2022/23 Boston Celtics Season Preview
EXPECTED OPENING DAY LINEUP:
G- Marcus Smart G- Derrick White F- Jaylen Brown F- Jayson Tatum C- Al Horford
Bench: G-Malcolm Brogdon, G-Payton Pritchard, F-Sam Hauser, F-Grant Williams, C-Luke Kornet, F/C- Blake Griffin, F- Justin Jackson, F/C Noah Vonleh, G- JD Davison(2-WAY), C- Mfiondu Kabengele(2-WAY)
absences: C- Rob Williams III, F-Danilo Gallinari
Team goal: WIN IT ALL
My expectation: 1–3 seed, around 55 wins
The Celtics open the season as championship betting favorites. Most fans would agree. This team grew up in front of everyone’s eyes last season, playing around .500 until the new year, from which point on, they became a force. The team played lockdown defense, good offense, and steamed through the East before finally being taken down by the a Warriors team whose core will go down in history. From the end of the season on, they only added to a great roster, adding veteran big man shooter Danilo Gallinari and an experienced guard in Malcolm Brogdon, with big man Daniel Theis, who only played in the playoffs when Robert Williams was hurt, the most notable loss in the process. Things did take a turn south when lauded rookie head coach Ime Udoka was investigated for workplace malpractice and subsequently suspended for the season, but I personally don’t think that should have too big an impact on the team. That is because the Celtics are still operating with the same coaching staff otherwise, including interim head coach Joe Mazzulla, who was highly rated by the team, including star Jayson Tatum, who praised him during the NBA Finals last season. They figure to be a high seed and make noise in the playoffs again this year. DPOY candidate Rob Williams, who was central to the team’s defensive identity and strategy last season, may be out until early 2023, according to NBA insider Shams Charania, but the Celtics looked sharp in their rotations and defense in preseason anyways. Obviously that isn’t official NBA basketball, but if we have no reason to worry, then we can’t assume things will fall apart. Obviously making consecutive trips to the Finals is a tough ask, but this team will be aiming high. We also can’t forget that this team’s core(Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford) have gone on deep playoff runs many times already(Smart and Brown have been to 3, Jayson Tatum and Al Horford 2 as Celtics). If anyone can make it to the biggest stage in the NBA again, it’d be this hungry, experienced, talented, and well-led group of players.