Are the Boston Celtics a Future NBA Dynasty?
The 2013–14 Golden State Warriors were stalled in the middle of the Western Conference, placing 6th in the regular season and, ultimately losing in the first round of the playoffs to the L.A. Clippers. Steph Curry was in his 5th year in the league, averaging 24 points per game. Klay Thompson was in his 3rd year in the league, averaging 18.4 points per game. Draymond Green was in his 2nd year in the league, averaging 6.2 points per game. On May 14, 2014, Steve Kerr was hired as the Golden State Warriors head coach.
And thus began a dynasty.
Kerr inherited a 51 win team led by Steph Curry, which added Kevin Durant in 2016. That team would go on to 5 straight NBA Finals appearances, winning 3 of those 5. In the 2018–19 season, Stephen Curry would average 27.3 points per game, Kevin Durant would average 26 points per game, Klay Thompson would average 21.5 points per game, and Draymond Green would average 7.4 points per game while leading the team in assists. Not only did the Warriors have a cast of homegrown stars, but they also had a supporting cast that allowed those stars to shine, including DeMarcus Cousins, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, and Quinn Cook.
The stalled Warriors transformed into one of the best teams to ever step on an NBA court. That turnaround consisted of homegrown talent with incredible potential, a strong head coach with a game plan, and a supporting cast that allowed the stars to shine. This model is one that most teams can identify, but only few can successfully implement.
If we look at today’s NBA, which team can mirror image this success? And how?
If I had to choose one NBA team to take a team of young players with potential and turn them into repeat NBA champions, it would be the Boston Celtics.
In the 2018–19 season, the Boston Celtics ended the regular season in 4th place in the Eastern Conference and lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Milwaukee Bucks. Kyrie Irving averaged 25.6 points per game, Jayson Tatum, in his 2nd year, averaged 15.7 points per game, and Jaylen Brown, in his 3rd year, averaged 13 points per game. The Celtics are coached by Brad Stevens, who revamped the roster going into the current NBA season.
Coming into this season, the Celtics lost Kyrie Irving and Al Horford, but added Kemba Walker and Enes Kanter. Without Kyrie, Tatum and Brown look like future stars and this Celtics team looks like it has the potential to be successful for years to come.
So far, in the 2019–2020 season, Tatum is averaging 21.5 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game, Brown is averaging 20 points per game and 6.8 rebounds per game, Kemba Walker is averaging 22.1 points per game and 5 assists per game, and Gordon Hayward is averaging 16.3 points per game with 6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. This doesn’t include supporting players such as Marcus Smart, who is considered one of the best defenders in the league, Enes Kanter, Daniel Theis, Brad Wanamaker, and four rookies who have gotten significant playing time.
After Steve Kerr took the reins of the team, the Warriors implemented a system that emphasized the three-point shooting talent with strong defensive play. There is a compelling similarity between the Warriors in 2014–15 and the Celtics in 2019–20.
In 2014–15, the Warriors starting five players usually consisted of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green, and Andrew Bogut, with Andre Iguodala coming off the bench. This year, both Curry and Thompson were voted to the NBA All-Star game.
In 2019–20, the Celtics starting five players usually consists of Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, Jayson Tatum, and Daniel Theis, with Marcus Smart and Enes Kanter coming off the bench. While the All-Star voting is not completed yet, Kemba Walker is ranked 3rd in Eastern Conference guard votes, Jaylen Brown is 7th in Eastern Conference guard votes, Jayson Tatum is 5th in Eastern Conference frontcourt votes, and Gordon Hayward is 8th in Eastern Conference frontcourt votes.
Brad Stevens’ system is focused on complete defensive and offensive participation. If one player does not do his job, the whole scheme falls apart. For the most part, the Celtics have operated that scheme well, achieving a 28–14 record and are standing within 1.5 games of 2nd place in the conference.
While the Celtics have not yet met the high standards of the 2014–15 Warriors, the progress made indicates that this Celtics team, with this core roster, is primed for a sustained period of success. Jayson Tatum is only 21 years old, growing into his position as a leader of this Celtics team. Jaylen Brown is 23 years old and has taken huge steps to show he deserves his recent contract extension. Kemba Walker is 29 years old, in his prime, and has shown that he is ready to lead this team deep into the playoffs. This isn’t even including Marcus Smart, Gordon Hayward, Enes Kanter, Daniel Theis, and the other young players that have shown a desire to win and the talent to get them there.
There are a lot of variables in the NBA, but if I can say one thing for sure, the Boston Celtics are a team to watch.
