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Boston Celtics Growing Top Core of Guards in the NBA

By Joshua Bateman

BROOKLYN, NY - JANUARY 6: Kyrie Irving #11 and Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics look on during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on January 6, 2018 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - JANUARY 6: Kyrie Irving #11 and Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics look on during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on January 6, 2018 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics are showing the NBA how good their core of guards is

The Boston Celtics went out and made the trade to get transcendent talent in their back court, and Kyrie Irving has not disappointed. He ensures that the Celtics have the kind of top guard talent that can compete with everyone, and he is going to dominate any time he is on the court for them.

From there they have one of the most exciting young guards in the NBA in Jaylen Brown. He has the versatility to be moved around a lot, but he is going to be one of the better two way two guards in the NBA for a long time.

As you get to the bench you get Marcus Smart, who is not only a contender for best defensive guard in the NBA, because he might be the best overall defender in the NBA at this point. Then you add on Terry Rozier, who is proving any doubter wrong on both ends, now that he is getting the proper opportunities.

While the Celtics still need their younger guys to develop in order to have that top duo that can match the likes of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, or Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, but they already have the depth that maybe no one else will be able to handle.

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With the way Rozier has been playing, it is not at all a stretch to say the Celtics have the best guard depth in the NBA. When your bench options can take over the game on either end the way Smart and Rozier can, you get the kind of advantage that no one else is able to keep up with.

Smart is as dominant as anyone on the defensive end, and Rozier is making it clear that all he needs is enough opportunities, and he can dominate on offense. And these bench players are proving they can do it against starters on a regular basis.

Both Rozier and Smart have proven that they are good enough to start on the majority of teams, but there is still a reason they are coming off the bench. Irving is as established as any other guard in the NBA on offense, and Brown could grow into the most dynamic defensive two guard in the NBA.

Brown is a great player to have next to Irving because he can always make a difference on defense, and having that kind of superior athleticism beside one of the most skilled players of all time gives the Celtics options that teams simply cannot account for.

Right now, there is no doubt the Celtics have one of the best core of guards, that are certainly the deepest in the NBA. The most exciting part about this core, however, is that Irving just turned 26, Brown is 21, Smart is 24 and Rozier is 24.

Irving is the only one of these guards that anyone would say is actually in their prime, meaning they are in a position to be the most improved core of guards over the next few seasons. The Celtics have done a masterful job of drafting to get this core together, and now the only question left is whether or not they will stay together.

Both Irving and Brown are here for the long haul, and will be getting any kind of contract they want from the Celtics. With Brown and Rozier, there is a lot of uncertainty. The Celtics will have to make a decision on Smart this summer, and Rozier is making it a lot more complicated by playing so well.

These guys have been good enough that the reality might be that the Celtics will not be able to pay them all, and that sucks. The upside of these guys sticking together is truly special. They can have guards that are able to score with anyone in the NBA, along with options that can lock down games on defense.

They still need to grow a bit more, but there is not a back court in the NBA that has this kind of two way impact from top to bottom. The Celtics not only do not have any liability in that top four, but none of them are even liabilities on either end.

Next: Young Talent Will Shine Against Suns

We are starting to see some of the high end potential of this back court because of the injuries, but the real excitement will come when they are finally playing together again in the playoffs.

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