After a run to the NBA Finals, should we expect the Celtics to follow it with another strong performance next season?
While the jury is still out on whether or not the 2021 run was a fluke, Celtics beat writer Jay King says he, and a lot of other people across the league, believe the boys in green could be in store for another impressive campaign.
Here’s what he wrote in the latest article for The Athletic:
Talking to people inside the Celtics’ organization, all seem to believe the team has a great chance to start next season strong. The reasons for that are obvious enough. Boston advanced to the finals after spending the last three months of the regular season demolishing just about every opponent. Barring a big trade to come (hey, Durant’s still out there), the Celtics will return everyone who mattered from last season’s team, with the exception of Daniel Theis. The returning players have gone through a season under Udoka and know what to expect. Udoka should be better with a year of experience as a head coach. Everyone involved knows the formula works with the proper amount of buy-in. Nobody, including yours truly, will be shocked if the Celtics jump out to, say, a 15-3 start. Before burning out in the playoffs, the Phoenix Suns operated like a machine throughout the regular season after their own Finals loss in 2021.
With Marcus Smart, Malcolm Brogdon, Grant Williams, and Derrick White, the Celtics have a solid cast of supporting players that should keep the team competitive in the new season.
The real difference for Boston will be the play of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. As the two stars and leaders of the club, they will have to keep up their pace if they want to carry over their good fortunes from last season.
Either way, there is plenty of reason to believe that the Celtics have not peaked yet. They are young, deep, and are finally starting to figure things out after earning a few years of experience under their belt.
