had his share of injury issues and 37-year-old Al Horford is…well, 37 years old. Should either miss time, Boston’s options (particularly its non-small-ball options) aren’t great.

If this team stays healthy, though, it could be incredible. A top six featuring the Jays, Holiday, Porziņģis, White and Horford is about as good as it gets. If you want to predict a title run for this team, there are plenty of reasons to feel that way.

PLAYER WATCH

JRUE HOLIDAY

What a pickup for the Boston Celtics. Jrue Holiday is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA and based on his shooting and playmaking abilities, he is an upgrade over Marcus Smart. That means the Celtics found a way to upgrade Smart’s position and also bring in Kristaps Porzingis, meaning they are massive winners in the offseason. Holiday is still in his prime and was the final piece to the Milwaukee Bucks’ championship in the 2020-21 season.

Holiday is an All-Star offensive player in terms of scoring and playmaking but can also shut down opposing guards. The player has made five All-Defensive Teams over his career and will be a seamless fit in the starting lineup alongside All-Stars Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. As long as Holiday is healthy, he will be the third-best player on the Celtics all season long.

COACH

JOE MAZZULLA

For three years, Mazzulla was one of those assistant coaches who built deep relationships with players. His job in Boston was mostly player development, which meant hours of one-on-one work after practices and before games that created bonds.

It also meant that, away from the gym, he was in the card games and the board games and, perhaps most intensely, the ping pong games. He was involved in a way head coaches and veteran assistants usually aren’t with players.