Boston Celtics: 5 bold predictions for 2017-18 NBA season

https://hoopshabit.com/2017/09/19/boston-celtics-5-bold-predictions-2017-18-nba-season/



Boston Celtics: 5 bold predictions for 2017-18 NBA season



by Simon Smith1 hour agoFollow @SimonABenedict





Having pulled off one of the most significant offseasons in recent memory, here are five bold predictions for the Boston Celtics in season 2017-18.

Just when some thought Danny Ainge had lost his golden touch, his recent summer of work proved that you should never doubt the Boston Celtics‘ general manager.

First, he held off the Utah Jazz and the Miami Heat in the race to secure the signature of All-Star free agent Gordon Hayward. Signed to a four-year, $128 million deal, the 27-year-old is entering the prime of his career, and was clearly one of the more sought-after free agents of the offseason.

His next move was the proactive trading of guard Avery Bradley for forward Marcus Morris. With Bradley entering the season on an expiring contract, Ainge wisely dealt the popular veteran for a more than capable starting forward who’s owed just $10.4 million over the coming two seasons.

But his next significant deal was without doubt the biggest move of the entire season, with the acquisition of All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving. This of course didn’t come without significant cost attached, with All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas, forward Jae Crowder, and the Brooklyn Nets’ unprotected 2018 first round draft pick serving as the key ingredients moving to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Like the Bradley move, this was another forward-thinking transaction from action, with Thomas also due a contract extension at the end up of the upcoming season. Furthermore, the state of Thomas’ hip, which cut short his recent playoff run, was further cause for concern for the Celtics.

And this without mentioning the addition of the No. 3 overall selection in the draft, Jayson Tatum, whom Ainge selected after trading down from the No. 1 overall pick in order to acquire a future extra first round selection.

So while these additions are very exciting, there have been some key pieces exit TD Garden.

In addition to the aforementioned Bradley and Crowder, the Celtics also lost key frontcourt members Amir Johnson and Kelly Olynyk to free agency. In all, the Celtics lost three regular starters from last season in Bradley, Crowder and Johnson, in addition to the versatile Olynyk.

This therefore represents a very new, and much younger, Celtics roster for the upcoming season. Now entering his fifth year in charge, head coach Brad Stevens will be under no illusions as the adjustments his team will need to make in the early going in order to accommodate a wave of new faces.

With this in mind, here are five bold predictions for the Celtics in season 2017-18.


5. Celtics will restore top eight defensive rating

Despite leading the Eastern Conference last season with 53 wins, the Celtics’ defensive output was down on previous seasons.

After finishing fifth in the league in 2015-16 with a defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) of 100.9, the Celtics slipped to 12th overall last season with a rating of 105.5.

Granted, the loss of Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder represent tremendous losses on the defensive end of the floor. Bradley was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2015-16, and again featured high in the voting last season despite missing 27 games due to injury. Furthermore, Crowder has been regarded now for several seasons as one of the more versatile wing defenders in the league.

In their place come Hayward and second-year player Jaylen Brown to defend on the wings. Hayward is fresh from competing under the tutelage of the Utah Jazz and head coach Quin Snyder, who oversaw the third ranked defense in the league with a rating of 102.7. Brown, meanwhile, displayed terrific athleticism and poise in his rookie season, and the 2016 No. 3 overall pick should be able to fit seamlessly into the vacant 2-spot given his late-season and playoff form.



But the biggest change from a defensive perspective is the departure of Thomas. When Thomas was on the court last season, the Celtics had a defensive rating of 108.6. But this number improved dramatically when he was resting, with a rating of 99.7. While Irving has certainly been an underwhelming contributor at the defensive end throughout his career, he nonetheless possesses the physical traits to at least improve that aren’t possible with Thomas.

In terms of the frontcourt, an underrated signing was the addition of center Aron Baynes. While not an elite athlete, Baynes has played in recent seasons under two terrific defensive coaches in Gregg Popovich and Stan Van Gundy.

Last season as a member of the Detroit Pistons, Baynes posted a defensive rating of 98.5, which ranked second among all centers who played at least 75 games last season. With Al Horford expected to start at center, Baynes should be able to provide the Celtics with quality minutes off the bench in order to solidify a relatively inexperienced second unit.

Furthermore, Baynes’ teammate last season with the Pistons, Marcus Morris, will provide an additional versatile defender to the Celtics’ frontcourt. Likely to start at the 4-spot, the 6’9″ Morris’ flexibility will be invaluable in allowing Hayward to be settled at the small forward slot on the defensive end.


4. Marcus Smart will be traded

This would be primarily due to a couple of reasons.

Like the trading away of starters Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley, moving on from Smart would also be due to a proactive line of thinking. Now entering his fourth season in the league, Smart is due for a contract extension come next summer.

At present, the Celtics’s salary cap is maxed out due to the additions of Irving and Hayward, on top of the four-year, $113 million contract they dished out to Al Horford in the summer of 2016.

While Smart has consistently presented himself as one of the more gritty and determined defenders in the league in his time in Boston, his overall game hasn’t made extending him beyond this season a mere formality.

In this day and age of “pace and space” basketball where the 3-point shot has become such a valuable commodity, Smart has cleared not excelled in this area. Over 207 games in three seasons, Smart has shot at a 29.1 percent clip from long range, including a 28.3 percent return last season.

A player who would be of incredible value to the Celtics is Patrick Beverley of the Los Angeles Clippers. Just acquired by the Clippers as part of the deal that sent Chris Paul to the Houston Celtics, Beverley would provide two key ingredients to the Celtics.

CELTICS GET
PATRICK BEVERLEY

CLIPPERS GET
MARCUS SMART

First of all, he’d bring a veteran presence both on the court and in the locker room. With the departures of Thomas, Crowder, Bradley, Johnson and Olynyk, a tremendous amount of experience has simply walked out the door. As the roster stands at present, Smart would be virtually the most experienced Celtic coming off the bench, assuming he resumes his sixth man role.

But not only does Beverley provide veteran leadership, his ability to knock down the 3-ball, and play either on or off the ball, would be simply invaluable. Last season, Beverley shot at a 38.2 percent clip from 3-point range, and has a career 37.5 percent return.

With the success of the Clippers in recent seasons, there has been a dearth of high-end draft picks at their disposal. As the No. 6 overall selection in 2014, Smart would provide the Clippers a great building block to utilize in the coming seasons.


3. Gordon Hayward will make an All-NBA team

Hayward’s ascension in recent seasons, to eventually becoming an All-Star last season, has been something to behold.

After averaging just 5.4 points as a rookie in the 2010-11 season, Hayward has increased his points per game each season, with last season returning 21.9 points per game on very impressive .471/.398/.844 shooting splits.

Hayward managed to put together such impressive numbers despite ranking 51st in the league with 62.5 touches per game. Furthermore, the Utah Jazz ranked dead last in the league for PACE (number of possessions per 48 minutes) at 93.62 per game.

Compare this to the Celtics, who last season ranked 12th in the league for PACE at 99.32, and were seventh overall in scoring at 108.0 points per game (Jazz were 28th at 100.7 per game).



In essence, Hayward is one of the slower and more conservative offenses in the league, joining the Celtics led by head coach Stevens and his extremely intelligent and attacking style of play.


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You know Brad Stevens low key jealous that Kyrie Irving is starting a bromance with Gordon Hayward