Boston Celtics finally focused on winning now

BOSTON, MA - MAY 13: Kyrie Irving #11 Gordon Hayward #20 and Daniel Theis #27 of the Boston Celtics look on during Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 13, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 13: Kyrie Irving #11 Gordon Hayward #20 and Daniel Theis #27 of the Boston Celtics look on during Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers on May 13, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Boston Celtics can finally focus their priorities into winning right now

The Boston Celtics have finally reached the culmination of their rebuild, and have found themselves in one of the best situations in the NBA. One reason the Celtics have been so successful with their rebuild is how focused the organization has been on the future.

Right up to the Kyrie Irving trade, the Celtics always made sure that the long term was the priority. They did not bother going after any older stars on one year deals, and the two top players they brought in are long enough to compete for many years.

The Celtics did a truly masterful job of using their high draft picks to get the players that could be seen as the future of the team, and brought that together with established stars that did not do anything to threaten that future.

The Celtics gave up that last Nets pick, which may appear to be a bit more shortsighted. Even so, with that pick ending up eight, there is absolutely no doubt that deal set them up to be better in the future.

More from Hardwood Houdini

Now, that can finally end. The Celtics have put in every bit of work you can possibly put in to set up the future. They are going to get great contributions from multiple players on rookie contracts, with established stars that are just at the beginning of their prime.

For the first time in the brad Stevens era, the Celtics will be going into next season without much thought about the future. Finally, every single priority is going to be focused on winning now, because they know they can throw away any opportunity with the way their core is set up right now.

The Celtics no longer need to be trading all over the place, while trying to find as much value to set them up as well as possible. They do not have to worry about attracting potential future free agents, or making any big sacrifices with less immediate issues in mind.

For this entire rebuild, the Celtics have had goals that were not always centered around a championship. Obviously, a championship is the ultimate goal for every part of the organization every season.

The difference, however, is that the Celtics also had other goals in these last years. They have realized that they still had work to do before winning a championship, and they grew in tremendous ways every single season.

The Celtics did not throw away any season, and made sure that their future looked brighter no matter how it ended. Now, all of that is over. There is one goal for this season, and if the Celtics fail to  get that championship, there is not much else this team can do to improve their situation.

They have young players that will continue to develop, but the standard is too high now. If the Celtics are not true title contenders next season, then they will be further behind what was expected.

The Celtics have not won anything during this rebuild, but they have exceeded expectations every single season, and have blossomed a lot faster than anyone could have imagined.

Anything short of reaching that ultimate goal this year, however, will mean they fail to meet expectations for the first time. The level of talent on this Celtics team is going to blow away anything else they’ve had during the rebuild and after everything they have accomplished, there is only one way to have a successful season.

Next: Celtics should not dwell on Irving rumors

All of the priorities of this team will be focused entirely on winning right now, and next season will finally be the true test of how great this rebuild is and what kind of success they will be able to have as a core.