Boston Celtics: Where Do They Belong in NBA Power Rankings?
By Thomas King
With the NBA season fast approaching, many pundits are releasing their NBA power rankings. The Boston Celtics rank near the top of most lists, but where do they belong in the rankings?
After overachieving relative to outside expectations last season in the absence of Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, the Boston Celtics enter the 2018-2019 NBA season with as much hype and hope as they’ve had in a decade.
The Boston Celtics projected starting lineup–Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward, Al Horford–may be as good as any lineup in the league and has few, if any, weaknesses. In fact, Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson told ESPN, “they are going to be a team to reckon with,” on Media Day.
"“I like the team out east in Boston,” he said. “They got a very nice, young team. One through five, man. They got a team that kind of mirrors ours as far as their length. Guys who can shoot and play defense, and an unselfish way about things. So, I think they are going to be a team to reckon with.”"
Thompson is not the only one who has high praise for the Celtics; ESPN ranked Boston second in their recently released training camp NBA Power Rankings.
"The big training camp task for Brad Stevens and his coaching staff? Starting to sort out what the Celtics’ regular-season rotation will look like. In doing so, Stevens will have to decide which Celtics players will take on a reduced role this season. Remember: With Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward sidelined last spring, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Terry Rozier and other young Celtics played significant roles in Boston’s run to the Eastern Conference finals. Hayward and Irving are healthy now, so it seems logical that Brown, Rozier and Marcus Smart may have to accept diminished roles in 2018-19. — Ian Begley"
As Brad Stevens has continuously cautioned his team leading into training camp, the Celtics cannot get ahead of themselves with excitement, but must put in the work every day in order to earn the chance to reach their potential.
Still, it’s fair to ask if the Celtics deserve this lofty ranking. Let us not forget, the Houston Rockets pushed the Warriors to the brink, falling in Game 7 only after losing Chris Paul to injury and having their worst three-point shooting display of the season at just the wrong time.
Let us also remember that it was the Toronto Raptors, not the Boston Celtics, who finished first in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference last season. Then, the Raptors upgraded from DeMar DeRozan to Kawhi Leonard–arguably the best two-way player in the game–in an off-season trade.
However, the Houston Rockets lost both Trevor Ariza and Luc Richard Mbah a Mute in free agency, two key cogs in their switch-heavy defensive scheme that stymied Golden State and consistent catch-and-shoot three-point threats. Rockets GM Daryl Morey responded by inking Carmelo Anthony, who was waived by Oklahoma City, to a one-year deal. Anthony is coming off by far the worst season of his career and doesn’t provide the defensive skill set you need to compete against the Warriors.
Toronto, on the other hand, was swept out of the playoffs by Cleveland and finished just four games ahead of Boston last year, despite the Celtics litany of injuries. After Leonard missed all of last season due to injury, how healthy he will be this season remains a mystery. Leonard told reporters on Media Day that he just recently started playing five-on-five for the first time since January.
Outside of those four teams, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Utah Jazz, and Philadelphia 76ers appear to be under-the-radar threats to the NBA hierarchy.
Given the question marks surrounding Houston and Toronto, coupled with the Celtics returning a full complement of healthy players, I think its fair to put Boston second behind Golden State heading into the season.
With at least 12 players returning from last season, and a playoff run to harden the youngsters, the Celtics continuity and confidence should be as high as its been in a long time. After a historic rookie season from Tatum, and breakout seasons for Brown, Rozier, and even Irving, the Celtics could boast the deepest team in the league this season.
In today’s NBA landscape, versatility is the name of the game and coach Brad Stevens has a roster that will allow him to mix-and-match all season long, tinkering with a nearly infinitive number of lineup combinations depending on the opponent.
The Boston Celtics are receiving an incredible amount of preseason optimism, but that doesn’t mean fans should temper their hopes or expectations. The Celtics are going to be damn good this year, and the league is starting to take notice.